If the Red Cross knows anything, it’s how to deal with
disasters.
Hollister – If the Red Cross knows anything, it’s how to deal with disasters.
And after dealing with a former executive director pleading no contest recently to a felony charge of misusing chapter funds, the San Benito County chapter of the Red Cross is hoping to reinvent itself with a new building, new administration and a new outlook on providing emergency services within the county.
After officially merging with the Monterey County chapter of the Red Cross a couple months ago in an attempt to save San Benito County’s fiscally floundering chapter, the current executive director said the focus of the organization is to rebuild relationships with the community after several years of mismanagement and poor financial planning. Part of that mismanagement included the former interim executive director being convicted of misusing chapter funds, said Executive Director Paula Herrera.
“This is a new opportunity for people to reinvest in the Red Cross,” Herrera said. “It takes time in any relationship to build up trust. We are anxious to move forward – we see this as a new beginning.”
The Red Cross provides services to anyone displaced from their home due to a natural disaster, fire or other emergency, both locally, nationally and internationally. It also provides classes teaching community members emergency services. The local chapter is working on implementing new CPR classes, bilingual First Aid courses and an HIV/AIDS awareness class, according to board members.
The former director, Charron Contival, pleaded no contest to one felony charge of misuse of funds last month after nearly three years of fighting the charge in the legal system, according to her attorney, Arthur Cantu.
Although District Attorney John Sarsfield charged Contival with embezzling more than $20,000 by misusing a Red Cross credit card, her attorney insists it was no more than $2,500. Sarsfield said his office is still trying to determine the exact amount.
Herrera, who took over operations as the chapter’s head just a few months ago was largely unaware of the details of the criminal case, however was excited about the local chapter’s new building on Fifth Street and new programs the board of directors are implementing to draw community members back into the organization.
The new building, which is near the Hollister YMCA, is cheaper to rent and more visible to the public than the previous office, which was located in a shopping center on Nash Road, Herrera said.
While community members may be leery about donating to the organization after embezzlement accusations were leveled against Contival, Herrera said controls have been put in place to make sure nothing like that can ever happen again.
“Donations go straight to the bank and are deposited,” she said. “We’re trying to make certain that when people donate to the Red Cross they know that we’re a trustworthy organization and this was just one individual.”
Contival headed San Benito’s chapter from about 2001 to 2002, and the original charge of misuse of funds was filed in October of 2003, Cantu said. The charge stems from Contival purchasing personal items for her home, which was being used as a satellite station for the Red Cross, with chapter funds, Cantu said.
“She took some liberties in decorating the place. She bought some artwork and some plants to fix up the place,” he said. “But there was no hiding of these expenditures, everybody saw it and no one ever objected to it or protested.”
The charge was dismissed and refiled twice. Finally, after the District Attorney’s Office filed a third time, Cantu said Contival fell ill and decided she wanted to settle.
Sarsfield said the case was fairly complicated and was pleased to finally conclude the lengthy ordeal.
“We are very, very happy with the outcome,” he said. “Embezzlement cases can be hard to prove.”
Contival pleaded no contest to the charge and will be sentenced on Aug. 24. While she could face up to one year in the county jail, Cantu said part of her plea agreement promised that instead of jail time she will be placed on felony probation. Sarsfield declined to comment on her sentence, but said it is “between her and the judge.”
Contival also pleaded no contest to one charge of felony tax evasion earlier this year because she failed to file several years of tax returns, Cantu said. She was placed on felony probation for that charge, which is separate from the embezzlement charge, and is currently living at home with an electronic monitoring device, according to jail personnel.
But Herrera said everyone involved in the Red Cross is trying to put the difficult situation behind them and start fresh.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to offer the kinds of things we do best,” she said, “getting people ready for the worst.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
