Jeremy Walsh — Staff reporter
LAKEPORT — A judge Monday scheduled a June start date for the jury trial of local insurance agent Glenn A. Neasham, who faces one count of felony theft from an elder and two special allegations stemming from an investment deal he brokered with a woman in her 80s.
The results of a California Department of Insurance (CDI) investigation allege that Neasham, who operates Neasham Financial, Insurance and Retirement Planning in Lakeport, acted illegally when he sold a $175,000 annuity to a local woman, then 83 years old, in February 2008.
Judge Richard C. Martin ruled earlier this month that the Lake County District Attorney”s Office had established the “strong suspicion standard” during a preliminary hearing and ordered Neasham to stand trial.
Neasham pleaded not guilty to the felony charge and denied all special allegations during a brief arraignment hearing Monday morning, according to his defense attorney, Mitchell Hauptman.
Judge Andrew S. Blum scheduled the trial to begin in early June and ordered Neasham to next appear in court on May 16 for a settlement conference, Hauptman said.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
