Las Vegas Sun

November 11, 2009

Currently: 62° | Complete forecast | Log in

School bookkeeper must return funds

Sunday, April 16, 2000 | 10:54 a.m.

Paula Rotsma entered the plea Friday before Washoe District Judge Jim Hardesty. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine when she's sentenced May 17.

In a plea bargain, she agreed to pay back the money prosecutors can prove she took.

Prosecutors said she took $15,000 in cash and the remaining $46,357 in checks she wrote to herself from school accounts.

"There are additional losses," Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin Erickson said. "They may or may not be tied to the defendant."

School officials are pursuing a civil case against Rotsma to get back the full $186,000 that auditors found missing.

They said they are out nearly $250,000 between the $186,000 taken from the school and $60,000 in auditors' fees to find the missing money.

The civil suit seeks full repayment and punitive damages. It lists Rotsma's homes in Reno and Lake Davis, Calif., as assets for repayment.

archive

  • Most Read
  • Discussed
  • Most E-mailed

Complete Listing

Calendar »

  • 11 Wed
  • 12 Thu
  • 13 Fri
  • 14 Sat
  • 15 Sun

All events on Wednesday »