Former Yosemite Child Care Director Pleads Guilty

Yosemite, CA — The former director of the Yosemite National Park Child Care Center, a Sonora resident, has pleaded guilty to embezzlement.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports that 41-year-old Charity Brochini embezzled $42,000 between 2005 to 2009. She was the director of the non-profit group that operated childcare facilities in Yosemite Valley and at El Portal. Brochini wrote extra checks to herself that were used to pay her personal car payments, pay outstanding credit card debt, and make personal purchases at retail stores. The case was investigated by the National Park Service and the US Department of Helath and Human Services Office of Inspector General. She will be sentenced on March 14 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.