California assemblywoman Mary Hayashi charged with felony grand theft

Sacramento Bee ^ | 10/29/2011 | Jim Sanders

[Baynative]

Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi has been charged with felony grand theft after allegedly being caught by security officers stealing nearly $2,500 in clothing from a San Francisco Neiman Marcus store.

The 45-year-old Castro Valley Democrat, wife of a Bay Area judge, pleaded not guilty Thursday in San Francisco Superior Court and is free on $15,000 bail pending further proceedings Nov. 15.

"The incident in San Francisco was a mistake and a misunderstanding," Singer said. "The assemblywoman strongly believes in the justice system and is hopeful that this matter will be cleared up soon."

[Baynative]

The veteran lawmaker was placed under citizen's arrest by security officers outside Neiman Marcus after leaving the store without paying for clothing items, said Officer Carlos Manfredi of the San Francisco Police Department.

Hayashi had passed several cash registers without stopping and the incident was captured on videotape, said Manfredi, adding that the clothing was recovered and has been booked into evidence.

Leather pants, a black skirt and a white blouse were the merchandise involved, Singer confirmed. He did not know their brand names or value.

[justlurking]

Wow, they actually mentioned the legislator’s party affiliation in the first couple of paragraphs.

[Baynative]

"...she has no intention of resigning from office, Singer said.
"Absolutely not," he said. "She is one of the most respected members of the Assembly – a fine, upstanding citizen and a role model. This is a mistake and nothing more."

[Baynative]

Democrat wife of a judge -— privileged, I guess. Apparently considers herself above the law, as do most politicians these days.

[Libloather]

Guilty by association.

[goldstategop]

If you or I commit grand felony theft, we’d be fired from our jobs, kiss our marriages and families good bye and stand to see a long stint in prison.

But to politicians its just the equivalent of an infraction.

Jail, you say? That’s for the Little People!

[JEC]

She’ll claim it was a mistake. Mistake, my ass.

[iowamark]

The lawmaker is married to Alameda Superior Court Judge Dennis Hayashi, a former public-interest attorney, her Assembly website said.

[DCmarcher-976453]

Can you say “entitlement mentality”?

[Rennes Templar]

“Hayashi, who is scheduled to be termed out of office next year, chairs the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee.”

Consumer Protections!

[Steely Tom]

She’s claiming that she was using a cell phone when she walked out. She may be preparing to defend herself by saying that she was distracted by her phone conversation and that it was an honest mistake.

[PowderMonkey]

"This is a mistake and nothing more."

We'll see. Roll the tape. She's guilty if the tape shows her hiding the stuff, and making a quick exit. My wife and I almost faced similar charges when we left a local retail store while she absentmindedly and openly carried the store's clothing and a pair of sunglasses in her hands. As we left the store and entered the main shopping mall area, I suddenly remembered the items not paid for. We both stopped, looked down at the items in her hands, and shrieked like little girls as we raced back into the store to pay for them before the "loss prevention" guys glombed onto us. Could have been a bad day for us.

[bmwcyle]

The 45-year-old Castro Valley Democrat

[Baynative]

"...she was distracted by her phone conversation and that it was an honest mistake.

The video won't lie. Did she have the clothing over her arm on the way to check out, or was it stuffed into one of the bags she came in with?

[w1andsodidwe]

My Dad's cousin was married to a woman who shoplifted back in small town Iowa. Most stores would just keep track of what she stole and send her husband the bill, until one store who wasn't in the know arrested her.

That is probably exactly what is going on here. She's been doing it for years and everyone looks the other way until an uninformed clerk and security at the store took her down.

But she is a democrat, so she will have no consequences.

[Rational Thought]

Come now. Who hasn’t mistakenly walked out of a store with $2,500 worth of merchandise?

[globelamp]

“Democrat wife of a judge -— privileged, I guess. Apparently considers herself above the law, as do most politicians these days.”

Would be hilarious if she ends up in front of her husband.

[doug from upland]

All of a sudden a guy with the last name of Singer showed up in the story. This would have been helpful. :)

“Sam Singer, spokesman for Hayashi,.....”

[struggle]

Ba~ka.

[LADY J]

"Leather pants, a black skirt and a white blouse were the merchandise involved"

- VALUED AT $2,500.

Hmm - sounds like my everyday shopping list for 3 items!! /s