A Dodge Center woman has been sentenced for swindling Mower County out of almost $20,000 in financial benefits in 2012.

Mary Lewison was sentenced to three years’ probation and must pay back about$10,900 in restitution.

According to a court complaint, Lewison allegedly was overpaid about $19,700 in benefits from May to September 2012. County officials investigated Lewison in August after she claimed her ex-husband, the primary breadwinner, had moved out of their home, while she took care of the kids.

Deputies interviewed Lewison’s ex-husband, who confirmed he was still living at the home in Rose Creek but didn’t know about the county benefits, though he suspected Lewison had been overpaid financial assistance.