_{Thumbnail photo by Amanda Dockter}

Two Crescent City women are accused of embezzling money from a local cleaning business, according to a complaint filed with the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office on July 11.

Wendy Malone, 61, and her daughter, 33-year-old Kaitlin Smith, face charges of grand theft by embezzlement in connection with the theft of “money, labor and real and personal property” valued at $950 or more from Wen-Cor Cleaning.

Smith faces charges of embezzlement by an employee and fraudulent use of an access card, while Malone faces an additional charge of grand theft by embezzlement.

According to the complaint, Malone was a partner for Wen-Cor.

The alleged theft occurred between Aug. 1, 2023 and April 1, 2025, according to the complaint. 

Del Norte County Sheriff’s investigator Maia Mello and Sgt. LeAnn McClaflin worked the case, according to Sheriff Garrett Scott. Scott said the victim came into the office to report the alleged crime.

Del Norte County District Attorney Katherine Micks said her office sent Malone and Smith a letter with an order to appear in court. They were arraigned on Aug. 14, 2025, according to Micks.

The defendants are scheduled to appear in court for a readiness conference on Thursday with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 12.

Keith Morris is prosecuting the case for the District Attorney’s Office, Micks said.

Crescent City attorney David Cooper is representing Malone and Elly Hoopes is representing Smith.

Cooper could not be reached for comment and Hoopes declined to comment about the case.