A former chief executive officer of The Painted Turtle, a nonprofit camp for children with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions, has been charged for embezzling $5.2 million from the organization, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said on Monday, Jan. 12.

Christopher L. Butler, 49, of Porter Ranch faces nine felony counts of grand theft, five felony counts of forgery and, one felony count of fraudulent use of a computer, officials said.

Butler was arrested Dec. 31 by District Attorney’s Office personnel and remained behind bars in lieu of a $835,000 bail amount, jail records show.

He is accused of embezzling the money from the group during his tenure from 2018 to 2025, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

“Abusing a position of power to steal funds from a camp dedicated to helping children with serious medical conditions is an affront to both the law and our deepest values,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. “If you steal from the most vulnerable members of our community or the organizations that serve them, this office will use every tool the law allows to hold you fully accountable.”

If convicted as charged, Butler could face more than 18 years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.