A former Lincoln police officer who resigned last spring after allegations of embezzlement surfaced has pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge.

On Monday, Cassandra Briggs, 42, sat at the counsel table, at her attorney's left, as the prosecutor went through the charge and possible penalties.

Then Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte asked her how she wished to plead.

"I plead guilty, your honor," she said.

Briggs could face a minimum sentence of a year in prison, if she doesn't get probation when she is sentenced April 3.

She resigned from the department in April 2011.

Deputy County Attorney Holly Parsley said fellow officers began investigating Briggs, who for years ran the Santa Cop program, after she turned in the books and the Police Union secretary noticed pages missing and discrepancies.

Parsley said the embezzlement investigation turned up unauthorized withdrawals between Aug. 4, 2008, and Nov. 30, 2010, from the Police Union Charities checking account, primarily used to fund and support Santa Cop, a program to provide gifts to low-income children.