San Diego foster mom convicted of grand theft for hoarding charity toys

San Diego foster mom convicted of grand theft

SAN DIEGO — A San Diego foster mother accused of hoarding thousands of toys donated for needy children has been convicted of grand theft.

Jurors returned a guilty verdict Friday for 75-year-old Virginia Kelly, a former head of the Latino Foster Parents Association. The panel also found true an allegation that the amount of loss exceeded $200,000.

Prosecutors say Kelly kept thousands of donated toys and personal items and hid them in her home, her daughter’s home and a storage facility in Chula Vista.

Kelly testified she held on to the toys so she could distribute them in later years if the donations dried up.

She faces up to five years in prison when she is sentenced Sept. 3.