" Obviously folks, the DA would not have pursued this investigation if there was no wrong doing. As for the co-workers who found the discrepancies, wake up people! The discrepancies went back for months and months before some of these co-workers even began working there. Kudos to the new employees for doing their job and saving Nyssa from losing any more money. And anyone with any common sense knows that outside agencies come in to investigate books whenever things like this happen. You can't put any blame the new people, it was out of their hands as soon as they found out the books were not in order. Yes, good people DO STEAL money...white people, Mexican people, black people, red or yellow. It really doesn't matter what color you are but when you get caught, don't blame the color of your skin. So let the DA and justice system do their job. "

" Raul:

I apologize if I hit a nerve, my comment comes from many years experience dealing with those charged with crimes and one of the first things that is usually attempted by them is racial discrimination. As you can see from the second blog on this thread, made by Adam, "Her accusers are fraudulent and are conducting these allegations out of prejudice, hate, and malice." And again in Adam's last blog "In her first hearings. Hilda along with the DA and these two RACIST ACCUSERS went through the books." Not surprising that the first attempt by Hilda and her backers is to cry racial discrimination and I'm sure there's been a civil suit filed under using the same excuse.

As far as corruption in government, yes it exists and includes federal, state, county and even city governments. And that corruption covers a very large spectrum of possibilities which does include abusing your position as head of payroll by slipping yourself an extra couple hundred bucks a month and righting it off as overtime, or manipulating the books to make it look like you've worked overtime when you are a part time employee, or giving yourself pay raises when it hasn't been approved.

I fail to see how this can be turned on other employee's as a "set up" or how this is being done because others in the office are "racists" as Adam claims. Let me tell you a story, try to keep up.

A discrepancy was found in the books, lets call it a mistake where an employee who is on salary was over paid. Not a big deal, go back a couple more month's to ensure that mistake hasn't been made before and where that mistake was made in the books so it can be fixed. But wait, they go back a couple month's and the same mistake keeps showing up, over and over again and only on one person's account. So they go back a year, two years or more and that mistake is still there and its still only with one person and always in that person's favor. So they hire an outside accounting firm, and outside meaning out of this valley. That firm comes in and does an independent investigation and find that there are some serious issues involving this one person and years of mistakes. Now, when do you stop calling it a mistake? How long and how much money do you allow in over payments before you start wondering if its an honest mistake or if its criminal in nature? That investigation is then turned over to the DA who starts a whole new investigation, done by the county. When that investigation is complete all the evidence is taken to the grand jury (a jury of your PEERS). They find overwhelming evidence to indict her on the charges that they did. To be so spineless that you would accuse the others in the office (that were doing their jobs protecting the City of Nyssa) of setting Hilda up, or that you would accuse them of somehow doing this to Hilda is pathetic. "

" to: wake up

On Racism: You're totally right. No one judges minorities like "us people" and no one treats "us people" different. I nor anyone of my race has experience racism first hand in our lives. We just make things up. This adam guy must be a racist and ignorant because he acknowledge the prejudice of others. We just pull out the "race card" whenever we want to get out of trouble. Yeah that's it. I'm sorry but I wish I lived in this fantasy land you speak of.

Not once did I hear him accuse another race of being guilty or pardon another one because of their race. He only accused the guilty and showed who's really innocent.

also, You seem to have so much trust in your government. Bottom line. We're after the truth, Adam simply stated that the government is corrupt but you pardoned that as garbage as well. But obviously you live in a fantasy land where the government is perfect as well. Dear person, grow up. "

" Adam

You are right about one thing and only one thing in that entire babble of garbage you are spouting. Racism does still exists in this country, but you are no different than many other minorities in this county. You and people like you keep racism alive in this country by falling back on it every time something doesn't go your way. You and those like you think that this country and the people of this country owe you something because of your race. Stop using your race as an excuse or as a way to get out of trouble. Perhaps if you were to drop your racist attitudes you would see that this country if far less racist than you thought.

