A former Dakota County employee has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for stealing money intended to help social-service clients and using it to pay her mortgage and other bills.

The sentence handed down Tuesday for Aleathea McWilliams, 52, of Minneapolis, also orders her to repay the nearly $25,000 in cash and bus passes that she stole while working as a case aide.

McWilliams, who pleaded guilty in June, also must perform 40 hours of community service and be on probation for 10 years.

In May 2010, social services managers reported to the Dakota County Sheriff's Office that McWilliams, whose job included generating paperwork on payment requests made by social service case agents, appeared responsible for a series of suspicious payments, according to the criminal complaint filed in Dakota County District Court.

Such payments are intended to be used by social-service clients for phone service, utility bills and housing assistance.

Instead, McWilliams allegedly used the money to pay $25,511 worth of her own expenses, including her mortgage, utility bills, credit cards, Greyhound bus tickets and a tow service, the complaint says.

McWilliams had worked for Dakota County since 2002 but resigned this past May 25 after being confronted with the allegations.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482