Juanita Ann Canley sentenced to jail, probation
Santa Paula News
Published: January 09, 2009
District Attorney Gregory D. Totten recently announced that Juanita Ann Canley, aka Juanita Browne (DOB 1/17/59) of Ventura, has been placed on five years of probation and ordered to serve 270 days in the Ventura County Jail.
District Attorney Gregory D. Totten recently announced that Juanita Ann Canley, aka Juanita Browne (DOB 1/17/59) of Ventura, has been placed on five years of probation and ordered to serve 270 days in the Ventura County Jail. Canley was sentenced for the thefts she committed and kickbacks she received when she was employed as a deputy public guardian for Ventura County.
The Ventura County Public Guardian’s Office is the conservator of last resort for individuals who are unable to manage their own affairs and have no family members willing or able to take on responsibility for their physical and financial well being.
After a five-week trial in September and October of 2008, a jury found Canley guilty of one count of felony bribery, nine counts of felony theft of public funds, four counts of felony receiving stolen property, and one count of misdemeanor theft from a dependent person. This matter was investigated by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department also assisted in the initial investigation.
Canley, a former deputy public guardian, abused her position of trust by using money she held on behalf of her clients to make purchases for herself and others. Among other things, Canley bought jewelry, hats, clothing, wigs, cosmetics, perfume, CDs, and electronic equipment. She then submitted false receipts to the Public Guardian’s Office, causing the cost of the items to be charged to Public Guardian clients.
Search warrants served on Canley’s home by the District Attorney’s Office also uncovered property that had been taken from the estates of deceased Public Guardian clients, as well as current clients who were elderly or suffering from grave disabilities. Investigators found coins, stamps, jewelry and electronic equipment, including a television that Canley was using in her upstairs den, which belonged to a Public Guardian client.
Canley was also convicted of engaging in a kickback scheme with Hiep Le, a custodian employed by the County of Ventura. Canley hired Le to clean out homes of Public Guardian clients after they were moved to care facilities. She set the price for the clean-outs and told Le how much to return to her in cash. In one instance, she told Le to add a “no show” worker to the invoice so she could get $1,500 from the amount paid by the victim. Le often placed cash in an envelope and slid it through the window of Canley’s car, which was parked in the Government Center parking lot. In return, Le continued to receive work from Canley.
Hiep Le previously pleaded guilty to one count of felony bribery. Le cooperated with the investigation and testified against Canley at her trial. His sentencing was to be held on January 7 in courtroom 46 in front of Judge Riley.
The allegations against Canley were revealed during an investigation of Esther Torres-Anaya, also a former deputy public guardian. Torres-Anaya stole and cashed checks belonging to Public Guardian clients totaling more than $93,000. Torres-Anaya pleaded guilty to 47 felony counts and was sentenced to 64 months in state prison.
On January 21 at 8:30 a.m., Judge Rebecca Riley will hold further hearings to determine the amount of restitution owed by Canley. On behalf of the victims, the Public Guardian’s Office is requesting $6,995 in restitution plus the return of television sets, jewelry, coins, stamps, clothes and other stolen items.
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