Trial reset for woman accused of keeping Christmas gifts for needy children

By Dave Toplikar

Monday, March 28, 2011 | 2:26 p.m.

A Clark County jury trial has been rescheduled for October for a woman accused of being something of a Grinch — obtaining toys and gift cards for needy children, then using the gift cards for herself and not handing out toys at a Christmas party.

Metro Police arrested Vera Lopez, 41, on Dec. 20, 2010, charging her with four counts of burglary, two counts of obtaining money under false pretenses and two counts of obtaining property under false pretenses.

In January, a Clark County grand jury indicted Lopez on 13 felony counts, including five counts of theft, five counts of burglary, two counts of burglary with the assistance of a child and one count of obtaining money under false pretenses.

Lopez, who is out of custody on $50,000 bail, had been scheduled to have a jury trial Monday morning.

However, her public defender, William Waters, asked the court for a continuance. Deputy District Attorney Michael Staudaher had no objection.

Judge Linda Bell reset the jury trial date to 9:30 a.m. Oct. 10.

According to Metro, last year Lopez requested toys from the Southern Nevada Burn Foundation for needy children, using a fictitious document that claimed she was working with a local nonprofit organization.

Police said Lopez requested 2,200 toys and gift cards for a party she said she was having for needy children.

She received more than 150 toys and about 75 $10 Walmart gift cards, police said.

Police allege Lopez spent the gift cards on groceries, personal clothing, a car battery and a Christmas tree. Police said she held a Christmas party but did not provide any toys to needy children.

Some toys were recovered and returned to the SNBF, police said.