Official’s Spouse Seeks Plea-Bargain
A Moorpark councilwoman’s husband accused of stealing as much as $17,000 in gems and jewelry is expected to enter a plea next month, a defense attorney said Thursday.
Douglas A. Demaret, an attorney for William Teasley, declined to elaborate on the plea, saying only that he believes he has received a verbal agreement from prosecutors to keep Teasley out of state prison. Teasley, 39, is married to Councilwoman Debbie Teasley.
“There’s no deal yet, but he’s definitely not going to prison,” Demaret said.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Mary Peace, however, said her office is not negotiating a plea agreement and declined to comment on whether Teasley will avoid prison time.
A preliminary hearing was postponed Thursday. The next court date is scheduled for Sept. 2.
William Teasley is suspected of stealing jewels, including a one-carat tear-shaped diamond and two-carat diamond cluster ring, from Anderson Jewelers on New Los Angeles Avenue in Moorpark.
Authorities allege William Teasley approached store owner David Pardo for employment in April, but was rejected. He later persuaded Pardo to allow him to observe him at work, claiming he wanted to learn the trade of setting gems.
Pardo told police William Teasley kept mentioning that he was the councilwoman’s husband to gain his trust.
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