HAYWARD — An Alameda County judge has ordered a retired Hayward police sergeant to trial on charges that he scammed a mentally ill woman out of more $400,000.
Judge Jo-Lynne Lee ruled Wednesday that there is enough evidence to try Michael Beal on nine felony counts of grand theft for alleged crimes said to have occurred before and after he retired from the Hayward Police Department in 2013.
Beal, 55, of Modesto, remains in Santa Rita Jail in lieu of $420,000 bail and is due back in court for arraignment Dec. 24.
An Alameda County woman gave Beal thousands towards an Alameda investment property that he lied about having purchased for them. The woman testified at Beal’s preliminary hearing that Beal promised to either marry her and live in the house, or that they would sell it and share the proceeds after he retired. She contacted police in 2014 when she found out that he had been lying about still working at the police department.
Beal met the woman about 12 years ago when he arrested her for prostitution. Investigators said they suspect Beal took around $500,000 from her over the course of their association.
Contact Malaika Fraley at 925-234-1684. Follow her at Twitter.com/malaikafraley.