EX-HALE HOUSE HEAD, HUSBAND CHARGED

NEW YORK -- The ousted head of Hale House, the Harlem home for
drug-addicted and abandoned babies, was charged Tuesday along with her
husband with misappropriating more than $1 million from the
organization her mother founded 32 years ago.

Lorraine Hale and Jesse DeVore were accused of stealing more than
$700,000 from the Hale House Foundation and diverting about $250,000
in charitable donations to a secret checking account. The couple also
allegedly cashed in a $488,000 life insurance plan held by the charity.

The charges against the couple include grand larceny and
forgery.

State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said he has also begun a civil
forfeiture action to recover the money and has frozen the couple's
assets. Spitzer said they have about $10 million in the bank and
significant real estate holdings.

Hale, 75, and DeVore pleaded innocent and were released without
bail.

Hale was removed as president of the Harlem charity in May for alleged
mismanagement of funds.

In a statement, Hale attorney William Dowling denounced the
indictments. "This precipitous and unnecessary arrest of our clients
occurring as it did, while discussions were ongoing and making
progress, is as insulting as it is degrading," he said.

Hale House was founded by Clara "Mother" Hale, who died in 1992 at 87.
She received the Medal of Freedom in 1985 for her work.

Hale House operates almost entirely on contributions from the
public.