Former Treasurer For Rancho Cotate HS Program Sentenced

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A treasurer of Rancho Cotate High School's alcohol-free, safe and sober Project Graduation program was sentenced in Sonoma County Superior Court Monday to six months in jail for embezzlement and theft of money from the Rohnert Park high school program. Mary Katherine David, 38, of Santa Rosa, pleaded no contest in January to felony grand theft and forgery charges totaling nearly $50,000,
the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office said.

David was treasurer of the Rancho-Cotati Unified School District's Project Graduation program between 2013 and 2017. She forged the signature of the president of the program's board of directors and began writing checks to herself for $200 to $1,000, according to prosecutors.

David also falsely reported bank balances and submitted false ledger sheets to the board. The theft and forgery were discovered in April 2017 when checks to legitimate vendors bounced, prosecutors said.

David admitted to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety that she embezzled approximately $50,000.

Community members held fundraising events that raised $25,000 to replace the embezzled funds and a 2017 Project Graduation was held for 2017 graduates of Rancho Cotate and other high schools in Rohnert Park.

David pleaded no contest to all the charges against her and paid full restitution before her no contest pleas, prosecutors said.

David also was sentenced to four years of formal probation and was taken into custody after her sentencing.

The Project Graduation program holds alcohol, tobacco, and drug free graduation gatherings that include food, games, a carnival, casino and fortune tellers.

By Bay City News Service

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