Woman Pleads No Contest in Bernson Campaign Theft

A Van Nuys woman charged with stealing more than $100,000 from two political committees of Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson pleaded no contest Tuesday to grand theft.

Toni Lee Corpuel, 46, a former bookkeeper for an Encino accounting firm employed as treasurer of Bernson’s political committees, entered the plea to one count of grand theft.

As part of the agreement, prosecutors will drop two other grand theft charges.

Corpuel was arrested Jan. 30 after $126,629 was discovered missing from Bernson’s Office-Holder Committee and Bernson for Lt. Governor 1994 Committee, according to campaign finance reports.

Bernson said in his campaign reports that the two banks in which the committees’ funds were deposited failed to follow agreed-on safeguards by allowing Corpuel to withdraw money with checks signed by her alone.

The agreement required two signatures.

The reports said the banks, Mitsui Manufacturers and Security Pacific, would repay Bernson’s committees for the losses.

Corpuel is scheduled to be sentenced June 4 by Superior Court Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Corpuel could face a sentence ranging from probation to a maximum of two years in state prison. If she is placed on probation, prosecutors said they will ask the judge to order her to repay the stolen money.

Deputy Public Defender Mitch Bruckner, who represents Corpuel, said his client has no prior criminal record and will ask to be placed on probation.

He said her legal troubles were the result of financial stress.

“She was faced with severe financial problems due to deaths in her family,” Bruckner said. “She has indicated she wants to try to make restitution.”

Corpuel remains free on $15,000 bail.