Former Hayward Officer Pleads Not Guilty to Grand Theft

A former Hayward police sergeant has pleaded not guilty to nine felony counts of grand theft for allegedly stealing more than $500,000 from a woman who suffers from mental illness.

Michael Scott Beal, 55, who entered his not guilty plea on Friday, is scheduled to return to Alameda County Superior Court on Oct. 14 for a preliminary examination, which will determine if there’s enough evidence to have him stand trial. Prosecutors allege that Beal, who retired two years ago after 27 years as an officer, falsely promised the alleged victim, Nancy Joe, a former prostitute who he met in an undercover sting, that he would marry her and that they were jointly investing in the purchase of a home.

Prosecutors say that Beal met Joe in 2002 when he arrested her for prostitution during an undercover sting and cultivated a relationship with her that included her providing sexual favors to him in his patrol car while he was on duty.

Beal filed for bankruptcy in 1999, was sued by his wife for divorce in 2006, fell behind in his mortgage payments on his primary residence in 2008 and sold that house for a loss in January 2009, according to a probable cause statement by Alameda County District Attorney Investigator Jeff Israel.

In 2007, Beal persuaded Joe to invest in a home in Alameda County by paying half the mortgage and half the property taxes. He promised that after he retired he would marry her, sell the property and split the proceeds, Israel wrote in the probable cause statement. Beal, who’s in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $420,000 bail, allegedly used the money to secure cars, houses and lines of credit, according to prosecutor Connie Campbell.

Joe gave Beal more than $500,000 from 2008 until April but Beal never bought a home, as records indicate that he doesn’t have any property under his name in Alameda County, Israel said. Beal convinced Joe to enter into the agreement after learning that she had more than $300,000 in her investment portfolio and knowing that she suffers from a diminished capacity due to her mental illnesses, schizophrenia and depression, Israel wrote.

Joe finally discovered that Beal had been defrauding her when she called the Hayward Police Department in February and was informed that he was already retired, according to Israel. When Joe confronted Beal with that information, he “lied to her and stated he was still working at the Hayward Police Department,” Israel said.

By Bay City News

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