Former California School Administrator Pleads Guilty To $422K Embezzlement

Leonard Eugene Robinson, 52, of Fresno, California, pleaded guilty yesterday to charges he embezzled some $422,000 from the Orange Center School District where he had been employed as business manager. According to prosecutors, Robinson's thefts occurred over a 3 year period between October 2005 and January 2009. He admitted to writing checks to himself from school district accounts and hid the thefts by controlling the books and records. Specifically, Robinson plead guilty to grand theft and burglary charges and now faces up to six years in prison. The burglary charge was the result of Robinson allegedly taking a school district computer's hard drive in an attempt to remove evidence of his actions. Robinson's attorney, Glenn LoStracco, blamed his actions on a gambling addiction. Robinson, has was also ordered to pay $422,000 in restitution, has now filed for bankruptcy, according to his lawyer. Robinson had been employed for 21 years by the school district.

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Update: Robinson was sentenced to 3 years in prison on March 2, 2010.