44-year-old Christina Bratcher
 / Courtesy: CSPD
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A former Colorado Springs bookkeeper who pleaded guilty to embezzling half a million dollars from a local business has learned her fate.
Forty-four-year-old Christina Michele Bratcher was sentenced on Friday to 18 months in a jail work-release program, and 12 years of probation.
She also must repay more than $594,000, the amout she stole plus interest.
Bratcher was accused of embezzling the money from Colorado Welding Supply while she was an accountant there.
The mother-and-son operated company was eventually forced out of business.
Bratcher pleaded guilty in May to felony theft and forgery.