Former treasurer back in court July 18

By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter

Benicia Old Town Theatre Group has had a difficult year. The tribulations will continue for at least another month.

The group’s former treasurer, Kimble Goodman, charged in the embezzlement of thousands in theater funds, asked for and received a postponement Friday so his new attorney would have time to prepare.

Goodman will appear July 18 at 10 a.m. in Department 7 of the Vallejo Superior Court.

Goodman, who had been the group’s treasurer since 2010, was arrested and charged with a single count of embezzlement in April 2013 after members of the BOTTG board discovered thousands of dollars in bank funds were missing and its checks had been bouncing.

The discovery, made when BOTTG officers were attempting to secure rights to a play, put a damper on what was supposed to be a celebratory year, when the company marked its 50th anniversary.

Instead, members had to scramble to raise money and restore its lost nonprofit status — a job made more difficult because its financial paperwork also was missing — along with $12,000 to $15,000.

At the time of the discovery, Goodman also was the chairperson of Benicia’s Economic Development Board, was prominent in the Solano County Democratic Party, had been involved in bringing Criterium bicycle races to Benicia, had been a docent at the Benicia Historical Museum and had a career in banking.

At the time of his arrest, Goodman’s attorney, Amy Morton, said there may have been “negligent comingling of funds,” but denied that her client had intended to steal from the theater company.

During a readiness conference Dec. 20, 2013, Goodman indicated he would enter a plea to the single charge of embezzlement and pay at least some restitution to BOTTG. But that action was delayed while Goodman settled on his legal representation, and now may be delayed further.

Goodman was assigned a public defender in January, his third attorney since his arrest. His next court date was to have been March 14, but that, too, was postponed while the latest attorney studied Goodman’s case.