49-Year-Old Former CEO of Camp for Sick Children Charged with Embezzling Over $50 Million from Paul Newman-Founded Nonprofit

Posted on by

The former CEO of a camp for children with severe medical conditions has been charged with 15 felonies, as prosecutors say he embezzled more than $5 million over seven years from the nonprofit co-founded by Paul Newman.

Christopher L. Butler, 49, of Porter Ranch, California, is set to be arraigned Thursday in Los Angeles. He faces charges of embezzling funds from The Painted Turtle—one of many camps for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses established by the late actor.

Like other camps funded through Newman’s “SeriousFun Children’s Network,” the Lake Hughes, California-based Painted Turtle depends on donations and offers free programs, letting campers enjoy fun with other kids who have similar medical challenges.

“Abusing a position of power to steal from a camp dedicated to helping children with serious medical conditions violates both the law and our deepest values,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a news release. “My message is clear: If you steal from our community’s most vulnerable members or the organizations that serve them, this office will use every legal tool available to hold you fully accountable.”

A phone number for Butler could not be found, and a public defender who briefly represented him at his first court appearance declined to comment because she no longer handles his case. The Painted Turtle officials did not immediately respond to a voice message seeking comment.

According to the criminal complaint, Butler was with The Painted Turtle from 2018 until summer 2025, and prosecutors allege he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly—totaling about $5.2 million. He also served as the organization’s controller for a time, the complaint says, and tried to hide evidence of the alleged crimes by modifying or deleting computer records.

A new controller found “irregularities” in the organization’s financial records in August 2025, per the complaint.

The charges carry a potential prison sentence of more than 18 years.