Former Pinehurst attorney, Lu Pendleton “Penny” Hayes, reported to prison three day earlier than her original report date. Hayes turned herself in at 8:24 am on Friday June 23, 2017 to Moore County Detention Center.
Hayes pled guilty on June 6, 2017 to two counts of felony embezzlement in excess of $100,000.00, three counts of felony embezzlement and two counts of felony obtaining property by false pretenses. The charges arose from Hayes’ work as an attorney after it was discovered by a client that funds held in trust by the Defendant were missing. Hayes surrendered her license to the North Carolina State Bar in October of 2014. District Attorney Maureen Krueger contacted the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and requested an investigation into Hayes’ conduct. At the conclusion of the investigation, Hayes was indicted on November 17, 2015.
Hayes was sentenced by Judge Tally to serve a split sentence of twenty months in prison.
