HOUSTON -- A state district judge has sentenced a Harris County sheriffs deputy who was convicted of theft in what prosecutors said was a scam to convince donors that their contributions would be given to a childrens toy program.
Ed Christensen, president of the Harris County Deputies Organization, was found guilty of theft between $1,500 and $20,000.
Judge Don Stricklin sentenced Christensen to four years probation. He had already told Christensen to resign his post as union president and to stay away from union headquarters.
Christensen, an ex-Marine who has called the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program his favorite charity, had full knowledge of the scam, prosecutor Russel Turbeville told the Houston Chronicle in Tuesdays editions.
When 11 News first reported on the investigation, the 51-year-old deputy denied the accusations, saying telemarketers and their subcontractors hired to raise money duped him and the union.
The Toys for Tots program had not given the union permission to use its name.
Burt Springer, Christensens attorney, said after the verdict and sentence that he would appeal. The unions general counsel said he expected Christensen to be fired from the Sheriffs Department soon because of the conviction.
Turbeville said that between 1998 and 2000, the alleged scheme netted about $350,000.
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou040622_mh_toyscam.2881b4fc3.html
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Prosecutors say Ed Christensen pocketed money intended for the Toys for Tots program. [/font]Ed Christensen, president of the Harris County Deputies Organization, was found guilty of theft between $1,500 and $20,000.
Judge Don Stricklin sentenced Christensen to four years probation. He had already told Christensen to resign his post as union president and to stay away from union headquarters.
Christensen, an ex-Marine who has called the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program his favorite charity, had full knowledge of the scam, prosecutor Russel Turbeville told the Houston Chronicle in Tuesdays editions.
When 11 News first reported on the investigation, the 51-year-old deputy denied the accusations, saying telemarketers and their subcontractors hired to raise money duped him and the union.
The Toys for Tots program had not given the union permission to use its name.
Burt Springer, Christensens attorney, said after the verdict and sentence that he would appeal. The unions general counsel said he expected Christensen to be fired from the Sheriffs Department soon because of the conviction.
Turbeville said that between 1998 and 2000, the alleged scheme netted about $350,000.
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou040622_mh_toyscam.2881b4fc3.html
