The District Attorney’s office is reviewing the case against a former Española Valley High School secretary who allegedly embezzled $4,000 from a school activity fund, Chief Deputy District Attorney A.J. Salazar said.
Salazar declined to comment further, saying the matter is an ongoing investigation.
Carmen Gonzales, 51, of Española, resigned Aug. 8, according to personnel documents, almost a month after administrators discovered the money was missing. Administrators discovered the loss July 11 while conducting a quarterly financial audit and confronted Gonzales, an Española Police report states.
Superintendent David Cockerham said the decision to allow Gonzales to resign was financial: if the District had fired Gonzales, she would have wound up on paid administrative leave for at least three weeks if she contested her termination. Cockerham said the District did not attempt to make Gonzales return the money.
“I don’t think she has it to give,” Cockerham said.
Gonzales admitted taking the money when administrators confronted her, saying she has lost her home and is dealing with calls from bill collectors, a police report states.
“I took it. I need the money because my finances are all messed up,” Gonzales told administrators, according to the report.
Cockerham hopes the District can recover the money through a court order.
“Certainly, in any case where there’s an allegation of money being wrongfully misappropriated, one of the components is making the victim whole through restitution,” Salazar said.
Salazar did not say when or if Gonzales’ case will go to court. She has not been arrested or charged with a crime.
Gonzales could not be reached for comment.