By Ashley Luthern
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — A woman accused of abusing her position as a state Department of Corrections probation and parole agent is expected to plead guilty to misconduct in office Wednesday.
Sandra V. Alvarez, 45, of St. Francis, was charged in April with three counts misconduct in office.
The state Department of Corrections had contacted the Wisconsin Department of Justice to request an investigation into allegations that Alvarez was requesting money from clients. The department’s policies specifically ban agents from soliciting or accepting any loans from clients.
A state investigator interviewed three of Alvarez’s clients. One said that between October and Dececember, Alvarez asked him to lend her $500, and the client told the investigator that “he was afraid that if he did not comply, (Alvarez) would revoke his probation and send him to prison,” according to the criminal complaint.
Alvarez allegedly borrowed $1,400 from a second client and more than $1,000 from a third client, all during roughly the same time period. All clients said they feared that if they did not loan Alvarez money, she would revoke their parole or probation, though she never expressly made any threats.
If convicted on all three counts, Alvarez could face a maximum sentence of 10 1/2 years in prison and up to $30,000 in fines.
Alvarez pleaded not guilty May 2, but online court records indicate a plea and sentencing hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday on July 16.
Information on Alvarez’s current employment status with the state Department of Corrections was not immediately available. Alvarez earned an annual salary of $45,215.04 in 2012 working as a probation and parole agent, according to a Journal Sentinel database.