Melinda McPherson Johnson, 55, of Bragg St. in Warrenton will spend up to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty on Monday in Warren County Superior Court to 16 counts of felony embezzlement.
A former resident of Wildwood Point subdivision at Lake Gaston, Johnson originally faced 32 charges of embezzlement related to the disappearance of more than $32,500 from her former employer, Mayer Mill Mining & Trade Co. of Littleton.

She was accused of writing 32 checks to herself from the company's checking account from August 2006-March 2008 and voluntarily left the company after owners Jack and Candice Mayor confronted her over irregularities in the checking account.
The Warren County Sheriff's Office began an investigation, but turned over the case to the State Bureau of Investigation to avoid a possible conflict of interest because Johnson's son was a sheriff's deputy here at the time.

Reports indicated that Jack Mayer told investigators that as office manager at Mayer Mill Mining & Trade Co., Johnson was given sole responsibility for balancing the company's checking account in 2006 and was the only person in addition to the owner whose signature was authorized on that account.
Mayer became suspicious after being contacted by a collection agency about a business credit card outstanding balance of more than $25,000.

Johnson had been jailed previously on charges of embezzlement, credit card theft and credit card fraud.
In court on Monday, she was ordered to pay a $3,300 attorney fee. Restitution totaling $53,340 will be a civil judgment.

As part of the plea agreement, three counts of felony forgery of endorsement, 17 counts of felony embezzlement and one count of habitual felon were voluntarily dismissed.