SAN LUIS OBISPO, California – A former deputy probation officer was sentenced on Tuesday for stealing more than $169,000 from a non-profit law enforcement labor association, San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced.
San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Rita Federman ordered Fallyn Sierra Rollins, 32, to serve 270 days in county jail and placed her on felony probation for two years. The sentencing followed a February 24, 2026, agreement where Rollins entered a no-contest plea to nine felony counts of grand theft and acknowledged an allegation regarding the theft of over $100,000. Under the conditions of the court arrangement, she completed a full restitution payment of $169,874.95 prior to her sentencing date.
Rollins, whose date of birth is June 16, 1993, carried out the embezzlement scheme between February 2023 and August 2024. During this timeframe, she utilized her position as treasurer of the San Luis Obispo County Probation Peace Officers’ Association to siphon money from the group. Her role granted her exclusive administration over the organization’s debit card, checking account, and accounting papers, which allowed her actions to remain hidden for months.
The labor organization operates as an independent, employee-led non-profit designed to deliver professional legal assistance, specialized training, and supplementary benefits to personnel within the local probation department. When leadership discovered the missing funds, they notified the San Luis Obispo Police Department, which launched an investigation with cooperation from both the association and the county probation agency.
The District Attorney’s Office formally opposed the lighter penalty, arguing instead that the extensive duration of the crime and the violation of public trust warranted a term in state prison. Because Rollins was employed by the local probation office during her crime spree, officials assigned the pre-sentencing evaluation to the neighboring Santa Barbara County Probation Department to prevent a conflict of interest. That outside agency formally recommended the statutory maximum sentence of eight years and four months in state prison.
During the Tuesday proceedings, Judge Federman evaluated legal arguments and listened to victim impact statements presented by the individuals who previously worked alongside Rollins. The judge ultimately upheld her original sentencing indications.
District Attorney Dan Dow expressed disappointment regarding the outcome, noting that theft from a non-profit organization represents a significant breach of trust, particularly when perpetrated by a law enforcement professional. Dow added that while the state wished for a harsher punishment, the office respects the independence of the court, acknowledging that the complete pre-sentencing restitution payment heavily influenced the final decision.
If Rollins violates the mandated regulations of her two-year probation term, she can still be ordered to serve the maximum state prison sentence of eight years and four months.
The criminal investigation was directed by San Luis Obispo Police Department Detective Jeff Koznek. Deputy District Attorney Ben Blumenthal of the Major Fraud and Public Integrity Unit managed the prosecution.
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