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Prosecutors, Defense Attorneys Cancel Early Disposition Hearing in City $6.4 Embezzlement Case

Published on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 | 7:15 am
 
Danny R. Wooten from Facebook page of New Covenant Christian Fellowship in Pomona

Prosecutors and the attorneys for two of three defendants accused of embezzling $6.4 million from Pasadena’s Public Works canceled a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Superior Court that might have brought the case to an end.

The Pasadena Star-News reported that ahead of the case being called before a judge, the deputy district attorney and defense attorneys for Montclair resident Danny Ray Wooten, 51, and Melody Jenkins, 46, spoke privately and decided to cancel the disposition hearing.

Pasadena City Manager Michael J. Beck told Pasadena Now Tuesday night that there was no plea deal with defendants he was aware of, adding that a deal – if one should be proposed – would come from the District Attorney’s Office and not the City of Pasadena.

The City Manager said there were no other new developments in the investigation since Monday’s City Council meeting.

Wooten and Jenkins face 60 felony counts of fraud, embezzlement and other charges. Wooten’s family members appeared in court Tuesday but declined to comment. Wooten, Jenkins and contractor Tyrone Collins, 55, also have a Jan. 21 court date scheduled to set a preliminary hearing.

The early disposition hearing is requested by the defense in an attempt to settle a matter without going to trial. It would also prevent many of the details of a case from becoming public.

Wooten, 52, and a former management analyst for the city’s Department of Public Works, Melody Jenkins, 46, a onetime assistant to Wooten, and are accused of embezzling $6.4 million from the city for more than 10 years.

Wooten is accused of funneling $6.4 million to Jenkins, Collins and churches with which he is associated, including the New Covenant Christian Fellowship in Pomona.

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