Ex-official apologizes for crimes in California PTO case

Those who knew Vanessa Reyes when she was president of Trace Elementary's parent-teacher organization were shocked that someone so trusted and well-liked at the school could have embezzled thousands of dollars from the PTO without any apparent sign of remorse.

But on Friday, Reyes gave a tearful apology to Trace Parent Teacher Organization members -- and former friends -- as a judge considered her punishment for spending more than $20,000 of the group's funds on personal expenses including running shoes, a Legoland trip and iTunes purchases.
"I'm truly sorry to all of you," said Vanessa Reyes, 40, turning from the microphone to address those sitting behind her. Reyes pleaded no contest to charges of felony grand theft in May.
A visibly emotional Reyes acknowledged that "there's a lot of anger and hurt" as a result of the theft and that "there was a dark side" to her actions.
"It's hard for me to understand your case," Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Ron Del Pozzo said. He told her he could have understood if the money had gone to house payments or to support her four children, but he called the purchases at such stores as Ann Taylor extravagant and unnecessary.
"I saw 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' and that's the closest I can come to understanding," Del Pozzo said.
Reyes, who has since moved to San Gabriel, had been scheduled for sentencing on Friday, but the judge postponed the sentence to allow Reyes to pay $5,000 in additional restitution to the parent-teacher organization.
Reyes has paid back the amount stolen plus interest as part of the plea agreement. She agreed to pay the additional funds on the judge's recommendation.
PTO board member Elizabeth Leamy, who acknowledged that she and Reyes used to be close, said the embezzlement hurt the school.
"It's more than just the money -- it's all these children's lives," she said. "I'm still in disbelief."
For Leamy, Reyes' actions require more than just a donation to the school. She said it was hard to accept that Reyes "can just write a check this afternoon and be done with it."
Reyes' attorney John Falcocchia said that at the July 22 sentencing, the judge will consider proof of Reyes' additional payment. Falcocchia expects his client will be faced with a sentencing alternative such as community service.
After the sentencing was postponed, Reyes and Leamy spoke privately. Reyes had wanted to apologize, Falcocchia said, adding that Friday's exchange gave some needed closure.
Reyes was arrested along with Anne Zingale, 48, a former treasurer of the Trace Home and School Club who's accused of spending $28,000 of the group's money.