Orange County Performing Arts Center employees and patrons reacted
with shock and disappointment a day after a former arts center
employee appeared in court on charges that she embezzled more than $1
million from the arts center over the past five years.
"I don't know how you could not be surprised," said Todd Bentjen,
the center's vice president of marketing and communications. "In a
situation like this, you have to take everything seriously."
Ana Limbaring, 53, was arrested by the Costa Mesa Police on Monday
following an investigation by the arts center. She is charged with 29
felony counts of grand theft and computer fraud, according to a
complaint filed by the Orange County district attorney's office
Tuesday.
She is scheduled to be arraigned today at the Harbor Justice
Center in Newport Beach.
Limbaring worked in the accounts receivable department and was
fired this week after a more than 10-year career at the performing
arts center, Bentjen said.
Because the investigation is ongoing, Bentjen said he is unable to
comment on matters pertaining to Limbaring. Performing Arts Center
interim president Judith O'Dea Morr and chairman of the board Mike
Gordon did not return calls for comment.
Word of the criminal investigation slowly reached Newport-Mesa
residents who donate to performing arts center causes.
Newport Beach resident Nora Jorgensen-Johnson, who regularly
supports the arts center, said she was shocked to hear the news.
"When you give money, you expect it to go to the right place and
for there not to be a problem," Jorgensen-Johnson said.
Bentjen said the money was stolen out of the center's cash
accounts, not from a capital campaign fund. The performing arts
center is in a process of raising $200 million to fund the new Renee
and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater, scheduled to
open next September. The center has raised $128.4 million, and the
new arts complex is 70% complete, Gordon said last week.
Eve Kornyei, a Corona del Mar resident involved in center support
group Center Stars, said she is upset to hear of the alleged
financial setback.
"Everyone works so hard to raise funds," she said. "It's an
unfortunate incident. But it's going to take a lot more than that for
me to lose faith."
She said the recent news wouldn't deter her and her companion,
Stanley Hanson, from giving to the center.
"I hope that it won't affect fundraising," Kornyei said. "I don't
think it will."
Jorgensen-Johnson agreed that she doesn't expect charges against
