Hancock County Probate Judge pleads guilty to stealing county funds

SPARTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Probate Judge for Hancock County pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing county funds.

According to U.S. Attorney Michael Moore, Marva Rice entered a guilty plea on Thursday to two counts of theft of federal funds from Hancock County, which receives federal funds.

The plea agreement states, Rice was responsible for collecting fines and fees and depositing those funds into the Probate Court bank account. According to an investigation by the FBI in 2012, authorities say Rice did not deposit $43,864.70 into the account. In 2013, after the FBI conducted its investigation, authorities say Rice used Hancock County funds to pay for her own personal legal fees, which totaled $20,000.

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Hancock County Probate Judge pleads guilty to stealing county funds