ACHS worker arrested in lunch money theft
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Camarillo police arrested a 37year-old employee of Adolfo Camarillo High School last Friday for stealing money from a special education student.

After parents of the 14yearold student told school officials someone was taking their child's lunch money, the school's resource officer set up a hidden camera in a classroom and caught Kristen Rene Santoyo, a para-educator, taking money from the student's bag, according to police.

When the officer arrested Santoyo, a 12-year employee of the Oxnard Union High School District, investigators say drug paraphernalia was found in the Oxnard woman's possession and she was under the influence of a controlled substance.

Santoyo was booked on theftand drug-related charges at the main jail in Ventura and was released on her own recognizance.

Jodi Dunlap, OUHSD superintendent, said the district was unaware that Santoyo had a criminal record. Santoyo pleaded guilty to grand theft in December 2001 and spent 15 days in jail, according to court records.

Dunlap said Santoyo passed all background checks, including a criminal history, when she was hired.

The superintendent said that with extended school breaks in the summer and for holidays, it's possible for an employee to hide criminal activity. Unless school officials have reason to suspect an employee has engaged in criminal behavior, the district does not perform background checks other than at the time of hiring, she said.

Santoyo may have served her 15-day sentence during a school break.

"We had no notion, no idea that there was anything improper happening," Dunlap said. "We like to think our employees go to work for one reason, to help kids."

Dunlap said Santoyo resigned last Friday.