A quinceañera planner based in San Jose has been charged with multiple counts of felony grand theft for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from local families who hired him to plan their celebrations, prosecutors said.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen's office announced Thursday that charges were filed against 51-year-old Juan Martin Gaspar, who is also known as Juan Martin Barcenas.

Gaspar, who ran the company "VIP Eventss" was described by prosecutors as a "well known planner" for the often elaborate celebrations, which in Latin American cultures is a coming-of-age celebration for a girl's 15th birthday.

"A quinceañera is a very important event in a young woman's life," Rosen said in a statement . "The memories of that special day should be wonderful ones, not th

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