Former El Dorado County political candidate sentenced in trust embezzlement case
PLACERVILLE, Calif. — A longtime El Dorado County resident with a history in local politics and government was sentenced to 120 days in county jail after admitting she embezzled more than $341,000 from a family trust she had been entrusted to manage.
Teresa Piper, 62, pleaded guilty to one felony count of embezzlement under California Penal Code section 503. A judge sentenced her July 31 to 120 days in county jail, two years of formal probation and $341,962.71 in restitution to the trust.
The case involved money belonging to the estate of Piper’s deceased parents and six named beneficiaries, according to prosecutors.
The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office said its Special Prosecutions Unit worked with El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Detective Matthew French to investigate what prosecutors described as a decade-long pattern of financial misconduct.
“The case stemmed from a decade-long pattern of financial misconduct involving the misappropriation of trust assets,” the District Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Piper became the successor trustee after her parents died and was responsible for administering the family trust. Instead, investigators determined that trust money was diverted for what the DA’s Office characterized as unauthorized personal use.
The alleged misconduct included accessing equity in property owned by the trust and using the proceeds for personal purposes, according to the prosecution.
Trust dispute preceded criminal case
The criminal case followed years of litigation over the administration of the Arthur E. and Elizabeth J. Piper Trust.
El Dorado County Superior Court records show that a petition seeking an accounting, Piper’s suspension and removal as trustee, a surcharge against her and the appointment of a professional fiduciary was filed in April 2022.
Court records provide an earlier window into the financial dispute. In a November 2022 tentative ruling, the court questioned why Piper, acting as both trustee and beneficiary, had advanced herself more than $101,000 in trust funds between July 2009 and October 2022, while the other five beneficiaries had not received equivalent advances.
A subsequent June 2023 court ruling said allegations in the probate case included Piper retaining rental income from trust property and taking out a loan against trust real estate. The ruling also referenced allegations that proceeds from the loan were provided to her boyfriend to purchase a house.
The probate proceedings illustrate how long the financial questions surrounding the trust had been developing before the criminal investigation resulted in a felony prosecution.
Investigation focuses on financial records
The DA’s Special Prosecutions Unit handled the criminal investigation, working with Detective French of the Sheriff’s Office.
The unit’s investigation ultimately established, according to prosecutors, that funds intended for the trust’s beneficiaries had instead been redirected to Piper’s personal expenses.
The prosecution characterized the conduct as a “decade-long spree of financial misconduct” that began after Piper assumed control of the trust.
The final criminal case resolved with Piper’s guilty plea and the July 31 sentencing order requiring her to repay $341,962.71.
The restitution amount is intended to restore the money prosecutors determined was taken from the trust.
The District Attorney’s Office said the case reflects its continuing effort to prosecute financial crimes involving people entrusted with managing money or property belonging to others.
“The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting victims of financial crimes and holding individuals accountable for violating positions of trust,” the office said.
Piper had political and government ties in El Dorado County
Piper was not unknown in El Dorado County political circles before the criminal case.
She previously served as president of the El Dorado County Republican Women and worked for the county Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office, according to information provided for this report.
In 2014, Piper ran for the District 5 seat on the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.
Official county election results show Piper received 308 votes, or 5.63%, in the June 3, 2014, Republican primary for the District 5 supervisor seat. Sue Novasel ultimately led the field with 1,557 votes.
The county’s official candidate filing materials from that election identify Piper as a grocery businesswoman and list a Pollock Pines address.
Her political history places the criminal case in a familiar local setting: a county where public officials, political activists and community figures often remain connected to government and civic institutions long after leaving formal positions.
Jail sentence closes criminal phase of case
Piper’s guilty plea eliminates the need for a trial and formally establishes her criminal responsibility for the felony embezzlement charge.
Her sentence requires her to serve 120 days in county jail and remain under formal probation for two years.
The court also ordered $341,962.71 in restitution.
The financial dispute surrounding the family trust, however, predates the criminal conviction by several years. Superior Court records show that beneficiaries had already sought court intervention over Piper’s handling of trust assets before the criminal investigation culminated in the felony case.
For El Dorado County residents, the case also serves as a reminder that family trusts can carry significant legal responsibilities. A trustee may have control over property and financial accounts, but that authority exists for the benefit of the trust and its beneficiaries.
In Piper’s case, prosecutors said that responsibility was violated over a period of approximately 10 years.
The result: a felony conviction, a county jail sentence, two years of formal probation and an order to repay nearly $342,000.
Public Records and Sources:
The El Dorado County Superior Court’s probate records provide documentation of the underlying trust dispute and allegations concerning trust assets.
El Dorado County Superior Court records — Trust of Arthur E. and Elizabeth J. Piper
El Dorado County 2014 official election results
Teresa Piper’s former husband –
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- The Case: Ricky Davis was wrongfully convicted for the 1985 murder of Jane Hylton in El Dorado Hills.
- The Defendants: The lawsuit named El Dorado County and several former investigators involved in the original case, including Larry Hennick, Richard Strasser, Rick Fitzgerald, and Bill Wilson. Note that official court documents also list the “Estate of Larry Hennick,” indicating his legal representation in the matter.
- The Misconduct Claims: The lawsuit argued that Hennick and the other detectives focused on the wrong suspect, ignored alibi witnesses, and intentionally failed to consider alternative suspects.
- Career: He served as an El Dorado County Sheriff’s Sergeant and spent over 32 years in law enforcement before retiring.
- Sheriff Campaigns: Hennick ran for El Dorado County Sheriff multiple times. He lost a primary race to Jeff Neves and ran again in 2010 as part of a highly competitive six-candidate race.
- Jaycee Dugard Case: Hennick was one of the original investigators on duty when 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard was abducted from a South Lake Tahoe bus stop. He publicly spoke about the emotional relief of her being found alive 18 years later.
