LAKEPORT – A Lucerne man facing embezzlement and grand theft charges for allegedly taking funds from the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center will return to court in January.

Rowland James Mosser, 65, was in Lake County Superior Court on Friday morning, according to Deputy District Attorney Gary Luck.

Mosser , who was the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center’s director from July 2002 to August 2005, is charged with two felony counts of  embezzlement and two felony grand theft charges for taking funds from the center.

Luck previously said he doesn’t have a “firm amount” because he alleged Mosser didn’t keep accurate financial records. Center officials have stated in past interviews that they could not account for between $150,000 and $175,000 after Mosser left.

The case alleges Mosser took funds from the center between Jan. 1, 2005, and Aug. 12, 2005.

Luck said Mosser did not enter a plea to the charges at his Friday morning appearance.

Mosser hadn’t hired an attorney yet, although Mitchell Hauptman made a special appearance, Luck said.

Luck said Mosser’s next court appearance has been set for Jan. 15, 2010.

Earlier this year, Mosser and his wife, Jayne – who at that time was facing a single felony count of grand theft in connection the senior center case – went before the court for a preliminary hearing, but Luck asked for the charges to be dismissed, as Lake County News has reported.

The District Attorney’s Office then had a forensic examination conducted on the center’s financial records in order to support the case.

In September the charges were refiled against Mosser but not his wife.

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