By Joe Biesk
The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - A former state official pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor theft charges Tuesday and has agreed to pay back more than $68,000 in restitution.

Barbara Nash, 61, appeared with her attorney in Franklin County Circuit Court to enter the guilty plea. Under the plea agreement, Nash faces 10 years in prison.

After the court proceedings, Nash apologized.

"I acknowledge that I made a terrible, terrible mistake, and I apologize humbly to the people of the commonwealth," Nash told reporters. "I have done everything I could to make this right."

Nash was the director of the division of administrative services in the Office of Financial Institutions. Gov. Ernie Fletcher announced her firing and the investigation in April.

Nash pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $65,700 from the state and an additional $3,150 from the Kentucky Women's Leadership Network.

Franklin County Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Cleveland said Nash cooperated with the investigation, and agreed to pay restitution on some counts he may not have otherwise pursued at trial. The statute of limitations would have already expired on some, while others may have been "too difficult to prove," he said.

"We got back from her in restitution more than we probably could have gotten at a trial," Cleveland said.

Still, Cleveland said he would oppose probation. Her sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 1.

Before leaving court Tuesday, Nash paid $20,000 toward her restitution. To pay the rest, Nash was planning to sell a piece of property in Florida and borrow some from friends and family, Cleveland said.

Part of the plea agreement requires Nash to cooperate on any other investigations that she would be able to help on, Cleveland said.

"She was able to do this for so long and so successfully that we want to know how she did it," Cleveland said.