A former bookkeeper for City Councilwoman Gloria Molina surrendered Friday in Los Angeles Municipal Court to face charges of embezzling about $9,800 in Molina campaign funds.
Sandra Serrano Sewell, 42, of Pasadena, appeared before Judge Candace Beason according to a prearranged plan between prosecutors and her lawyer. She was released on a promise to return May 18 for arraignment.
Sewell was charged last Friday with one felony count of grand theft for allegedly pilfering funds from Molina's 1985 state Assembly campaign.
The complaint alleged that during the last four months of 1985, Sewell wrote and failed to report nine unauthorized campaign checks totaling $9,811.50. The money did not turn up missing until the state Fair Political Practices Commission conducted a routine audit.
