By Brittney Cannon
Clovis News Journal
CLOVIS, NM — A former Curry County probation officer has been charged with embezzling money from the county.
Christopher R. Lopez, 34, turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday, was charged and released from custody on an appearance bond, District Attorney Andrea Reeb said.
Lopez has been charged with embezzlement greater than $2,500, alternative fraud greater than $2,500, and paying or receiving public money for services not rendered, according to the record.
Reeb said Lopez is facing up to three years in prison and $5,000 in fines and restitution.
Attempts to reach Lopez and his attorney, Troy Oliver, for comment were not successful.
Lopez currently works as a juvenile probation officer in Albuquerque and was able “to go back to his job,” Reeb said.
“I was told his higher ups will decide what to do with him as far as his job,” Reeb said. “They have been notified that charges (against Lopez) are coming.”
The arrest warrant shows Lopez was contracted to work for Curry County as a misdemeanor compliance officer for three years. Part of his contract was to “turn in money orders given to him by probationers daily to the Curry County treasurer’s office.”
All money orders were to be written to Curry County. Lopez was only supposed to collect probation fees as determined by the court, however he also collected $15 drug testing fees, which upped his reimbursement from the county, prosecutors allege.
“Mr. Lopez would order probationers to leave the money orders blank and instructions would be given on how to fill them out,” the warrant alleges. “Money orders would be made out to ‘Chris Lopez Probation Officer.’ This was documented on CaseLoad Pro by Mr. Lopez.”
When another compliance officer learned this information, she reported it and conducted an audit from April 19, 2011, through Jan. 31, 2014, records show.
The audit, according to records, found $6,197 missing that was never turned into the county treasurer.
All money that was missing from the account or enhanced was accumulated in $15 increments, which is the same amount he would tell probationers to bring for drug testing, prosecutors allege.
State police interviewed Lopez on April 29, and showed him the audit. Immediately, records show, Lopez stated, “I (messed) up,” and admitted to depositing the money orders straight into his personal bank account.
Lopez “should be arraigned in a week,” Reeb said, and a preliminary hearing may happen in a month.