A Valencia woman accused of stealing in the aftermath of the Palisades fires in a “Palisades Strong” shirt had two charges dismissed last month after she completed “informal diversion,” according to L.A. County Superior Court records.
The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office charged Karen Ann Holdych, also known as Karen Ann Mastey, with looting during an emergency or evacuation and illegal entry of a closed disaster area, according to a May criminal complaint.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman promised in January 2025 that looters found in the aftermath of the Azusa, Palisades and Eaton fires would be punished “to the fullest extent of the law.”
The terms for Holdych’s diversionary program were not immediately available from the District Attorney’s Office. “Prefiling Diversion Program diverts individuals detained for non-serious/non-violent misdemeanors and felonies to community supports, in lieu of criminal charges being filed (which could entail prosecution and jail time),” according to an L.A. County website.
“Per the parties, the defendant has complied with the terms and conditions of informal diversion,” according to the minute order from Judge H. Jay Ford’s courtroom in the Airport Division, which is where the case was handled due to where the crime occurred. “The people state that they have processed a current rap sheet on the defendant. The defendant’s current rap sheet is clean.”
A motion by the prosecution to dismiss the case was granted.
California Highway Patrol officers learned of a looting taking place at a Pacific Palisades residence impacted by the recent fires at 1 p.m. on the afternoon of Holdych’s arrest in February 2025, according to a news release.
Using a witness’ description of the vehicle, officers tracked her down two hours later and found she was in possession of antique items stolen from the residence and took her into custody, according to a CHP news release.
Holdych was originally arrested and held in lieu of $75,000 bail, then released.
