Trainer’s Aides’ Hearing Postponed

An arraignment hearing for the bookkeeper accused of embezzling more than $1 million from thoroughbred horse trainer Charlie Whittingham has been postponed until Oct. 4. The hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday in Los Angeles Municipal Court.

Sally Stubblefield, 54, is facing one charge of grand theft and nine charges of forgery in what has been described by police as a five-year scheme that allegedly included payroll checks written to Whittingham employees who did not exist.

Stubblefield, who worked for Whittingham for eight years until irregularities were discovered earlier this year, appeared in court Wednesday. Bail, set at $350,000, was described as exorbitant by Stubblefield’s attorney, Bruce South, who said that his client, now a resident of Texas, would enter a plea of not guilty.

“The bail is excessively high,” South said. “The district attorney is still trying to piece together a case, and this is too much money to ask of a woman who has no job and no income.”

In another case involving a bookkeeper for the Whittingham stable, Janice Karen Walters, 32, faces three counts of grand theft for allegedly embezzling $31,000. Walters was released Wednesday on her own recognizance, and her arraignment also was set for Oct. 4.

Richard Craigo, Whittingham’s attorney, said that the shortages have been resolved, and Walters still works for the trainer. The district attorney’s spokeswoman said there is no evidence of conspiracy between Walters and Stubblefield. Walters allegedly wrote checks that resulted in her being paid bonuses that she hadn’t earned.

Whittingham has sued Bank of America, which handled his payroll accounts, and Craigo said discussions are continuing regarding the bank’s liability.