Burlington — A 62-year-old Hartland woman was sentenced earlier this week to three years in prison for embezzling nearly $1 million from a Lebanon law firm between 2008 and 2015.

In December, Catherine McKinney pleaded guilty in federal court to felony mail fraud, stemming from checks she issued from Myers Associates PLLC to herself and to her creditors that bore the forged signature of her employer, attorney Howard Myers. McKinney worked as a legal secretary, bookkeeper and paralegal for the firm.

She was accused of paying her own credit card bills, among other debts, with the law firm’s money, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford on Monday formally sentenced McKinney to three years in prison. She was ordered to serve one year of supervised release after she completes her prison term.

McKinney also must pay about $903,000 in restitution, according to the release.

The initial indictment in the case, returned last June by a Rutland grand jury, alleged McKinney embezzled at least $690,000 from the firm during her employment; further investigation ultimately revealed Myers Associates suffered a loss of $962,000.

Myers said he’s confident he won’t see the bulk of the money he’s owed.

“She doesn’t have the means to pay (the restitution),” he said by phone on Tuesday. “She will never have the means to pay that.”

Because of McKinney’s actions, the 74-year-old Myers said, he won’t be able to retire.

“It has had a devastating impact on me,” he said, adding, “I don’t wish her any ill will.”

“She was obviously in need of help during the entire time she did this, and she didn’t get the help,” he said. “It’s been a difficult experience for everyone involved. I’m glad that it’s over. We’re going on with our lives.”

Myers said he felt the sentence length was appropriate.

McKinney recently liquidated her Myers Associates retirement account and turned over about $64,000 to Myers as partial payment toward the sum owed, according to the release.

McKinney had worked at the Mechanic Street law firm for 15 years. She left her position in January 2015, the same month the U.S. Secret Service launched its investigation into the case.

She initially faced several felony fraud charges in federal court, but she accepted a plea deal, prosecutor Gregory Waples said on Tuesday.

McKinney began serving her sentence immediately following Monday’s hearing.

Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.