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After nearly a day of sometimes tearful testimony from the daughter of a theft victim in his 70s, defense attorney Chuck Smith tried to poke holes in the daughter\u2019s version of the events leading up to her wealthy father\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
Smith is representing Gina Abercrombie, the stepdaughter of Sanger businessman and golf professional Randy Hansen. The Fresno County District Attorney has accused Abercrombie and her boyfriend Justin Teel of stealing more than $700,000 from Hansen\u2019s estate.<\/p>\n
Abercrombie and Teel, both of Pleasanton, are charged with theft from an elder adult and obtaining money, labor or property by false pretenses. They face five years in prison if found guilty on all charges.<\/p>\n
Teel, who has a previous conviction for mortgage fraud more than 20 years ago, is being represented by Deputy Public Defender Joshua Roberts.<\/p>\n
Hansen, who died in 2020, was the operator of the 18-hole Sherwood Forest Golf Club, an adjacent 50-space mobile home park, an almond orchard, and several homes, including a $3 million beach house in Aptos .<\/p>\n
Through most of the trial that began Monday, prosecutor Lisa Urrizola portrayed Hansen\u2019s biological child Stacy Hansen Dovali as a dutiful daughter who stepped in to help her father run the family\u2019s golf course after he suffered a stroke in 2017.<\/p>\n
Urrizola said Dovali took on management of the course that was struggling to pull in golfers. Along with running the golf course, Dovali also took her father to doctor\u2019s appointments, brought him lunch, and drove him to meet with a lawyer who specialized in estate planning.<\/p>\n
Urrizola asked Dovali directly if she ever tried to influence her father\u2019s decisions about dividing up his assets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen my dad told me he finalized his trust, I never asked who gets what,\u201d Dovali said. \u201cWe would find out when the trust was read, that\u2019s how it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
During his cross-examination of Dovali, Smith said the Hansens were not always a happy family. There was animosity between the stepsisters who were not close and have avoided each other in the courtroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you consider Gina an enemy or a rival of your father\u2019s affection,\u201d Smith asked Dovali? \u201cYou perceived Gina as someone who jeopardized your ability to inherit your father\u2019s estate, didn\u2019t you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dovali denied Smith\u2019s allegations.<\/p>\n
Smith also questioned Dovali about her devotion to her father. He reminded the jury of Dovali\u2019s earlier testimony that she was shut out of her father\u2019s life by Abercrombie and those loyal to her, including the family\u2019s caretaker.<\/p>\n
Dovali accused the caretaker of spreading rumors that she was trying to poison her father and to not trust her. She testified that the caretaker\u2019s behavior became more erratic and threatening.<\/p>\n
Smith asked Dovali if she was so concerned about her father\u2019s safety and the caretaker\u2019s behavior, why not ask her stepsister for help.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt never entered my mind to ask Gina for help,\u201d Dovali testified. \u201cI don\u2019t know how she would be able to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith also brought up the sale of the home in Aptos, that was supposed to be given to Abercrombie but was later sold by the family trust, whose sole beneficiary was Dovali.<\/p>\n
The home sold in 2022 for $3.6 million and Smith said Dovali pocketed $1.9 milllion from the sale. Dovali also inherited the golf course that is valued at between $3 million and $5 million, and the mobile home park, valued at about $600,000.<\/p>\n
Smith prodded further into the strained relationship between the stepsisters. He asked Dovali why she left her stepsister\u2019s name out of Hansen\u2019s obituary after his death in 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t feel it was necessary,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I placed his obit, I never thought about even putting her in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The trial continues Friday.<\/p>\n
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