Crime & Safety

SRJC Police Officer Accused of Stealing Parking Money Pleads Not Guilty

Santa Rosa Junior College police officer Jeffrey Holzworth is accused of stealing $287,911 between January 2005 and November 2012.

By Bay City News Service

A Santa Rosa Junior College police officer accused of stealing money from parking machines on campus pleaded not guilty in Sonoma County Superior Court this morning.

Jeffrey Holzworth, 51, allegedly stole $287,911 in change and in $1 and $5 bills between January 2005 and November 2012. He worked at the junior college for 28 years.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Holzworth's wife, Karen Holzworth, 49, previously pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen property and being an accessory. Both will return to court for a settlement conference on March 13.

Deputy District Attorney Amy Ariyoshi said Holzworth would keep the money at his Santa Rosa home or in his car until he or his wife deposited it in several banks and withdrew larger bills.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Holzworth is charged with 11 counts of receiving stolen property, and his wife is charged with three counts. Each of the counts pertains to a specific instance when the prosecution can prove the defendants deposited money into the bank, Ariyoshi said.

Ariyoshi said the Holzworths spent the money on vacations, at a casino and on living expenses.

Jeffrey Holzworth's attorney, Joseph Passalacqua, said this morning his client "has accepted responsibility in statements he gave to police very early on."

Passalacqua said there is "a discrepancy regarding the amount of money that was taken, and Holzworth is adamant his wife is not involved in any illegal activity."

Karen Holzworth could be sentenced to county jail time, but Jeffrey Holzworth faces a state prison term because he allegedly stole more than $150,000, Ariyoshi said.

Jeffrey Holzworth was arrested in November, and Karen Holzworth was arrested Jan. 31. Both are out of custody.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.