Jennifer Chenier Charged With Falsifying Diversion Note

Prosecutors say a Santa Rosa woman accused of stealing $18,000 in animal rescue donations submitted a fake doctor's note to seek mental health diversion.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Financial Crime

Flat-color editorial illustration of a plain stone courthouse facade with a tall roofline against a distant hillside, rendered in deep navy and cream. — Prosecutors charged Jennifer Chenier with preparing false evidence after a falsified doctor's note was submitted in a 2025 theft case involving $18,000 in animal rescue donations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should people who commit theft be allowed to avoid prison through mental health treatment?

Prosecutors charged Jennifer Chenier with one felony count of preparing false evidence after discovering a falsified doctor's note submitted for mental health diversion in a 2025 theft case. Chenier is accused of stealing $18,000 in donations from Dogwood Animal Rescue, and her attorney says diversion is still being pursued.

Why it matters

The case raises questions about how falsified medical documentation can be used to seek alternatives to incarceration in Sonoma County courts. It also highlights how donation checks mailed to a rented mailbox can be diverted when mail handling is compromised.

Prosecutors have filed 19 counts in the original case, including forgery and grand theft, plus six additional misdemeanor petty theft counts covering incidents from July to November 2025. Police recovered 30 donation checks after searching Chenier's home and vehicle, and it remains unresolved whether the court will grant mental health diversion, which requires two years of treatment for dismissal.

The players

Jennifer Chenier

A Santa Rosa woman charged with forgery, grand theft and preparing false evidence, who previously worked at the UPS store on Fulton Road.

Robert LaForge

A Sonoma County Superior Court judge who ordered Chenier to return on December 17 for further discussions.

The details

Donation checks mailed to a rented UPS store mailbox on Fulton Road in Santa Rosa were deposited into another person's bank account. The falsified letter claimed Chenier was receiving treatment and included a diagnosis, submitted to obtain treatment in lieu of incarceration; Chenier was remanded without bail and later released.

Early 2025: Donation checks diverted from the Dogwood Animal Rescue mailbox
July 2025: Public defender argued Chenier should not be detained
July to November 2025: Incidents leading to six misdemeanor petty theft counts
Summer 2026: Prosecutors discovered the falsified doctor's note
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Court appearance where diversion was still pursued and new charge reported

Legal Context

The case tests how California's mental health diversion statute, Penal Code section 1001.36, is applied when a defendant allegedly submits falsified medical documentation. It shows how diversion eligibility depends on verified treatment, which the court must confirm before any dismissal after two years.

Residents who mail donations or checks to rented mailboxes should confirm the mailbox provider's handling procedures before sending payments. Local animal rescues receiving checks by mail may consider tracking deposits more closely.

The takeaway

Verifying payment routing and monitoring deposits can help organizations reduce the risk of mailed donations being diverted. Donors can also ask recipients to confirm receipt of checks.