Former high school clerk accused of embezzlement

Riverside police on Thursday arrested a 36-year-old former La Sierra High School clerk accused of embezzling about $50,000 from the school’s Associated Student Body.

Alina Peterson, an employee at the Riverside school since 2002, was responsible for handling cash and checks submitted to the student organization that raises funds for student clubs and extracurricular activities.

Peterson admitted to embezzling the money from about 2003 until her resignation from the school in August, authorities said. She paid the school district back the $50,000 days after resigning, and school officials submitted a report to the Riverside County district attorney’s office.