Man Charged with Embezzling from the Charleston Animal Society

While he was Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Charleston Animal Society Charles Jonathan Karesh is accused of embezzling more than $70,000, according to a SLED statement.

Karesh, 56, of 635 Windemere Blvd. served as Executive Director and Chairman of the Board from September 2007 until September 2011. He has been charged with embezzlement of public funds, value $10,000 or more, according to the statement. If convicted Karesh could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to the amount embezzled or both.

In charging documents released with the statement, SLED agents allege he wrote numerous checks to CAS, cashed them at the CAS facility and pocketed the money. The checks would then be returned to CAS for insufficient funds.

The total amount of money taken, including bank fees incurred due to the bad checks, comes to $71,388, according to the charging documents. Charleston County is included as a victim in the case because CAS receives some county funding because it is designated as an agent for the county and works with Charleston County Animal Control.

The allegations are based on results of an internal audit conducted by the Charleston County Auditor's Office. SLED conducted the investigation at the request of the Charleston County Sheriff's Office.