A judge today maintained a high bail for a former Hayward police sergeant who has been charged with nine felony counts of grand theft for allegedly stealing more than $500,000 from a woman who suffers from mental illness, saying the case is very serious. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Scott Patton said the $420,000 bail for 55-year-old Michael Scott Beal, which was set when Beal was arraigned on Tuesday, "reflects the serious of this case and the culpability of the defendant (Beal)."

Prosecutors allege that Beal 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. At a hearing today, prosecutor Connie Campbell asked that Beal's bail be increased to $530,000, alleging that he would be a threat to the public's safety if he's released because Beal "is more vulnerable than some victims." She said Joe is afraid that he might come after her because he's been physically abusive to her on at least two occasions. But Beal's lawyer, Jesse Garcia, asked that Beal's bail be reduced to $200,000, arguing that, "He is neither a danger to the community or a flight risk" because he's lived in Hayward for his entire life and has many family members and friends in the community. Previous:

Former Hayward Officer Charged with Nine Counts of Grand Theft Patton said Joe "is particularly vulnerable" and Beal "took advantage of a position of trust as a police officer and after he retired" two years ago. Patton said he will keep Beal's bail at $420,000 but ordered Beal not to have any contact with Joe if he makes bail and is released. When the judge asked Beal if he understood that condition, Beal said, "Yes, sir." According to a declaration Campbell filed in connection with the bail issue, Beal met Joe in 2002 when he arrested her for prostitution during an undercover sting.

He 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 allegedly used the money to secure cars, houses and lines of credit, according to Campbell. He owns five cars, including a Lexus, she said.

Joe gave Beal more than $500,000 from 2008 until this month 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. Hayward police spokesman Sgt. Ryan Cantrell said Beal retired from the department in July 2013 after 27 years as an officer. He said the department wasn't aware of any illegal activity that Beal may have been involved in while he was employed there.