You have no clue what you are talking about in this case and for that you should probably just sit back and read the rest of the blogs and stop posting. With every post you make, you show just how ignorant and racist you are. When the discrepancies were found in the books (that Hilda had total control over by herself), they were most likely turned over to an outside accounting firm. That company did an investigation and reported their findings to the city, the city then in turn would turn it over to Malheur County where another investigation was conducted. The results of both of those investigations would then be turned over to the DA. The DA would then in turn take all evidence accumulated by both investigation to the Grand Jury. The Grand Jury make a decision to press charges or not. There was obviously overwhelming evidence or the Grand Jury would not have continued on with this case. Stop blaming the City Manager and the other person for finding the huge discrepancies that Hilda made in the books. They were doing their job, and that is protecting the citizens of Nyssa and the money that those citizens are entrusting to the city...a job that Hilda took advantage of and finally got caught. "

" First thing's first. It's rather disheartening and IGNORANT when people use the whole SIN thing in this situation. Yes stealing is a sin, but convicted or not, the last time I checked Jesus' number two rule was to love others which includes compassion for the sinner. So please enlighten me on what scripture calls you to deem other people as sinners?

Now that that's out of the was I would like to address the race thing. Yes, what is happening to Hilda is in fact PREJUDICE. Race card? there is no race card. Racism is a fact of life. Maybe you should read a history book or walk out your front door and you would see that. "The race card makes you sound uneducated"??? Come on guy. The fact that we know our country's history and are aware of how it affects us doesn't make us uneducated. Like I said before, Read a book.

EVIDENCE: In her first hearings. Hilda along with the DA and these two RACIST ACCUSERS went through the books. month by month. Number by number and stub by stub. The DA was looking for substantial evidence in order to indict Hilda of the FALSE accusations. Yet, they found NONE. IN FACT. What they discovered is the fact that the city of Nyssa OWES HILDA MONEY.. What? Really? I must be lying.. No. It's true. Make a phone call. It should be in public records- the hearing. Yes. Hilda didn't steal money. City of Nyssa owes her money. Check on it. don't just take my word for it.

For you people who have SO MUCH TRUST in the DA.. Wake up. Please. For yourself. First, name a perfect
bureaucracy.. Can't do it? Neither can I!! Which leads me to believe that almost every sect of government has some sort of flaw or corruption in it. If you believe the DA has nothing but good intentions you are a proven FOOL. And I don't say that as an insult, I say it as a proven fact. Let me know and I'll send you the definition of "Fool" as found on dictionary.com.

Get more involved: This is a civil issue. Get any local organizations involved. Such as any sort of brown beret or FWA involved with this case. Make phone calls to government officials prompting them to look closely into this case. Although our government has been proven to be corrupt, there are still SOME people who operate within it's confines with integrity. Please research and contact these people. As history has shown, pressure from government officials is a great tool in getting the truth.

Anyone against Hilda in this case, please examine this case closer than you already have. I promise, you will see what we see.

-Adam Castro "

" JJ, I think you are safe to smoke that J outside so long as you live in Nyssa. Apparently, they seem to miss alot, so I'd say you have atleast 10 years before someone says something, but don't worry you won't get arrested for it, lol. (not that you should anyway) "

" I wonder why there is so much information missing to the article the argus published about this case? What exactly did this lady steal? Were checks written to her or a family member? Was it petty cash? Was it overtime hours clocked? Why was she indicted by a grand jury instead of charged and had a trial like most people? Do these people have alot of money and get special treatment? I am clueless about any of this. In most cases if someone is flat out stealing they get arrested...that is never avoided, some people get arrested for less. Also, every year most City's are audited by someone, how could this much time have gone by without someone catching missing funds, what 10 years they said? This kind of smells fishy to me, was someone covering this up higher up? Hmmm, hope we know someday. No one wins in a situation like this it is lose lose for everyone! "

" So she steals money from people for years and doesn't even get arrested and probably won't go to jail, but if I was to step outside and smoke a J and be seen by an officer I would go to jail on the spot.

So she hurt many people, and I would only be hurting myself.

