Following her high-profile arrest in April, Stockton school board member AngelAnn Flores is expected in court Monday to face embezzlement, grand theft, and false claims charges.
However, details of Flores’ case — and answers about the broader investigation into Stockton Unified School District announced last year — may remain elusive.
The six-year member of the Stockton Unified School District board was arrested on April 22 by sheriff’s deputies for allegedly misusing a school district expense card and submitting a false insurance claim, The Record reported.
“Trustee Flores' non-compliance to the district's credit card policy was intentional, egregious, and clearly for personal gain,” San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office stated.
Flores’ arrest marked the first known action against a Stockton Unified official since San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced an FBI, U.S. DOJ, and DA’s office investigation into widespread alleged misconduct at the district one year ago.
Flores' alleged expense card misuse appears unconnected to the February 2023 state auditors’ findings of possible fraud, misappropriation of funds, and other illegal practices, which seem to have prompted the DA's announcement last year.
As of Friday, it was unclear if Freitas plans to speak to the press and the public about Flores’ case or the multi-agency investigation.
The DA’s office would not comment ahead of Flores’ arraignment “because it is an ongoing investigation,” spokesperson Josie Heart said.
“Over the last two weeks, Ms. Flores has made 10 requests to the DA for the evidence against her without response,” the trustee’s attorneys claimed in a statement Thursday.
New details about the investigation are not likely to surface at the hearing itself. Arraignments typically include a judge reading of the charges, the defendant’s rights, and an initial plea.
The judge usually appoints a lawyer if the defendant doesn’t have one.
That’s not the case with Flores. Former San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar and Lodi attorney Mark Bowman represent the trustee.
Deputy District Attorney Donald Vaughn, who also led election fraud and financial crimes cases against former Lodi councilmember Shakir Khan, is leading the prosecution.
Hours after Flores’ April 22 arrest, Verber Salazar revealed that the school board member plans to sue the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the DA’s office, and Stockton Unified for alleged retaliation. Flores notified the DA and sheriff’s offices in early April, according to Verber Salazar.
The board member claims a sheriff’s search of her home in November was retaliation for her raising red flags about possible financial crimes at the school district, Verber Salazar said.
Flores plans to file the lawsuit in San Joaquin County Superior Court sometime in May, according to her attorney.
Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers government accountability. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https ://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow .
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Unified trustee AngelAnn Flores to face charges Monday: what we know
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