Thief does time

A former Butte County employee was recently sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years of probation for stealing nearly $25,000 in public funds.

Michelle Lee Aguila, 49, an employee in a division of the county’s Public Health Department, pleaded no contest in September to stealing permit and restaurant inspection fees starting in August 2013, according to a press release from Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey. Aguila (pictured) was responsible for preparing a money deposit bag for the county treasurer. For two years, she took cash from the bag and altered deposit slips after a supervisor had signed off on them.

The crimes came to light—and Aguila resigned from her position—after county officials discovered an accounting discrepancy in November 2015. In addition to jail time, she was ordered to pay more than $40,000 in restitution.