Makes sense. "

" If you read today's (12/2/09) article regarding the Bellevue ID. clerk's theft and sentencing, you will realize how the states differ in punishment. The guilty party will serve 180 days in PRISON. If everyone who stole from their employers faced the same consequences, these thefts might happen less... in the Nyssa case, she wasn't even ARRESTED! WHY NOT!? I don't care if they have fallen on hard times.. I don't care if they are being blackmailed, I don't care if they are in poor health, I simply don't care! Stealing is stealing and it is not only a crime, its a sin!!! There are plenty of people who are qualified for these jobs... they just need to be screened more carefully and not given total control of any of the funds.. till they have proven themselves. Yearly audits may be expensive, but are they as costly as the amount stolen? "

" I've been keeping an eye on the posts that keep showing up on here and I can't help but wonder if there would be any Pro Hilda posts if the actual story was printed. If they had actually printed what happened instead of the blanket statement that says "A former Nyssa city employee accused of stealing money from the city". The missing money wasn't picked up off the desks or out of the till. For those of you that know Hilda, you know what her job title was for the city Nyssa, you know what she was in charge of and had TOTAL control over for years and years unchecked by anyone else employed with the city. I'm not going to convince her friends to turn their back on her and I'm not here in an attempt to. But accusing the City Manager or another city employee for Hilda's greed and years of mistakes isn't right. I can assure you that the current city manager and employee that got stuck in the middle of this mess were as shocked as the citizens of Nyssa. I can also tell you with almost 100% certainty that after these gross mistakes were found, the whole investigation was most likely taken out of the employee's of Nyssa hands and taken over by outside sources to be completed. Focusing your blame on other people just to get the focus off from your friend is the sign of cowardice and you should hold your head in shame. Leave it to the justice system, there was obviously an over abundance of evidence or the grand jury of your peers would not have thought it was worth perusing. "

" "I believe she is innocent"


Oh man stop, lol, my sides are hurting from the non-stop laughter.

Really please, I can't take it anymore, no more jokes please.

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA "

" I hope if Hilda is innocent she gets an Attorney out of the area to defend her because if her friends Jesse employer defends her she will have to take whats comming to her because they are not very bright or helpful.
I believe she is innocent. I have worked with people who have been accused of similar charges and were innocent in my ex co-workers place I believe the office manager did it. "

" "the DA has a long history of choosing who he throws the book at and who receives counseling and who walks."



Yeah, again, that's his job to make those decisions.

Sorry your buddy is in jail if that's why you are mad. He/she deserved it anyway I'm sure. "

" No Satty. Wake up and look around you, the DA has a long history of choosing who he throws the book at and who receives counseling and who walks. If she's not guilty she's not guilty, but if she is it'll be interesting to see what follows. "

" her and alex should have used some of that money to fix up there rentals they have...there fence has been falling into my moms yard for years now!!!!!haha "

" "The DA around here has a history of picking and choosing what he wants to prosecute. Who is pressing charges?"

Hey brainiac, it's the DA's job to pick and choose who they prosecute.

Someone has to make sure all these criminals get what's coming to them, your friends included.

You want a full and accurate report, then you better stop watching the evening news or reading papers because neither has EVER given a full or accurate report of anything. "

" I went to school with Hilda and am shocked she would be smart enough to have pulled off embezzling from the city as she barely was able to pass high school.This is what happens when press 1 for English and 2 for Spanish is the criteria for employment and not the qualifications you have, just that you are Hispanic or speak Spanish. Glad to see her math skills have improved, though. "

" A setup?! Bawaahahaha.

She's guilty as sin. The evidence will prove her guilt and she'll plea-bargain like all the other thieves.

People in this day and age are so ignorant. Everyone wears a "mask" while in public and around their friends/family, and even when looking in the mirror they leave the "mask" on. Don't be so blind as to defend someone who you "think" you know. Most people don't even know themselves, how can you claim to "know" anyone else? "

" The grand jury is not a trial and the DA can say just about anything because it doesn't have to be proven.
The DA around here has a history of picking and choosing what he wants to prosecute. Who is pressing charges? The City of Nyssa? Or the DA? I'd like to know.
All of this will come out in court and if the city managers testify for Hilda and against the DA (if the DA is behind the charges) I hope the Argus runs a full and accurate report on that. "

