BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi Auditor Stacey Pickering has closed his office's investigation into embezzlement by a former Lincoln County Circuit Clerk.

Pickering last week delivered a check for more than $61,000 to Lincoln County Supervisors.

The Brookhaven Daily Leader reports (http://bit.ly/RSykII ) that the check represents the last of the money the auditor's office says Terry Lynn Watkins had failed to turn over to Lincoln County. This money was paid by Watkins' surety bond.

In total, Watkins had been charged with embezzling or misappropriating nearly $141,148 over several years. Under a plea agreement, she pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor charge of late deposit of county funds. She resigned from office and agreed never to seek elected office again.

Information from: The Daily Leader, http://www.dailyleader.com

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