The former CEO of The Painted Turtle in Lake Hughes, a nonprofit specialty camp for children with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions, has been charged with embezzling $5.2 million from the organization during his tenure from 2018-2025.
“Abusing a position of power to steal funds from a camp dedicated to helping children with serious medical conditions is an affront to both the law and our deepest values,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “My message is crystal clear: If you steal from the most vulnerable members of our community or the organizations that serve them, this office will use every tool the law allows to hold you fully accountable.”
Christopher L. Butler (dob 2/28/76) of Porter Ranch is charged in case 25CJCF08298 with 15 felony
counts: nine counts of grand theft, five counts of forgery and one count of fraudulent use of a computer.
The case was filed on Dec. 29, 2025.
Butler is being held on $835,000 bail.
His arraignment is set for Jan. 15 in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
If convicted as charged, Butler faces more than 18 years in state prison.
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Steve Dickman of the White Collar Crime Division and remains under investigation by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation.
A banner posted on The Painted Turtle’s website reads:
“Our former CEO has been charged with financial crimes committed during his time at The Painted Turtle. This was a shocking and saddening discovery for us. Our focus remains committed as always to the children and the families we serve. We deeply appreciate the strong support of our entire community.”
The Painted Turtle Camp in Lake Hughes was co-founded by Paul Newman in 1999, along with Page and Lou Adler. The camp was create for children with serious illnesses and officially opened its doors in 2004 as part of Newman’s SeriousFun Children’s Network.
The medical specialty camp serves children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.
The Painted Turtle has provided more than 225,000 camp experiences to children and their families, free of charge, since 2004.
For more information on The Painted Turtle visit www.thepaintedturtle.org.
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1 Comment
Anybody who takes from sick children and the people who support charities in the belief it will go to children is in a special class of sociopath.
How did this guy qualify for his job other than he was apparently a DEI hire?
I live near this camp and I never see anyone there. This was blamed on the pandemic. No doubt that’s when a lot of the money was taken under cover of not being able to have the kids present to begin with.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this man was also collecting COVID-19 money the whole time too.