BOISE -- A former Valley County employee pleaded guilty to grand theft and forgery in 4th District Court.

Lois Van Hoover must pay $52,770 in restitution. A Jan. 28 sentencing hearing is scheduled, where she faces up to 10 years behind bars on each count.

State prosecutors said she stole the community fire protection grant money meant to protect a rural Yellow Pine in central Idaho's Valley County from devastating wildfire.

Van Hoover, the county's natural resources coordinator until 2007, had originally been charged with two counts of felony grand theft and four counts of felony forgery.

She made it look like Back Country Services, a company created by her son Leo Van Hoover Jr., had actually performed the work -- when no work had actually been done.

Environmental groups were pleased Van Hoover was being held accountable because the theft left Yellow Pine vulnerable to wildfires.