The former CEO of a Paul Newman-founded non-profit camp for children with serious medical conditions is accused of embezzling millions from the organization.
Christopher L. Butler, 49, of Porter Ranch, California, has been charged with more than a dozen felonies after allegedly stealing $5.2 million over seven years from The Painted Turtle, one of the many charities for kids with chronic or life-threatening illnesses co-founded by the late actor.
According to the complaint, Butler worked for the Lake Hughes, California-based organization from 2018 until 2025, lifting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, and allegedly tried to hide evidence by changing or erasing digital records.
The embezzlement was discovered when a new controller at the non-profit found “irregularities” in the financial records last August.
The Painted Turtle, which is part of the Newman’s Own Foundation’s SeriousFun Children’s Network, relies of donations to provide free programs for its campers.
“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,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a news release. “My message is crystal clear: 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.”
Butler was charged with nine counts of grand theft, five counts of forgery and one count of fraudulent use of a computer. He is being held on $835,000 bail and will be arraigned on Thursday. If convicted, he faces up to 18 years in prison.