City Official’s Spouse Pleads Guilty in Theft

Reversing his earlier plea, the husband of a Moorpark councilwoman admitted in court Wednesday that he stole jewelry from a local shop owner who had been teaching him the gem-setting business.

Authorities had accused William Teasley, 39, of stealing as much as $17,000 worth of gems and jewelry from Anderson Jewelry in Moorpark after Teasley persuaded owner Dave Pardo to allow him to observe his work.

“Here you . . . help people and you turn around and this happens,” Pardo said Wednesday. “You really question why you should help anyone.”

Pardo said Teasley, a former electrical engineer who had been out of a job for several years, gained the shop owner’s trust after Teasley continually mentioned he was the husband of Moorpark Councilwoman Debbie Teasley.

Pardo said he called police after realizing that diamonds Teasley sold him had been pried from two rings that were in the back room of his store.

“He was being very clever and at the same time extremely stupid,” Pardo said. Among the items stolen were an oval diamond ring and a diamond cluster that one of Pardo’s customers brought into the store, police said.

Teasley arrived in court with his mother, who has appeared with him during every hearing. Debbie Teasley had filed for divorce from her husband of more than four years on June 4, two days after his arrest. She has never publicly commented on the case.

William Teasley seemed calm and spoke in a subdued voice as he changed his June 23 plea to guilty on two counts of grand theft that occurred between May 9 and 16.

A third charge--possession of a completed check with the intent to defraud--was dismissed. But Superior Court Judge Donald D. Coleman said the court could consider that charge when determining sentencing.

The district attorney’s office says it does not plan to recommend state prison time but is prepared to ask that Teasley serve time in jail. The maximum sentence Teasley can receive in jail is one year.

“From what we know, jail time is appropriate,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Mary Peace said.

Teasley’s sentencing hearing was scheduled for Nov. 3. Peace said a restitution hearing is also in order since all the stolen items have not been recovered.

Peace did not elaborate on the missing items, but Pardo said 10 items--jewels and gems--have not been recovered.

Debbie Teasley, reached at her Simi Valley real estate office, declined to comment. She has remained silent through her husband’s hearings.

William Teasley’s attorney, Douglas A. Demaret, asked the judge for a November sentencing hearing, saying he would have problems getting his expert witness in October. According to Peace, Demaret has said he will introduce testimony by a psychiatrist.

Demaret would not comment other than to say, “Everything will come out during the hearing in November.”