Woodland Homeless Shelter Director To Face Trial For Embezzlement
The former director of Fourth & Hope (formerly the Yolo Wayfarer Center), a Woodland non-profit organization that helps the homeless, was ordered at a preliminary hearing on January 31 in Yolo County Superior Court to stand trial on felony grand theft charges. Leona Jull will return to Yolo County Judge David Rosenberg’s court on February 25 for a second arraignment.
Jull allegedly used a Fourth & Hope credit card to steal more than $30,000 from the homeless shelter over a three year period that ended with her resignation in March, 2013. Jull spent Fourth & Hope funds for her own personal needs, including gas, food, clothing and furniture. Prosecutors said she spent $17,841 of the charity’s money on gas alone.
The January 31 preliminary hearing on the case came after Jull’s lawyers had previously requested and been granted three continuances. Jull had been arrested on the felony grand theft charges in Colusa County on August 13.
Located at the corner of 4th and North Streets, Hope is actually an Alley that runs behind the location.
At an initial arraignment back on October 2, Jull had pleaded not guilty to the felony charges. Her arraignment on February 25 will involve “further information” according to courthouse sources. On Friday morning, a “stand-in” lawyer initially requested Judge Rosenberg postpone the preliminary hearing again, but the Judge said that “was not acceptable.” Jull and her lawyer of record, Robbin Coker were both present when the preliminary hearing got under way before Judge Rosenberg at 1:30pm on Friday, January 31.
Jull had been Executive Director of the Wayfarer Center/Fourth & Hope Homeless Shelter for twelve years.
Read More:
The Davis Enterprise: Trial ordered for former Fourth & Hope director
Daily Democrat: Former Fourth & Hope director pleads not guilty at arraignment in Woodland
