CALIFORNIA STOLEN COMPUTER FOUND AT NON-PROFIT'S EX-DIRECTOR'S HOME Local News: Nonprofit’s ex-director arrested for embezzlement | director, nonprofit, arrested - Victorville Daily Press

Nonprofit’s ex-director arrested for embezzlement

KATHERINE ROSENBERG

November 1, 2007 - 7:48PM

VICTORVILLE — The former director of a local nonprofit was arrested for reportedly embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from his employer, officials said Thursday.

The High Desert Child, Adolescent & Family Services Center Inc. — a counseling group located in Victorville — announced Thursday that the former director, Mark Erickson, 37, of Apple Valley had resigned from his post on Oct. 5, and was later arrested on suspicion of felony embezzlement, conspiracy and receivingstolen property.

The center contracts with San Bernardino County, and it was unclear after an internal audit whether county funds had been taken as well, county officials said Thursday.

“We were contacted and told that Erickson was the director, and that there was an accusation that they felt monies and property had been embezzled,” said Detective Jerry Shelton of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Victorville station. “Through our investigation we found thousands of dollars had been embezzled andstolen property was found at his home.”

Two search warrants were served Wednesday, one at the center located in the 15000 block of Seventh Street in Victorville, and the second at Erickson’s home on Serrano Road in Apple Valley.

Evidence, including a stolen computer, was recovered from each location, officials said.

Erickson lives at the home with his girlfriend, Lisa Sepulveda, officials said. She was an office manager at the center, and officials believe that after the bookkeeper was forced to take time off work, Sepulveda became authorized to make purchases for the center.

The investigation suggested that most of the missing money was paid out as reimbursements for purchases, authorities noted.

Sepulveda had not been charged as of Thursday night, but charges are expected to be forthcoming, Shelton said. She was dismissed from her position at the center just 10 days after Erickson resigned, records show.

“It is important to protect the agency and the clients we serve from damage of these individual’s actions,” wrote Cindi Burklow, the new director at the center, in a letter to the Daily Press.

An audit of the center’s finances was conducted, but has not been released. They were turned over to Sheriff’s officials for the purpose of the investigation.

“The Board of Directors ... assure our clients that the center is open, operating and fully functional,” Burklow wrote.

Erickson was arrested on suspicion of felony embezzlement, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property, and has since bailed out of Victor Valley Jail, Shelton said.