Office Administrator Arrested for Allegedly Embezzling from Hermosa Beach Church, Synagogue

HERMOSA BEACH, CA — A Los Angeles woman was arrested on suspicion of embezzling from a Hermosa Beach church and temple where she works as an office administrator, police announced.

Celina Maldonado, 36, was arrested Monday for allegedly embezzling $50,000, according to Hermosa Beach police Sgt. Mick Gaglia. She has since been released on bail, he said.

The staff at Temple Shalom of the South Bay, which rents space from St. Cross Episcopal Church at 1818 Monterey Blvd., reported several weeks ago that several checks were missing, Gaglia said.

"Detectives, along with bank investigators, determined Maldonado had been depositing checks from the temple and St. Cross Church into her personal bank account," he said. "The checks were payable to the temple and church and totaled approximately $50,000."

Maldonado has worked at the site since 2008.

Anyone with additional information about the case was urged to contact Hermosa Beach police Detective Dean Garkow at (310) 318-0348 or dgarkow@hermosapolice.org.

— Photo courtesy Renee Schiavone/ Patch