A West Texas woman who formerly ran a children's advocacy center has pleaded guilty to a theft count after she was accused of embezzling thousands of dollars in federal funds from the non-profit center.
Debra Rucker Brown entered her plea Thursday before U.S. District Judge Sam Cummings in Lubbock. She'd been accused of taking more than $237,000 from the Children's Advocacy Center of Tom Green County in San Angelo over a five-year period ending in 2010.
The 51-year-old Brown was executive director for more than 16 years of the center, which works with children who have been abused or witnessed a violent crime.
Brown could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, fined up to $250,000 and ordered to pay restitution. No sentencing date has been set.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
