DA: La Habra Woman Stole $134K From Boys & Girls' Club

SANTA ANA (CBS) — A former executive assistant for the La Habra Boys and Girls Club was behind bars Friday, charged with embezzling more than $134,000 from the organization over two years.

Lynette Rojas, 37, of La Habra, was arrested Thursday on a warrant alleging grand theft by embezzlement and 24 felony counts of computer access and fraud, Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche said.

She also faces sentencing enhancement allegations of embezzlement of more than $100,000, aggravated white collar crime of more than $100,000 and property damage of more than $65,000.

Arraignment is scheduled on Monday for Rojas, who was behind bars in lieu of $135,000 bail. She would have to prove any bail she posts comes from a legal and legitimate source, Labreche said.

Rojas started working for the La Habra Boys and Girls Club in April of 2008 as an executive assistant. She was responsible for the club's payroll and bank deposits, Labreche said.

Rojas is accused of issuing two dozen unauthorized paychecks totaling nearly $25,000 to herself and stealing more than $109,000 in cash from the club, Labreche said. In all, the reported loss was $134,540, the prosecutor said.

A bookkeeper for the club last July noticed discrepancies such as payroll documents with pieces of paper pasted to them to cover up additional pay that Rojas allegedly issued to herself, Labreche said.

The club had to lay off several employees and cut programs for needy children to make up for the losses, Labreche said.

Rojas faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, Labreche said.

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