Deputy District Attorney John Evans said Pete Jacob Lara, 39 (dob 12-27-73), was to be arraigned in Department A1 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch.
Lara is charged with one count each of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; removal or possession of dental gold from human remains; and grand theft by embezzlement. He also faces 23 counts of second-degree commercial burglary.
Lara is a former employee of Halley-Olsen-Murphy Funeral Home in Lancaster. While working as an apprentice embalmer, the defendant allegedly took gold crowns from bodies and other items including a cremation urn box and medallions used to decorate urn boxes worth more than $1,000.
Prosecutors said Lara went on to pawn the stolen goods at pawn shops and jewelry exchanges.
The alleged crimes took place between June 25, 2012 and October 28, 2013.
Lara’s bail is recommended at $510,000. The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
If convicted as charged, Lara faces a maximum sentence of 19 years in state prison.
Lancaster Funeral Parlor Apprentice Accused of Plundering Bodies
