Santa Rosa veterans group embezzler sentenced

A Santa Rosa man has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for embezzling about $20,000 from the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, prosecutors said.

Earl “Bud” Simmons, 82, received the punishment Wednesday. He will serve his sentence on weekends starting July 10, prosecutor Dan Cohan said.

Simmons, the 2010 Sonoma County Veteran of the Year, was quartermaster of the association when he made two unauthorized withdrawals from the group’s bank account in 2009 and 2010, prosecutors said.

Later, he falsely reported account balances in quarterly reports. The losses were discovered last year during an audit by the post commander.

Simmons, who has paid back the money, apologized for taking it at his sentencing before Judge Peter Ottenweller.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.