A former San Luis Obispo County probation officer has been accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from the Probation Department’s union.

Fallyn Sierra Rollins, 32 — who was sworn in as a deputy probation officer in 2019, according to the county’s Facebook page — appeared in court for the first time on Friday to face nine counts of grand theft.

County spokesperson Jeanette Trompeter told The Tribune that Rollins was first hired by the county in 2017 as a juvenile services officer. She was hired as a deputy probation officer in 2019, then resigned from her position on Sept. 6.

She is accused of stealing the money from the agency’s union between February and July, 2023, court records show. It is unclear exactly how much Rollins is accused of embezzling.

Last week, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office charged her with nine counts of grand theft over $950 by embezzlement, with one sentencing enhancement for the amount being more than $100,000.

According to the charge sheet, Rollins is accused of unlawfully taking money and personal property from the San Luis Obispo County Probation Peace Officer’s Association Inc. — the union for the Probation Department.

Assistant District Attorney Eric Dobroth told The Tribune that Rollins had a warrant out for her arrest with a $1.18 million bail, but that her attorney found out about the warrant and motioned the matter to be put on the court calendar without her being taken into custody.

Court records show a judge lowered her bail to $100,000, which she posted Friday.

Judge Barry LaBarbera ruled that Santa Barbara County’s Probation Department will manage Rollins while she resides with her mother in Santa Maria. She was expected to check in with the agency by the end of the day Friday.

Her next court hearing was scheduled for Feb. 24, when she is expected to enter a plea.

Probation Officer’s Family, Friends Say She Will Pay the Money Back

According to court records, Rollins’ attorney, Robert Sanger, submitted a motion for his client to be released without having to post bail. Her family and friends submitted several declarations to argue for her release.

In one declaration, Rollins’ mother, Tonia Rollins, said her daughter has always been a responsible and reliable person and a good citizen, and has always done the right thing.

Fallyn Rollins and her 3-year-old son live with her, Tonia Rollins said, and help take care of her as she battles cancer.

“I am confident that there is no danger of Fallyn reoffending or committing any other crimes,” Tonia Rollins said in the declaration.

She added that she and her daughter plan to refinance the house to raise funds for restitution.

“I want to do this because I believe in my daughter in that she will make positive contributions to the world, including raising my grandson,” her mother said. “I want to help her make this situation as right as possible.”

Ramona Reed, a longtime friend of the Rollins family, wrote in a declaration that Fallyn Rollins was diagnosed with mental health issues as a teenager and was prescribed medication.

There were times Rollins stopped her medication because she felt better, Ramona said, “but always got back on track (with the treatment).”

Reed said Rollins has always been responsible and that the alleged crime was “totally out of character” and has been “devastating” for the whole family.

“She is so remorseful about what she has done and is so sorry,” Reed said. “She regrets not making better choices.”

Rollins brother Logan Rollins said in a declaration that his sister “wants to handle this head-on.”

He said she had a “serious lapse” in behavior and wants to pay everything back and make it right. He said she was an excellent sister, daughter and mother, and “has more integrity than anyone I know.”

“When I first heard about what Fallyn has done, I was completely shocked because it was so unlike her,” her brother said.

He said his sister admitted to being in a dark place at the time of the alleged crimes and realized herself she would have to make things right by paying the money back.

Alexandria Brunson, Fallyn Rollins’ friend, said in her declaration that Rollins was a great mother and friend, who “was always there for you especially in bad times when people need support.”

“Fallyn Rollins is taking responsibility for what she did. It is very important to her, and her entire family, that she do everything in her power to make right what she has done.”

Noozhawk editor’s note:

The situation is reminiscent of the case involving Manuel Edward “Ed” Torres, now 69, of Orcutt. Torres was charged with diverting $635,254 from the Santa Barbara County Probation Peace Officer’s Association into his personal bank account over 10 years.

Torres, who retired in 2019 as a probation officer, pleaded guilty to theft of public funds between 2009 and 2019, and admitted enhancements that the theft exceeded $500,000 and aggravating factors that the crime occurred while he served in a position of trust.

In April 2023, Torres changed his plea and received an 11-year prison sentence. 

He currently is incarcerated in the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility and will be eligible for parole in May 2027, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.