Sacramento Sheriff’s Department investigates alleged fraud at Orangevale school club | The Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department is investigating fraud allegations in connection with suspected misappropriation of thousands of dollars from the Parent Teacher Club at Oakview Community Elementary School in Orangevale, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Sgt. Lisa Bowman said the club’s president called the department on April 22 to report that a person in a position of trust was believed to have embezzled thousands of dollars in club funds.

But when a deputy responded, Bowman said, club members initially declined to press charges and said they would try to handle the matter in-house.

Two days later they called again, Bowman said.

This time, the deputy began investigating possible forgery and submitted a report to a supervisor and detectives for review this week. Bowman described the process as routine before a complaint can be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution.

No arrest has been made. Bowman said since the investigation remains open, the department cannot specify the amount taken.

At the San Juan Unified School District, spokesman Trent Allen said that as of this week the money had been repaid with a small amount of interest “so there will be no impact with what they are doing to support the school.”

Allen said the district has been providing help in recovering the funds.

The club operates independently from the school. The group’s president did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The club supports many activities at Oakview, which serves kindergarten through fifth grade. Club members raise funds to host back-to-school events, field trips, money for computers and other supplies, Allen said.