BAKERSFIELD, CA - A father and daughter were sentenced today for embezzling 680 thousand dollars from a local non-profit. While this is a serious crime, the judge says she has a good reason why the sentences weren't more substantial.
Phillip Field and Darlene Ocampo worked for the Kern County Builders Exchange. Field was an executive manager and ocampo was the office manager.
Today, Field received five years probation and 750 hours of community service after he pleaded no contest to one count of grand theft property. He will also have to pay 50 thousand dollars in restitution to the Kern County Builders Exchange.
The District Attorney's office says Ocampo was originally sentenced to eight years in prison, but that was reduced to only one year because she's battling breast cancer. Along with jail time, she was given 10 years probation and will have to pay 630 thousand dollars in restitution to the organization.
Ocampo pled no contest to all counts, including grand theft.
"If she messes up in any way, shape, or form during this 10-year probationary period, which is an exceptionally long probationary period, she'll be looking at the full eight years in prison," said Deputy District Attorney Greg Pulskamp.
"It was actually Darlene Ocampo who got caught up in this particular embezzlement. Philip Field is actually somebody who was caught up in the periphery simply because it was his daughter," said Defense Attorney David Torres.
The District Attorney's office says Ocampo used company money on items such as a new motor home, a truck, diamond earrings, taking extravagant trips to Las Vegas, and going on cruises to several destinations.
Pulskamp says since Darlene Ocampo can't be trusted with money. She was ordered not to have a checking account while on probation.
