PROSECUTORS SAY SHE MAY HAVE EMBEZZLED UP TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.. THE FORMER HEAD LIBRARIAN OF THE SAN BENITO COUNTY LIBRARIES.. ERIN BAXTER, BOOKED AND CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING TAXPAYER DOLLARS . (MOS ONE 10:45 WHEN I MOVED HERE, I WAS LIKE, IS THIS IS SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY, LIKE A SMALL TOWN. EVERYONE KNOWS EACH OTHER, EVERYONE TRUSTS EACH OTHER. SO WHEN STUFF LIKE THIS HAPPENS, IT'S PRETTY DISAPPOINTING :55) BAXTER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH GRAND THEFT, FORGERY, CONSPIRACY.. PROSECUTORS ALLEGE SHE USED HER POSITION OF TRUST TO EMBEZZLE PUBLIC FUNDS.. EXACT FIGURES UNKNOWN.. BUT PROSECUTORS SAY IT'S BETWEEN 100 THOUSAND AND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.. MONEY ALLEGEDLY USED TO BUY PERSONAL ITEMS LIKE CAMPING GEAR, GOLF CLUBS.. AND MAKEUP.. INVESTIGATORS SAY THERE MAY BE CO- CONSPIRATORS.. (PROSECUTOR 5:45 SO OUR OFFICE IS WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS OTHER FOLKS THAT WE CAN PROVE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, THAT WE END UP GOING FORWARD ON THOSE CHARGES AS WELL. BUT OUR OFFICE IS STILL WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ON THOSE :57) ACCORDING TO THIS 4 PAGE COMPLAINT, BAXTER IS CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING THE MONEY BEGINNING IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.. SHE RESIGNED LAST YEAR.. (12:45 I DO KNOW THAT THE LIBRARY'S DOING AN AMAZING JOB HERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT THE FUNDS ARE GOING MISAPPROPRIATED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR KIDS AND YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY REALLY SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT HERE. BUT I SEE THAT THEY'RE STILL MOVING ON AND MOVING STRONG :59) ERIN BAXTER.. WALKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL.. TURNED HERSELF IN AND THEN BAILED OUT.. SHE'S SCHEDULED TO BE ARRAIGNED ON THE CHARGES JULY 10.
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Former San Benito County librarian charged with embezzling up to $500,000
A former library director in San Benito County has been booked and charged with embezzling library funds, an amount that could top half a million dollars.After a months-long investigation, prosecutors have charged Erin Baxter with three felony counts of embezzling taxpayer dollars.“When I moved here, I was like, this is such a great community, like a small town, everyone knows each other, everyone trusts each other, so when stuff like this happens, it's pretty disappointing,” said Chelsea San Diego, a library patron.Baxter has been charged with grand theft, forgery and conspiracy. Prosecutors allege she used her position of trust to embezzle the public funds and while exact figures are unknown prosecutors say it's between $100,000 and $500,000.The money was allegedly used to buy personal items like camping gear, golf clubs and makeup. Investigators say there may be co-conspirators.“Our office is working with the sheriff's department to make sure that if there is other folks that we can prove have been involved beyond a reasonable doubt, that we end up going forward on those charges as well, but our office is still working with the sheriff's department on those,” said San Benito County District Attorney Joel Buckingham.According to the four-page complaint, Baxter is charged with embezzling the money beginning in the summer of 2022 and continuing through April 2023. Baxter resigned last year.“I do know that the library's doing an amazing job here for our community, and I'm sorry to say that the funds are going misappropriated because, you know, a lot of our kids and youth and the community really should be able to use it here but I see that they're still moving on and moving strong,” said Imelda Sanchez, another library patron.Soon after prosecutors filed their criminal complaint, Baxter walked into the San Benito county jail, turned herself in and then immediately bailed out.She’s scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on July 10.A voicemail left with her defense attorney went unanswered.
HOLLISTER, Calif. —
A former library director in San Benito County has been booked and charged with embezzling library funds, an amount that could top half a million dollars.
After a months-long investigation, prosecutors have charged Erin Baxter with three felony counts of embezzling taxpayer dollars.
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“When I moved here, I was like, this is such a great community, like a small town, everyone knows each other, everyone trusts each other, so when stuff like this happens, it's pretty disappointing,” said Chelsea San Diego, a library patron.
Baxter has been charged with grand theft, forgery and conspiracy. Prosecutors allege she used her position of trust to embezzle the public funds and while exact figures are unknown prosecutors say it's between $100,000 and $500,000.
The money was allegedly used to buy personal items like camping gear, golf clubs and makeup. Investigators say there may be co-conspirators.
“Our office is working with the sheriff's department to make sure that if there is other folks that we can prove have been involved beyond a reasonable doubt, that we end up going forward on those charges as well, but our office is still working with the sheriff's department on those,” said San Benito County District Attorney Joel Buckingham.
According to the four-page complaint, Baxter is charged with embezzling the money beginning in the summer of 2022 and continuing through April 2023. Baxter resigned last year.
“I do know that the library's doing an amazing job here for our community, and I'm sorry to say that the funds are going misappropriated because, you know, a lot of our kids and youth and the community really should be able to use it here but I see that they're still moving on and moving strong,” said Imelda Sanchez, another library patron.
Soon after prosecutors filed their criminal complaint, Baxter walked into the San Benito county jail, turned herself in and then immediately bailed out.
She’s scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on July 10.
A voicemail left with her defense attorney went unanswered.
