Proposed plea deal for ex-PTSA VP deemed too lenient

A proposed plea deal for a former Parent Teacher and Student Association officer who stole more than $4,000 from the association’s funds has been rejected after the judge deemed the three-month prison sentence too lenient.

The proposed plea deal would have imposed a three-month prison term on Priscilla Taitano Castro, a former vice president of Kagman Elementary School’s PTSA who stole the PTSA’s fundraising money in the amount of $4,442.34 and pawned for $150 a laptop owned by the Public School System.

In rejecting the proposed plea deal, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho said the sentence only appears to be lengthy, but the reality is that the three-month prison sentence is barely 5 percent of the possible maximum sentence of five years.

Camacho said the severity of Castro’s acts warrant greater retribution and incarceration.

The judge said the plea deal fails to take into account all the hard work of the students, parents, and teachers to raise funds and Castro’s betrayal of trust as PTSA vice president.

Camacho said Castro offers no persuasive reason why the court should accept the proposed plea agreement.

Camacho noted that Castro, 49, is a repeat offender with several criminal cases involving financial crimes such as forgery and extensive civil action/small claim cases involving her failure to live up to her financial obligations.

Camacho enumerated Castro’s five criminal cases and 42 small claims and breach of contract/collection cases.

The judge said the prosecutor relies on Castro’s promise to pay restitution in the amount of $4,442.34 as the main reason why the court should accept the plea deal.

“Though it is not illegal to have a debt or purchase items through credit, Castro has demonstrated her lack of financial responsibility to repay her debts,” he said.

In summary, Camacho said, Castro wants to get out of jail immediately on the promise that she will pay back the money she stole.

Camacho said that based on Castro’s criminal history and her extensive civil/small claims cases, her promise to pay the money she stole is not believable.

The only person the plea deal will benefit is Castro, he said.

“This court will not accept a plea agreement that will re-victimize the students, parents, and teachers of Kagman Elementary School,” he said.

Office of the Public Auditor investigator Thelma M. Mizer disclosed in her report that Castro, who was the then-vice president of Kagman PTSA during the 2012-2013 school year, admitted to having spent all of the PTSA’s money for her daughter’s graduation party, her house, her husband’s poker habit, and personal use.

Mizer said Castro also admitted that she pawned the PSS’ Sony Vaio E series 14 notebook computer for $150 at 24 Hours Pink House Pawn Shop in Chalan Kanoa, reportedly to buy food for her family.

Castro remains in jail after failing to post a $10,000 cash bail.