A City of Mabton employee, Yuliana Morales, was arrested on Friday after being accused of orchestrating a fake robbery to steal $22,000 from the city. Morales, who served as the Deputy City Clerk, appeared in court on Monday, where a judge released her pending future hearings.
The theft, which occurred in June, saw Morales allegedly walking out of Mabton City Hall with a bag containing $13,000 in cash and $9,000 in checks intended for deposit. According to court documents, Morales claimed that a masked man approached her as she entered her car, demanding everything she had. She reported that the man took the deposit bag and her wallet before fleeing into an alleyway.
However, witnesses and surveillance footage soon revealed suspicious inconsistencies. A coworker told police that Morales, who had her phone, keys, and credit card, delayed contacting authorities for over 30 minutes—a behavior deemed unusual for a robbery victim. Police later traced a blue 2005 Honda Accord, linked to Morales’ boyfriend’s mother, transporting the suspected robber.
The investigation led to Morales’ arrest on charges of first-degree theft. During her court appearance, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Bret Roberts stated that although the alleged actions were concerning, they did not object to her release on Level C bond, pending further hearings. Morales was ordered not to leave the state, commit any crimes, or have any contact with the City of Mabton.
Mabton Mayor Rachel Ruelas did not respond to inquiries regarding the city’s next steps in handling the missing funds or whether Morales would be placed on leave. The investigation into other parties involved is ongoing, with no further details released by Mabton Police Chief Eduardo Garcia.
Morales is set to return to Yakima County Superior Court for future hearings.