Charges filed against woman accused of hiding school money in bra

A former Rialto school district accountant who allegedly stuffed lunch money into her bra was charged with embezzling $1.8 million, authorities said Tuesday.

Judith Oakes, 48, was charged with multiple felony counts and is suspected of stealing money from the Rialto Unified School District during an eight-year period, according to the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office.

Oakes, who lives in San Bernardino, was arrested on Aug. 7 after she was allegedly recorded on video stuffing lunch money into her bra, law enforcement authorities said.

She was released the following day on $50,000 bail and resigned from the district. A mother of three, Oakes was paid $60,000 annually in her accounting job.

The district attorney’s office said Tuesday that an arrest warrant had been issued for Oakes. She is scheduled to be arraigned at the Fontana Courthouse on Thursday morning.

The case led to the district superintendent and his assistant being placed on leave. Police said neither are considered suspects.

The loss of the money also prompted some school board members to call for better oversight procedures.

“We have to ask: How could this person get away with this for so long? How did someone not catch her sooner or discover earlier that money was missing and the figures weren’t adding up?” board Vice President Edgar Montes said.

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robert.lopez@latimes.com