Not guilty plea in Santa Rosa school embezzlement case

(CBS/AP) SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Former Santa Rosa charter school official Sheila Accornero has pleaded not guilty to charges that she embezzled nearly $400,000 to fund a prescription drug habit.

The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa reports that Accornero entered her plea in Sonoma County Superior Court on Monday to eight felony charges, including grand theft, forgery and drug possession.

Accornero was the business manager of Kid Street Learning Center when authorities say she forged the principal's signature on hundreds of checks written out to her.

She was arrested Aug. 9 after a credit union employee noticed the suspicious activity on her account.

Authorities say the stolen money was used to pay for hydrocodone and OxyContin.

Accornero was on probation for a prescription drug forgery when she was arrested earlier this month.