Crime & Safety
Winery Accountant Pleads Not Guilty to Embezzling $300K from Employer
The woman, 44, worked as an accounting clerk for the Rutherford Wine Company in Saint Helena.
A Lake County woman pleaded not guilty today to embezzling more than $300,000 from a winery, a Napa County prosecutor said.
Xandria Roxanne Neal, 44, of Hidden Valley Lake, is charged with 29 counts of embezzlement for incidents occurring between September 2011 and January 2014, Deputy District Attorney Holly Quate said.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 16. Neal worked as an accounting clerk for the Rutherford Wine Company in Saint Helena, Quate said.
She allegedly purchased gift cards with a company credit card and used the money for personal purchases, Quate said.
The Napa County Sheriff's Office was advised of the alleged embezzlements and Neal turned herself in to the sheriff's office Wednesday.
Neal faces 23 years and 8 months in prison if she is convicted of all 29 counts, Quate said.
Neal is being held in the Napa County Detention Facility under $50,000 bail.
There will be a hearing to prevent Neal from posting bail if she uses any money from the alleged embezzlements, Quate said.
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