PUBLISHED: January 14, 2026 at 12:23 PM EST
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.
https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/01/14/painted-turtle-embezzlement-christopher-butler-embezzlement-paul-newman-charity/