Women Accused of Embezzling from La Jolla Restaurant Will Stand Trial in October

The courts scheduled another status conference for Tara Moore, a
former bookkeeper accused of stealing more than $5 million. And a trial date was set for Oct. 21.

Moore faces charges for allegedly stealing from her former employer, the now closed Jack's La Jolla, and cleaning out her mother-in-law's retirement nest egg.   

Moore's alleged $3 million fraud against Jack's came to light when the restaurant's owner, Bill Berkley, hired a forensic accountant to examine the eatery's financial records dating back to 2003, according to a statement from prosecutor Bill Mitchell in 2012.  

Moore worked for the Girard Avenue restaurant for about four years, beginning in 2005. The business closed in August 2009 and more than 100 employees lost their jobs, Mitchell said.   

If convicted in that case, she could face up to 20 years in prison.   

Moore, who is out of custody on bail, faces 12 years behind bars if found guilty of charges in the case involving her mother-in-law.

—City News Service contributed to this report.