As he cross-examined a forensic accountant this morning in Stanislaus County Superior Court, a defense attorney suggested legitimate expenses might have been wrapped into the $820,634 former pastor Howard "Doug" Porter is suspected of stealing from an elderly rancher.

As he flipped through a spreadsheet showing Porter's credit card statements, attorney Kirk McAllister noted that the Central Valley Museum Association, set up to fund an agricultural museum farmer Frank Craig dreamed of, did not have a credit card.

McAllister also suggested that people who cared for Craig and his 20-acre farm — after Porter walked away from a truck crash that crippled Craig — were paid in cash.

And when he asked forensic accountant Daniel Ray of San Francisco about trips Porter and Craig took to Europe, the accountant drew a blank.

"If that did occur, then I would have to take a very careful look to see what impact that might have," said Ray, a former FBI agent who, for the district attorney's office, analyzed 20 accounts Porter and Craig held.

Though Ray did not know that the men traveled together to get ideas for Craig's museum, the accountant noted that his analysis does not list Porter as a beneficiary of much of the money siphoned from Craig's accounts, because the nature of some expenses remains unclear.

McAllister also asked a lot of questions about the $100,000 to $120,000 Ray's firm will be paid for its analysis. Ray noted that his usual billing rate of $395 and hour was dropped to $125 an hour because lower rates are expected when dealing with governmental agencies.

His testimony continues this afternoon when the trial resumes.

Craig and Porter entered into a business relationship in 1999, when Craig inherited $2.5 million from a brother and dreamed of using the money to build a museum that would showcase farm equipment he collected over decades.

Craig enlisted the preacher's help, making Hickman Community Church his beneficiary and Porter the executor of his estate. Later, Craig gave Porter power over his finances and health care decisions as well.

Porter, 57, of La Grange is suspected of staging the two wrecks, the 2002 truck crash that crippled Craig and a 2004 crash in which Craig drowned, to cover his alleged embezzlement.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder, theft or embezzlement from an elder by a caretaker and elder abuse causing death.

The trial began May 12 and is expected to stretch into late July. He has been held without bail since his arrest Nov. 27, 2006. Porter faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Bee staff writer Susan Herendeen can be reached at sherendeen@modbee.com or 578-2338.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@