PROSECUTORS SAY SHE MAY HAVE EMBEZZLED UP TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.. THE FORMER HEAD LIBRARIAN OF THE SAN BENITO COUNTY LIBRARIES.. ERIN BAXTER, BOOKED AND CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING TAXPAYER DOLLARS . (MOS ONE 10:45 WHEN I MOVED HERE, I WAS LIKE, IS THIS IS SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY, LIKE A SMALL TOWN. EVERYONE KNOWS EACH OTHER, EVERYONE TRUSTS EACH OTHER. SO WHEN STUFF LIKE THIS HAPPENS, IT’S PRETTY DISAPPOINTING :55) BAXTER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH GRAND THEFT, FORGERY, CONSPIRACY.. PROSECUTORS ALLEGE SHE USED HER POSITION OF TRUST TO EMBEZZLE PUBLIC FUNDS.. EXACT FIGURES UNKNOWN.. BUT PROSECUTORS SAY IT’S BETWEEN 100 THOUSAND AND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.. MONEY ALLEGEDLY USED TO BUY PERSONAL ITEMS LIKE CAMPING GEAR, GOLF CLUBS.. AND MAKEUP.. INVESTIGATORS SAY THERE MAY BE CO- CONSPIRATORS.. (PROSECUTOR 5:45 SO OUR OFFICE IS WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS OTHER FOLKS THAT WE CAN PROVE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, THAT WE END UP GOING FORWARD ON THOSE CHARGES AS WELL. BUT OUR OFFICE IS STILL WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ON THOSE :57) ACCORDING TO THIS 4 PAGE COMPLAINT, BAXTER IS CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING THE MONEY BEGINNING IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.. SHE RESIGNED LAST YEAR.. (12:45 I DO KNOW THAT THE LIBRARY’S DOING AN AMAZING JOB HERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND I’M SORRY TO SAY THAT THE FUNDS ARE GOING MISAPPROPRIATED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR KIDS AND YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY REALLY SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT HERE. BUT I SEE THAT THEY’RE STILL MOVING ON AND MOVING STRONG :59) ERIN BAXTER.. WALKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL.. TURNED HERSELF IN AND THEN BAILED OUT.. SHE’S SCHEDULED TO BE ARRAIGNED ON THE CHARGES JULY 10.
Ex-San Benito County librarian ordered to pay back over $300K in embezzled funds
A former San Benito County library director has been sentenced in a case alleging she embezzled up to half a million dollars in library funds.Erin Baxter was charged in 2024 with three felony counts of embezzling taxpayer dollars. Prosecutors allege she used her position of trust to take public funds, and, while the exact amount is unknown, they estimate the total between $100,000 and $500,000.She was sentenced to one year in county jail and two years of probation.She was also ordered to pay $332,070 in restitution, according to court documents.According to the four-page complaint, prosecutors alleged Baxter embezzled the money beginning in the summer of 2022 and continuing through April 2023. She resigned from her position in 2023.The money was allegedly used to buy personal items such as camping gear, golf clubs, and makeup.See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A former San Benito County library director has been sentenced in a case alleging she embezzled up to half a million dollars in library funds.
Erin Baxter was charged in 2024 with three felony counts of embezzling taxpayer dollars. Prosecutors allege she used her position of trust to take public funds, and, while the exact amount is unknown, they estimate the total between $100,000 and $500,000.
She was sentenced to one year in county jail and two years of probation.
She was also ordered to pay $332,070 in restitution, according to court documents.
According to the four-page complaint, prosecutors alleged Baxter embezzled the money beginning in the summer of 2022 and continuing through April 2023. She resigned from her position in 2023.
The money was allegedly used to buy personal items such as camping gear, golf clubs, and makeup.
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
