Russell Takasugi pleads no contest to embezzlement

Simi Valley attorney Russell Takasugi pleaded no contest Wednesday to all 34 counts in a case accusing him of embezzling more than $500,000 from a client's estate.

A plea of no contest requires the judge to find Takasugi, 57, guilty at his sentencing, which is set for Dec. 9.

The maximum sentence he can receive is five years. Prosecutors wanted eight years.

The switch prompted Takasugi to plead no contest to all the charges.

Despite the disagreement, the judge kept five years as the maximum sentence.

Takasugi has argued that he loaned himself money from the estate of Oscar Muro, who died in August 2007 from pancreatic cancer at age 71.

Bank records filed with probate court show he spent much of the money on restaurants, vacations, shopping, a BMW and family members.

Takasugi is the son of Nao Takasugi, a late assemblyman and Oxnard mayor.

Attorney and Simi Valley Mayor Bob Huber worked with Takasugi for nearly three decades. He severed ties with Takasugi soon after the embezzlement allegations surfaced in September 2010.

Regardless of the particular circumstances of your charges, Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney Robert Helfend has the knowledge and experience to conduct an accurate assessment of the matter. He can determine what approach will be most advantageous at this point to negotiate with the prosecuting attorney or fight to the end in criminal court. If he gets involved early in the process, sometimes even before formal charges are filed against his client, he is often able to get better results and may even be able to keep the matter out of court and off your record.