NORTHWOOD, Iowa — A 32-year-old Austin woman — who embezzled $130,000 from an estate while working at a law firm in this community — has been sentenced to five years probation, 200 hours of community service and restitution for her crime.

According to the Northwood Police Department, Amanda Catherine Heiny was sentenced to a 10-year suspended prison sentence and a $10,000 suspended fine.

This means Heiny will not have to serve any time in prison or pay the fine unless she violates the probation.

According to police, Heiny embezzled $130,000 from an estate into her personal account during a four-year period while she worked as the secretary at the Craig Ensign Law Firm in Northwood.

Authorities were alerted to the crime when employees of Krull Law Office, who had purchased the Ensign Law Firm, discovered some accounting discrepancies in an estate file and contacted the Northwood Police Department.

On May 7, 2009, a search warrant was executed at Heiny’s residence, 707 W. Oakland Ave., Austin, during which several banking records and $10,000 in cash was seized as evidence.

Heiny was charged with first-degree theft, a class C felony, in September 2009.

Police interviewed Heiny, during which she reportedly admitted to taking the money, according to police.