OCPAC worker charged

An employee at the Orange County Performing Arts Center appeared in

court Wednesday on charges that she stole more than $1 million from

the arts center, said Deputy District Atty. Susan Schroeder.

Ana Limbaring, 53, was arrested by Costa Mesa Police on Monday,

following an investigation by the arts center, said Todd Bentjen, the

center’s vice president of marketing and communications.

Limbaring was a “long-term employee” who worked in the center’s

accounts receivable department, Bentjen said.

She is charged with multiple counts of grand theft and computer

fraud, according to a complaint filed by the Orange County district

attorney’s office Tuesday.

During a routine audit of the center’s financial records, auditors

discovered discrepancies in several accounts, Bentjen said.

“We immediately researched the matter, and following our

investigation, we promptly called the Costa Mesa Police Department,”

he said.

Limbaring is being held on $2 million bail at Orange County Jail,

Schroeder said. Prosecutors filed a motion that if Limbaring posts

bail, she must prove her bail money comes from “clean sources,”

Schroeder said.

Bentjen said the arts center is taking this incident very

seriously and will aggressively pursue recovery of the funds

allegedly taken by Limbaring.

Limbaring’s arraignment was continued and is scheduled for Friday

in Harbor court, Schroeder said.

* LAUREN VANE covers public safety and courts. She may be reached

at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at o7lauren.vane @latimes.comf7.