Santa Maria Sun / News

Local man charged with grand theft, check forgery

BY JEREMY THOMAS

Santa Maria’s John Thomas Glines appeared in Santa Barbara County Superior Court on March 1, pleading not guilty to charges he embezzled more than $300,000 from his former business associates.

Glines, 41, was arraigned on six felony counts: four counts of grand theft and two counts of multiple check forgery. According to a formal complaint filed Jan. 26, prosecutors allege Glines misappropriated company funds from Stewart Johnston and Bill Bogue, former owners of Santa Maria-based Stewart Johnston Pumps, and Tony Witzel, the business’ current owner.

According to the plantiffs, Glines worked for Bogue and Johnston as an office manager at the company beginning in 2002. In 2006, Glines partnered with Witzel, then a field foreman, to purchase the water pump sales business. Glines was fired from the company in January of 2008.

Santa Barbara County Senior Deputy District Attorney Jerry Lulejian is prosecuting the case against Glines. Lulejian wouldn’t discuss case specifics, but said Glines is allegedly responsible for embezzling a total of $263,000 from Witzel and about $90,000 from Bogue and Johnston.

In two separate felony charges, Glines is accused of forging more than $30,000 in checks from 2004 to 2005, while he was Bogue and Johnston’s employee. Bogue is currently the owner of Pacific Ag Water in Santa Maria.

Glines was originally scheduled for arraignment on Feb. 23, but the case was continued for a hearing on possible bail. Lulejian said he sought bail for Glines, believing him to be a flight risk. Superior Court Judge Jed Beebe denied the motion, and Glines was released on his own recognizance.

According to Glines’ attorney, Michael Scott, under terms of his release, Glines is barred from engaging in any work involving the handling of large sums of money.

Scott said it was “too early” to discuss strengths or weaknesses of the case against his client and wouldn’t comment further. Glines is the son of Jim Glines, president and CEO of Community Bank of Santa Maria.