By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GEORGETOWN - A former Mount Orab clerk accused of taking more than $250,000 in village funds while she was in office was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday.

Bonita "Bea" Helton, the former clerk of Mount Orab's Board Of Public Affairs, said she was remorseful for her actions, discovered last year during an analysis of village records by the state auditor's office.

Brown County Common Pleas Judge R. Alan Corbin ordered Ms. Helton to pay restitution and forbade her from ever again holding public office.

Ms. Helton, who had worked for the village for 19 years, resigned a year ago. She pleaded guilty to one count of theft in office in October.

Officials said Ms. Helton, 47, substituted checks for water and sewer tap-in fees from builders and developers for cash receipts from other customers and then removed that cash from the village accounts.

Another hearing will be scheduled in the coming weeks to determine the exact amount of restitution Ms. Helton will have to pay.

Judge Corbin said Ms. Helton would be able to apply for early release from prison after serving six months of her four-year sentence.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com