Former Medical Center program administrator arrested on grand theft charge

Police on Wednesday arrested the former program administrator for the Medical Staff Office of the Ventura County Medical Center on suspicion of stealing $33,086 from a physician's fund account, according to investigators with the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Bette Jane Jones allegedly took the money by writing 18 checks to herself or cash against the account during a five-month period.

The 41-year-old woman, who is free on $10,000 bail, was charged with felony grand theft.

Jones was the manager of the Medical Staff Office's bank account into which physicians from the county hospital pay membership dues. These funds are used for a variety of purposes such as facility functions, social events, education events and scholarships, investigators said.

This account doesn't contain county funds, according to investigators.

by:www.venturacountystar.com