" Nyssa clerk who has been accused, and an indictment issued. Apparently many people who either know or are very good friends with the suspect do not know the meaning of being indicted. For a person to be indicted by a grandjury there has be sufficient evidence. She was indicted and of coarse we do not know what evidence they found but obviously they have the evidence. I don't understand how these so called friends can believe that someone like her would never do this. You people need to wake up. The reason why people steal is because it is easy and they feel they will never get caught. It just shows how intelligent these people are. There was a similar situation in Caldwell this past year where 2 employees who worked for the Canyon County Motor Vehicle Department were found guilty of embeziling hundreds of thousands of dollars. There were many people who felt that the accused would never do this, but when the evidence was presented to both suspects they were found guilty. The accused in Nyssa will probably try to plea bargain out of this one the evidence is presented. So people, when this happens what will you say then? Oh, she was coerced. "

" OK Folks, If there is proof that she is guilty, then it will come out and she will have to pay for the crime, however if she has proof that she is innocent, then she will be cleared. Let not judge people until all the evidence is put on the table. In the mean time, lets have some respect for her family, because if she is innocent, you are not only hurting her, but you are hurting her family. "

" That amount of money in that time frame comes to less than 250 bucks a month.

Stop with the race card, it's annoying and has been for the last 20 years. They didn't just walk in there and say "Hey, lets frame this lady for a small amount of money for kicks."

Even really nice people steal money, people. Just because you "know" someone, doesn't mean they wouldn't steal cash if they had the opportunity. I've heard stories of people I thought I "knew" that stole, especially in recent times considering what that state of our economy has done to some families.

Others are just greedy. "

" Wow you people are idiots. She got caught and it has nothing to do with her race. Quit playing that stupid card. It makes you look dumb and uneducated. "

" I think it is ridiculous that this even came out in the newspaper as it did. Hilda is an honest lady and she worked alot of overtime which was approved by her previous city manager who testified clearing her of any ill findings. She was reviewed and cleared by an accounting firm and they found no money missing, you people who are commenting negative remarks blindly need to get a grip! Why isn't that mentioned anywhere? The people in management should be fired for bringing a case against this young lady. I know the retired city manager is in agreement that this whole thing is complete ignorance. "

" Now that's what i call POETIC JUSTICE!!! Hey Alex how does it feel? "

" I have lived in Nyssa for 59 years, who are these ladies working for the City of Nyssa? I have never ever seen them before!!!! Now all of a sudden they are accusing Hilda of stealing? She has been there for many years. Maybe the ones that need to be investigate are the new ones....It just doesn't make sense....... "

" I too believe that this is a set up and needs investigation. Please post further information on how this community can get some answers. It's time that this area put a stop to the gun-ho small time 'justice' that goes on and has been going on for years in this valley. "

" They should investigate the lady that's doing the hiring...we know who you are...Just cause you don't like mexican people, you don't have to take it out on other innocent people. She's probably the one that planned all of that. "

" How can you honestly say that she is innocent when the records indicate that there is A LOT of money missing when she was the only one handeling the money....What do you call a good family? PLEASE they are far from a good family.....I want to know what happened to the MONEY? Is that why our water bills were so high this last summer? Why does it always have to be about being PREJUDICE? GIVE ME A BREAK!!!Poor little innocent Hilda!!! The auditor/book keeper found the discrepancy and she got caught!!! of course she gonna say she's innocent!!!! AS A TAXPAYER IN NYSSA, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MONEY, EVERYONE IN NYSSA SHOULD BE MAD AS HECK, AND DEMAND TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!!! "

" It is sad to know that a good person is being accused of something she did not do. The fact is that her accusers are the ones who should be investigated. I believe her accusers are fraudulent and are conducting these allegations out of prejudice. "

" Hilda is innocent. Although it is said otherwise, members of grand jury never told her EXACTLY WHAT CHARGES she was being indicted on. After finding out the charges they neglected to tell her under what circumstances these charges were being issued. This needs attention from the community. Her accusers are fraudulent and are conducting these allegations out of prejudice, hate, and malice. Please ask questions and write to your governor mayor or state rep. and ask them to get involved with this case. Lets not let another innocent hardworking citizen be punished for the hate of someone else.. "

" I wish the Argus would do something more than re-print the District Attorney's press releases (or at least tell the reader when they are).

This women is totally innocent. In fact, the truth is the city owes her money.

What a tragedy for a good family. "