An Austin woman who forged more than $3,000 in checks from her former employer’s personal checking account was sentenced to 10 years probation Friday in Mower County District Court.

Amy Kathryn Vasquez, 27, was convicted on one count of check forgery. Four other check forgery charges were dismissed in early June. Vasquez was ordered to pay $3,191.73 in restitution to her former employer, the owner of Whispering Pines Ranch.

According to court documents, the owner of the ranch — Vasquez’s workplace — contacted law enforcement in December 2010 when he noticed four checks were missing from his personal checkbook. Bank records showed the checks had been written out to “Amy Vasquez” and totaled $3,191.73. Bank records also indicated Vasquez had deposited the checks into her savings account between September and October.

Vasquez’s former employer told officers the checks were stolen from a desk drawer in his personal office inside his home on Whispering Pines’ property. He said the employees have no reason to be in that part of the house except for work-related laundry duties.

As part of her sentence, Vasquez must also complete 80 community work service hours.