A nonprofit executive accused of stealing $132,000 in public money to fund her lavish lifestyle is being held behind bars.
Amy Knox, who was COO of Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego, pleaded not guilty to allegedly stealing cash for plastic surgeries, credit card bills and luxury vacations to Hawaii andDisneyland.
The 45-year-old faces six felony counts offraudand misappropriation and faces up to seven years in prison.
Late Wednesday Knox pleaded not guilty to the charges in San Diego State Supreme Court. Her bail was set at $200,000.
On Thursday she remanded in custody at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry jail facility. Her attorney, Richard Katzman, did not respond to calls for comment.
Knox is accused of pilfering tens of thousands of dollars on a high-flying lifestyle that included buying purebred dogs, training them and taking martial arts classes.
The former COO, who also went by the names of Amy Hernandez and Amy Ketchum, allegedly spent another $30,000 on plastic surgeries including breast implants, breast lifts, a tummy tuck and arm and thigh lifts.
The money, raised from tax contributions, grants and opioid settlement funds, was meant to be spent on free anti-overdose medication andfentanyl tests for drug usersin the city.
Knox appeared drawn and tired behind a glass window at Wednesday’s hearing. She is due back in court on Feb. 25 for a bail hearing.
Harm Reduction Coalition CEO Tara Stamos-Buesig told the California Post on Thursday that she’s been receiving threats since Knox’s story went public this week.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
