A San Bernardino County teacher was arrested for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
The suspect was identified as Ariana Rodriguez, 34, of Yucca Valley, according to the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Department.
Rodriguez is employed as a teacher at Yucca Valley High School and is also the PTO’s account overseer, authorities said.
On June 18, a PTO member reported a series of unauthorized withdrawals from the organization’s account.
Investigators later discovered Rodriguez had reportedly embezzled over $8,500 through unauthorized transactions over a two-year period.
On July 2, Rodriguez was arrested for embezzlement and was booked at the Morongo Basin jail. She is being held on $30,000 bail.
The Morongo Unified School District told news outlet KESQ that Rodriguez “has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and will continue to do so throughout the investigation.”
No further details were released as the case remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Morongo Basin Station at 760-366-4175.
Anonymous tips can be provided to We-Tip at 1-800-782-7463 or online at wetip.com.
