Ex Merced County sheriff’s deputy wanted for allegedly embezzling union money
A former Merced County Sheriff’s deputy accused of embezzling thousands from a department union has yet to be located, the Sheriff Department says.
Phillip Brooks, who was president of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association for a number of years, has been sought since an arrest warrant was issued last year.
Current Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Roberto Torres estimates Brooks misappropriated at least $100,000 from the union. The money was allocated toward operational costs. The ongoing investigation was turned over to the California Office of the Attorney General.
Torres said the union — which represents about 109 sheriff’s deputies, coroners and dispatchers — now has more extensive day-to-day oversight and supervision.
Brooks’ location is unknown, but law enforcement says he is believed to no longer be in Merced County. “He left our agency rather abruptly,” said Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke.
A warrant for his arrest was filed March 18, 2019. It set bail at $75,000.
The incident bears similarities to the 2018 case against former Merced Police Detective Joseph Deliman. He was accused of embezzling and misappropriating $82,495.94 from the Merced Police Officers Association between Jan. 1, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2017.
As the head of the police union from 2007-16, Deliman had been responsible for its financial accounts. He was booked on a grand theft charge. Deliman plead not guilty at an arraignment hearing in November 2018.
Deliman’s case is ongoing, and a trial setting conference in his case is scheduled for May.
