Former school board president accused of theft of public funds appears in court

Mason Mauro
·2 min read
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(FOX40.COM) — A former elected school leader appeared in a Stockton court for the first time on Monday two weeks after her arrest.

AngelAnn Flores is accused of stealing thousands of dollars as the school board president of the Stockton Unified School District.

Tori Verber Salazar said she’s vowing to fight for Flores after the former school board president was arrested on April 19 for embezzlement, theft of public funds, grand theft of public funds. She is also charged with insurance fraud with a claim for a personal vehicle.

She was arrested after a year-long investigation from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

“We’re going to fight,”  Flores’ defense attorney Tori Verber Salazar said. “We’re going to fight and we’re going to shine a light on this.”

Former school board district president AngelAnn Flores arrested for theft, fraud

“My client had a credit card over a two-year period of time with $3,200 worth of charges. That’s about $130 a month,” Salazar continued.

Flores is accused of using a using a school district credit card for personal purchased like food and gas. She allegedly spent over $1,000 of fuel alone, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said.

The DA’s charges allege Flores broke the rules of district employee spending.

Her attorney said another school board member racked up $12,000 in unprotected expense and claims millions are missing from the district budget.

“We’re asking to hold everybody accountable,” Salazar said. “If you’re going to bring charges for $3,200 you sure as heck better bring charges for $7 million taken from our children.”

San Joaquin County deputies searched Flores’ home and office and reportedly found evidence of her suspected spending habits back in November.

Stockton Unified School District office, private home searched by San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office

“We did look into the other board members to that time to makes sure that everyone was following the policy,” San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said. “And all that we could see with the information that they gave us at susd, that all the other ones had fallen in line and were following the rules.”

The case against Flores will be continued to May 25.

Until then, the court is now allowing Flores to go back to work and be on school grounds. Flores will be at the next school boarding meeting on May 13, her attorney said.

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