Pedro Reynaga took advantage of that.

Channel 23 reporter Heidi Carter learned that he put donation boxes in businesses around Lamont. The boxes had pictures of his family, and asked for donations. Some of the boxes claimed the family was homeless.

The problem is, the mother of his children says he's a liar. They're not homeless, and she's furious over the way he's portrayed her family.

Reynaga admitted to 23News that he spent the money people generously donated on gas, pizza and shopping.

Unbelievable.

Channel 23 calls on the Sheriff's department to investigate Reynaga to see what laws, if any, were broken.

One thing is certain. Reynaga stole our trust and robbed us of our faith in charity.

If that's not a crime, it ought to be.

First aired 2/22/05