PARIS – A former deputy town clerk of Waterford pleaded guilty Friday to embezzling about $158,000 from the town.

Jennifer Morin, 35, of 339 Norway Road in Waterford pleaded to a charge of theft in Oxford County Superior Court. Justice Roland Cole sentenced her to six months of a five-year prison sentence with three years of probation. She must also pay a $1,000 fine and $15,000 to the town, and undergo a psychological evaluation.

She will begin her sentence at the Oxford County Jail on Sunday.

“I’m very sorry for the horrible mistakes I’ve made,” a tearful Morin told the court. “I have always had trouble handling money and saying ‘no.'”

She said she wants to make amends as soon as possible.

Morin was indicted in August and accused of taking money between 2002 and 2008. She resigned in February, shortly before the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into town funds. She had worked for the town for 10 years.

Assistant District Attorney Richard Beauchesne said the money was taken from the town’s trash accounts and other areas.

He said the crime was unnecessary and a violation of trust.

“It’s just wrong,” he said. “It shouldn’t have happened.”

The theft was discovered after an annual audit of town funds.

Beauchesne asked that Morin serve nine months and one day, enough time to put her in prison rather than the county jail, and pay back $58,000.

Defense attorney Maurice Porter asked for a lighter sentence, saying Morin had accepted responsibility for her crime from the beginning.

“Her acceptance and her remorse were not just words,” Porter said. “She went to every length to assist the state, to assist the investigation.”

Porter said Morin has no criminal history and that her cooperation saved thousands of dollars in investigation and court costs. He said the plea will also allow Waterford to receive a $100,000 bond payment which will cover some of the losses.

Lt. Chris Wainwright of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, who investigated the theft, said the department would have uncovered the theft without Morin’s cooperation, but agreed that her assistance helped speed up the investigation.

“I think that is important, and it should count for something,” he said.

Wainwright said most of the money was used to pay bounced-check fees and credit cards, as well as gifts for other people.

“Spending and shopping was my addiction,” Morin said. “It was a vicious cycle.”

Morin said she is making about $220 a week at a day-care job, as well as approximately $100 to $150 a month from online merchandising.

Porter said Morin’s husband has taken out a $15,000 home equity loan to go toward restitution. Jennifer’s $15,000 restitution is in addition to that.

Cole said she must pay the outstanding $28,000 to the town after her probation, and the town may file a civil suit to collect the money if need be.

Cole said a longer jail sentence would delay restitution payments to the town and that Morin did not commit a crime of greed.

“Like many people who appear in this court, they’ve done bad things but they’re good people,” Cole said. “She’s a good person.”

Morin received the Community Service Award from the Waterford Grange in 2006, according to Sun Journal archives. She also served as a treasurer for the Oxford County United Parish, which includes churches in North Waterford and Stoneham, and Stoneham Rescue. No money was taken from any of those accounts.