Nonprofit Fraud and Embezzlement

Los Angeles County prosecutors have charged former CEO Christopher L. Butler, 49, with 15 felony counts for allegedly embezzling about $5.2 million over seven years from The Painted Turtle, a Lake Hughes, California camp for children with serious medical conditions co-founded by actor Paul Newman. Butler, who also served as the camp’s controller, is accused of siphoning off hundreds of thousands of dollars annually between 2018 and summer 2025 and then trying to cover his tracks by modifying or deleting financial records. A new controller reportedly uncovered “irregularities” in August 2025, triggering the investigation. District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman called the alleged theft from a charity serving medically vulnerable children “an affront to both the law and our deepest values” and vowed aggressive prosecution. The Painted Turtle is part of Newman’s SeriousFun Children’s Network and relies on donations to offer free programs, so a multimillion-dollar loss hits both donors’ trust and the camp’s ability to serve families. If convicted on all counts, Butler could face more than 18 years in prison.