LAKE COUNTY — Rowland Mosser, 63, and his wife Jayne Mosser, 60, of Lucerne, posted bail of $10,000 each and were released from the Lake County Jail last Friday. The pair face felony charges for alleged embezzlement while Mosser was the Executive Director of the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.
Senior center executives said they think Mosser stole up to $200,000 during his tenure as director.
He was hired by the center in July of 2002. The District Attorney”s office filed charges a week ago for alleged acts that occurred between January 1, 2005 and August 12, 2005. Mosser resigned from the position in August 2005.
The DA”s office began investigating the incidents a year-and-a-half. The office has not stated a specific amount alleged to have been embezzled or stolen.
When the DA”s office served a search warrant on Mosser”s Lucerne residence January 30, Mosser vehemently denied stealing any money.
Standing by his side, a distraught Jayne said the allegations stemmed from “disgruntled employees” and called it “character assassination.”
Over the weekend, the Record-Bee received several e-mails from Rowland Mosser. The most recent said he has “no statement at this time,” but “will contact” the press later.
Mosser faces four felony counts: embezzlement, grand theft by an employee, grand theft and keeping a false record of government funds. Jayne Mosser has been charged with one felony count: committing grand theft. Both have court dates set for June 13 for arraignment. A previous court date of April 22 on the Lake County Sheriff log Friday was readjusted to match Jayne”s date once Mosser”s bail bond posted, DA Jon Hopkins said.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
