— Matt Hudson, People’s Press

OWATONNA — An Ellendale woman received probation for check kiting on Thursday, a day after her husband was sent to prison for arson and insurance fraud.

Sara Ellen Degen-Misgen, 41, was convicted of issuing dishonored checks, a felony.

In a sentencing hearing, District Court Judge Joseph Bueltel ordered five years’ probation. He included a stay of imposition, meaning that if Degen-Misgen completes her probation, the charge will be downgraded to a misdemeanor.

In addition, the judge ordered 240 hours of community service.

The sentencing hearing was a day after Degen-Misgen’s husband, Mark Misgen, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison after being convicted of setting fire to his home to collect on insurance claims.

Degen-Misgen was set to stand trial alongside her husband but took a plea deal on the first day of trial. She pleaded guilty to writing multiple checks from one bank account to another without the money to back them. The total amount was $33,000.