Former director pleads guilty

CLOVIS — The former director of Clovis’ senior meals program pleaded Tuesday morning to embezzling from the organization last year.

Cherisse Perez, 35, faces up to seven years in prison for the charge — three years for the initial charge and a possible sentence enhancement of one or four years, depending on the court’s view of prior violations on her record. Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 23.

Perez and family members made their case to Judge Matthew Chandler for a lenient sentence, as they will not be present for the sentencing hearing itself.

Perez was initially charged in February with 19 counts of embezzlement in various amounts in Curry County Magistrate Court, but those charges were superseded by a March grand jury indictment for embezzlement over $20,000.

According to court documents:

• An investigation began in December after a local bank notified the Curry Resident Senior Meals Association of suspicious activity on its account.

• Perez sent the CRSMA board of directors an apology letter with an admission of taking money after experiencing personal challenges and an offer to start paying the money back.

Assistant District Attorney Jake Boazman declined comment on the overall case prior to the sentencing. A call placed to Perez attorney Tye Harmon was not immediately returned.