ST. GEORGE (AP) — Stacey Noelle Higbee, the former town clerk of Virgin, has been ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and pay restitution for misuse of public monies.
She pleaded guilty in 5th District Court Thursday following plea bargaining.
Higbee is to repay the town $4,392.36 and pay $210 to the county attorney's office for the costs of the investigation.
The restitution is to be paid at $200 per month.
The charge involved payroll advances that she took.
Judge G. Rand Beacham said the real harm in what Higbee did was the damage to public confidence in government.
In a prepared statement, Higbee she now understands that then-Mayor Jay W. Lee did not have the authority to approve payroll advances.
"I accept responsibility for my actions," Higbee said. "My family and I are seeking closure on this matter, and we want to move on with our lives. I deeply regret that I trusted Jay W. Lee."
Lee, who resigned and pleaded no contest to attempted misuse of public moneys and guilty to attempted witness tampering, was given a suspended jail sentence and put on two years probation last year by 5th District Judge James L. Shumate.