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Former Texas judge admits stealing dead man's Social Security benefits

A former Texas judge has pleaded guilty to charges that she stole a dead friend’s Social Security benefits.

Jean Laster Boone, who is already on probation on records-tampering charges, pleaded guilty Thursday to the theft of government property, the Associated Press reports.

Boone, 62, resigned last October as a justice of the peace in McLennan County after being implicated in a scheme to falsify county mileage-reimbursement records. She pleaded guilty in December to two felony counts of records tampering, and received three years probation.

She now faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the new charge.

Prosecutors accused Boone of stealing about $16,000 in Social Security benefits that were paid to a longtime friend who died in 2010.

Boone, who had power of attorney for the man and access to his bank account, admitting using the money “fixing stuff up around the house,” prosecutors said. The stolen money has since been repaid.

Boone declined comment following the plea hearing.