Crime & Safety
Yup, I Stole $150K in Parking Money! Jr. College Cop Pleads Guilty Today in Sonoma County Court
Santa Rosa man and his wife accused of spending the cash on vacations, at casinos and living expenses. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled this afternoon.
A former Santa Rosa Junior College police officer pleaded guilty today to stealing more than $150,000 in parking machine money at the college and possessing stolen property.
Jeffrey Holzworth, 53, a SRJC police officer for 28 years, entered the plea before he and his 50-year-old wife Karen Holzworth's preliminary hearing was to begin in Sonoma County Superior Court.
Karen Holzworth's preliminary hearing went forward this morning. She is charged with being an accessory and possession of stolen property.
Judge Jamie Thistlethwaite said she will sentence Jeffrey Holzworth to no more than four years in state prison as part of the plea agreement.
Holzworth's attorney Joseph Passalacqua said his client faced a maximum prison term of 12 years and four months on one count of grand theft and 11 counts of possession of stolen property.
Passalacqua said he will argue for probation at the sentencing on May 29. Thistlethwaite has sentencing options that include probation or county jail time instead of prison, Passalacqua said.
The judge noted the prosecution will argue for state prison time.
Holzworth pleaded guilty to grand theft of more than $150,000 between January 2005 and November 2012, and 11 counts of possession of stolen property.
Deputy District Attorney Amy Ariyoshi said Holzworth kept the parking machine money at his Santa Rosa home and in his car until his wife deposited it in several banks and withdrew larger bills.
The Holzworths spent the money on vacations, at a casino and on living expenses, Ariyoshi said.
The investigation began after Santa Rosa Junior College police Chief Matt McCaffrey informed Santa Rosa police on Nov. 1, 2012, that a SRJC police officer notified him of the thefts.
Holzworth was arrested after a three-week investigation. Karen Holzworth was then arrested on Jan. 31, 2013.
Passalacqua said his client has always taken full responsibility for the thefts.
"He gave a confession," Passalacqua said. The case against Jeffrey Holzworth would have been settled sooner if the prosecution were not still pursuing Holzworth's wife who "had nothing to do with it," Passalacqua said.
Karen Holzworth's attorney George Boisseau said he will be calling character witnesses at her preliminary hearing today.
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