The former president of the Oakview Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) was sentenced to prison Wednesday in Lewis County Superior Court.
Alejandra M. Robbins, 35, of Centralia, will serve 18 months with the Department of Corrections (DOC), as ordered by Judge Paul Strophy. Robbins must also pay back the $21,292.58 she stole from a PTO account intended to fund the Oakview students’ annual trip to the Cispus Learning Center.
Robbins pleaded guilty on May 27 to one count of first-degree theft, embezzlement, which included abuse of trust as an aggravating factor.
The sentence imposed was greater than the 12 months and one day requested by Senior Deputy Prosecutor Bradley Meagher. Meagher said he “adamantly” opposed the defense’s request for a parenting sentencing alternative.
Strophy questioned whether Robbins even qualified for the alternative under state law, since the high end of her standard sentence range didn’t exceed one year, as required.
According to court documents, Robbins’ standard range was 0 to 90 days. Because she also pleaded guilty to abuse of trust as an aggravating factor, however, the standard range was increased “up to the maximum” of 120 months. Robbins faced a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Standard sentence ranges are calculated based on the defendant’s criminal history and the severity of the crime.
Meagher said the issue was an “unanswered question” to be decided by the court of appeals.
“On balance, in this case, the victim is the community at large, and it’s so disproportionate to whatever needs Ms. Robbins may have,” Meagher said, adding that a parenting sentencing alternative “would not be a just sentence.”
Meagher supported his recommendation by noting that Robbins had “been given a break” on prior felony convictions.
According to court documents, Robbins has prior convictions for unlawful issuance of a bank check in 2012 and bail jumping in 2013.
In a sentencing memorandum filed on Aug. 25, prosecutors said the crime has “tarnished the reputation of the Oakview PTO.”
Morgan Flaig, who succeeded Robbins as PTO president, took the stand prior to Meagher’s recommendation. Flaig discovered Robbins’ embezzlements, which occurred between February and December of 2024, according to the memorandum.
Flaig described the difficulties the PTO had following Robbins’ theft.
“They did not want to participate in fundraising events,” Flaig said of community members. “They didn’t want to participate in after-school events. We had no one showing up for PTO meetings. They just had no trust within us.”
Reading from her prepared statement, Flaig said Robbins took advantage of the trust she’d had with the Oakview community, and did so “repeatedly for her own benefit.”
“A guilty plea acknowledges what happened, but it does not erase the damage,” Flaig said.
Defense attorney Sarah McFadden appeared to be caught off guard by the possibility that Robbins might not be eligible for the parenting sentencing alternative.
According to a risk assessment report submitted by the DOC, Robbins was marked as being both “eligible” and “suitable” for a family and offender sentencing alternative (FOSA).
McFadden said it was her understanding, after reviewing the report from FOSA Corrections Specialist Thelma Baltazar, that Robbins was not only suitable, but also a “good candidate.”
“There is no question that Ms. Robbins stole a lot of money, and that’s not okay,” McFadden said, adding that Robbins had already saved money to pay for the restitution.
McFadden, who said the hearing was emotional for her, asked the court to impose the sentencing alternative — not for Robbins’ benefit, but for her children’s benefit.
A short time later, Robbins asked to speak to the gallery, which at one point held 19 people, including children.
“I just want them to know that I’m sorry,” Robbins said, before apologizing for taking advantage of the community.
“If I could, I would take it all back.” Robbins said.
The former PTO president indicated she had recently received medication and was diagnosed with a mental health condition, but said that didn’t change what she did.
“I’m trying to be a better person and a better mom,” Robbins said.
Strophy then imposed a sentence of 18 months in prison, along with restitution of $21,292.58.
The judge said he was glad to hear the community rallied to help the Oakview students attend the Cispus Learning Center, but noted the crime’s impact on community trust.
“We run the risk here if … there’s minimal consequences, that people then feel the criminal justice system lets them down,” Strophy said, adding that people then lose faith in such systems.
Strophy indicated he might’ve taken a different position if Robbins’ offense had been a “one-time transaction” or “lapse of judgement.”
“That’s not what we have here,” Strophy said. “We have months of transactions.”
Strophy said he didn’t think the sentencing alternative was appropriate in these circumstances.
According to the prosecutors’ sentencing memorandum, Robbins spent the embezzled funds on rent, a computer and “numerous trips” to Costco, Walmart and Safeway.
“The faculty, staff, and parents had to scramble to find donors from the community to fund the shortfall,” prosecutors wrote. “The students were eventually able to attend camp, but at a significant additional cost to the community.”
According to previous Chronicle reporting, the Centralia Education Association, a union supporting Centralia School District teachers, donated funds toward the annual trip to the Cispus Learning Center, along with other elementary school PTOs and principals.
Robbins was originally charged in February 2025 and accused of embezzling nearly $20,000 from three PTO accounts between November 2023 and December 2024.
She pleaded not guilty during an arraignment on Feb. 27, 2025.
At the outset of Wednesday’s hearing, Strophy said his children had attended Oakview Elementary, but said he was never a PTO member and didn’t believe his involvement with the school would affect his ability to be fair and impartial.
Other community members submitted victim impact statements prior to the hearing, including Oakview PTO President Mayra Gomez, Centralia School District Superintendent Dr. Lisa Grant and Oakview Elementary School Principal Crystal Allen.
“She didn't support the school or the board, she didn't partner with the school administration, she didn't help prioritize school goals for next year and the years to come,” Gomez wrote. “She's not a leader, she's not a good role model, and she's not a team player.”
Grant wrote that the “financial loss was immediate, but the emotional and operational toll has cut far deeper.”
“The stolen funds were earmarked for student events that could not happen,” Grant wrote. “Children lost out on experiences meant to celebrate their growth and support their learning.”
Allen called the loss of the trust “profound.”
“Rebuilding that trust has required an immense amount of time, hard work, and transparency from our staff and dedicated volunteers,” Allen wrote.
