Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi charged with shoplifting at Neiman Marcus

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Democratic Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi of Castro Valley has been charged with felony grand theft after being caught on video surveillance allegedly shoplifting more than $2,000 worth of merchandise from San Francisco’s Neiman Marcus store on Union Square, prosecutors say.

Hayashi, 45, who has served in the Assembly since 2006 — and is married to Alameda Superior Court Judge Dennis Hayashi — was arraigned Thursday in San Francisco Superior Court. She had earlier posted $15,000 bail.

Hayashi was stopped by Neiman Marcus’ security detail shortly after leaving the store around 12:15 p.m. Tuesday with a shopping bag that included three items worth $2,450 that she hadn’t paid for when she checked out at the register, the district attorney’s office said.

Prosecutors did not specify what the items were, but a source familiar with the case tells us they were leather pants, a black skirt and white blouse.

Hayashi was questioned by police at the Tenderloin Station and eventually booked at the County Jail on one count of felony theft. She pleaded not guilty Thursday before Judge Samuel Feng and is due back in court Nov. 15 to set a preliminary hearing.

District attorney’s spokesman Omid Talai said a grand theft conviction carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison, although it’s unlikely Hayashi would face the stiffest penalty because, according to authorities, this was her first arrest.

Hayashi spokesman Sam Singer called the assemblywoman’s arrest a mistake, saying she had walked out of the store with the items unintentionally and intended to go back.

Hayashi is “distraught by this misunderstanding,” Singer said, “and she believes this will be clear up in the near future.’’

He added, “She apologizes for any misunderstandings.’’

Just two years ago, Hayashi pumped at least $202,212 of her own campaign money into helping elect her lawyer husband to the Alameda County bench.

Hayashi was born in South Korea and was the first Korean American woman to be elected to the state Legislature, according to her legislative biography. She chairs the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions and Consumer Protections.

Before winning election from the 18th Assembly District, which includes Hayward, San Leandro, Castro Valley and Dublin, Hayashi was a public health analyst and member of the state Board of Registered Nursing.

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They say Asians like to gamble.

Sorry, I was going to bring it back.... FAIL!!

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Me oh my, another one bites the dust:

Sacramento - California's chief budget officer was arrested early Friday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, Highway Patrol authorities said.

CHP Lt. Rick Campbell said officers saw Department of Finance director Ana Matosantos' Acura weaving in downtown Sacramento at 12:43 a.m. and pulled her over at P and 6th streets.

Campbell said Matosantos showed signs of intoxication and the officer concluded she was drunk after conducting a field sobriety test.

Matosantos was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and was taken to the Sacramento County Jail where she was booked and later released, Campbell said. She was cooperative with officers during the arrest, he added.

Matosantos has served as finance director under Gov. Jerry Brown since he took office in January. Matosantos held the position for the last year of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration.

Gil Duran, a spokesman for Brown, said Matosantos called the governor to tell him about the incident and "acknowledged that she made a serious lapse in judgment and she takes full responsibility for it."

"She offered her resignation and it was not accepted and she reported to work this morning," he added.

Matosantos also released a statement: "My decision to drive last night was reckless and irresponsible. I accept full responsibility and there is no excuse for my actions."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/28/BA1M1LNPMN.DTL#ixzz1c7G6RPIB