The former finance director of Cherryville has admitted embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the city over five years.

Bonny Alexander entered guilty pleas in federal court on five counts of embezzlement -- one for each of the years she ran the city's finance department.

According to federal documents, the embezzlement went on for five years and amounted to more than $435,000.

Prosecutors said Alexander would pay herself an average of three times her authorized salary, amounting to $309,000. They said she also forged 26 Cherryville city checks to pay her own American Express account totaling, another $97,000.

"She's admitting what she did. She regrets it. It's a big challenge in her family's life and her life," said her attorney Chris Fialko.

Alexander is free on bond until her sentencing, perhaps later this year. Until then, Fialko said she has gotten lots of support.

"She's so far been pleased by the community support she has gotten from family and friends, and (she) regrets the damage she did to Cherryville," Fialko said.