A former Sutter County Sheriff's Department civilian clerk was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of embezzling $90,000 from the department, Sheriff J. Paul Parker said.

Lorinda Palafox Barrera, 46, who lives on Lariat Lane in Olivehurst, was booked into Sutter County Jail and will be arraigned today in Sutter County Superior Court.

Barrera was fired in December after an internal audit revealed discrepancies. She had worked for the department since 2002, said Parker.

While working in the department's civil division, Barrera pocketed cash paid by the public for permits and fingerprinting, then manipulated bank deposit slips, Parker said.

The thefts allegedly occurred between 2006 and 2008.

After Barrera was fired, a lengthy investigation began, including retrieval of old bank records. An outside forensic auditor assisted, Parker said.

Discovering the thefts through the department's own internal audit "doesn't assuage the pain," according to Parker, who said he feels "horrible."

"We are very saddened and feel betrayed that an employee who was granted public trust violated that trust," he said.

Parker said he regards embezzlement of public funds among the most serious offenses.

"Persons placed in positions of trust in the community shall be held accountable for their actions," he said.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.