The former probate judge of Hancock County was sentenced this week to serve 21 months in federal prison for embezzling funds—including money to pay her defense lawyer—from the county probate court, according to the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.

Marva Rice resigned her post Oct. 22, the day before she pleaded guilty to stealing $43,864 from court coffers and then siphoning an additional $20,000 from the court to pay her Atlanta defense attorney's fees, according to court papers. Rice has also agreed to pay $63,864 in restitution to the county, according to her plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Thursday sentenced Rice to prison and ordered the restitution.