Sausalito’s city manager made her first court appearance on Tuesday to face charges involving an alleged spate of crimes on the waterfront.
Elaine Christina Forbes, 53, is charged with one count of prowling, two counts of unauthorized lodging on different boats and one count of petty theft of personal property.
The charges are misdemeanors. Forbes has been at the Marin County Jail since Saturday morning, when sheriff’s deputies booked her on suspicion of felony burglary at a vessel at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor.
In a brief proceeding, the court delayed the arraignment until Wednesday and did not address Forbes’ bail amount.
Forbes did not enter a plea. Her defense attorney, Randall Knox, attended the proceeding by video link.
Forbes, the former director of the Port of San Francisco for nine years, started the Sausalito job on July 1. She has a floating home on Richardson Bay just north of Sausalito city limits.
The arrest happened two days after the Sausalito City Council met in closed session and approved a two-month leave of absence for Forbes. The city did not disclose the reason.
On Friday, a former coworker concerned about Forbes filed a missing-person report with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. The alleged burglary happened the following morning.
Bill Aubrey, the captain of several vessels at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor, said he called authorities after finding Forbes aboard a client’s 75-foot cabin cruiser.
“Even though she had locked all the doors, I was still able to get in and I confronted her,” Aubrey said. “Basically, I told her to get the heck off the boat, and then she looked at me and had a smile on her face, almost like she didn’t realize that anything was out of the ordinary.”
The Marin County District Attorney’s Office filed charges on Monday. The complaint alleges that Forbes unlawfully entered two boats at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor, the Lisa Marie and the Sea Dog. It also alleges that she stole a woman’s clothing.
A public relations consultant hired by family members of Forbes issued a statement saying she suffered a mental health crisis.
“She appreciates that the city of Sausalito has been so supportive and understanding of the situation,” Knox said after the hearing Tuesday. “She’s got a tremendous network of friends and family who are trying to help her get through this.”
Knox declined to comment on the alleged crimes.
The city has named Assistant City Manager Brandon Phipps as interim city manager.
“Our thoughts are with Elaine and her family,” the city said in a statement released on Monday. “She remains on a leave of absence while we evaluate the facts surrounding the matter.”
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