Woman pleads guilty to stealing $97K from animal shelter

GRETNA, La. (AP) — A Harvey woman admitted stealing $97,815 in cash from customers at the West Bank Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter.

NOLA.com ' The Times-Picayune reports 38-year-old Laquita Goudy pleaded guilty to felony theft Tuesday before state District Judge Danyelle Taylor.

Taylor suspended an eight-year prison sentence and ordered Goudy to serve five years of active probation. Court records show Taylor also ordered her to repay the money taken within five years as a special condition of her probation.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office arrested Goudy in March following an investigation sparked by a tip by a concerned co-worker.