A former town clerk of Pinetop-Lakeside will spend one year in prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $32,000 from the town.
Leah Chavez, age 40, was sentenced on Wednesday morning. She pleaded guilty to one count of Theft, and one count of Misuse of Public Monies.
In 2016, Chavez charged approximately $13,000 on a Pinetop-Lakeside credit card for personal expenses such as shopping, car payments, and home landscaping. Additionally, she stole more than $8,000 in cash from the town and wired herself more than $9,000.
As part of her plea agreement, Chavez must pay back more than $32,000 in restitution to Pinetop-Lakeside. After she is released from prison, she will be on probation for four years.