The former director of the Barry County Animal Shelter was placed on 12 months probation and fined a total of $625 in costs by Judge Michael Schipper in District Court Wednesday.

Billie Jo Hartwell, the director since July 2015, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling less that $200, a misdemeanor punishable by 93 days in jail and/or $500 fine.

She also pleaded no contest to one count of disorderly/obscene conduct, a misdemeanor punishable by 90 days in jail and/or $500 fine.

Schipper dismissed a five year felony count of misuse of office.

He gave the prosecutor’s office 30 days to decide if they wanted to seek restitution for the embezzlement, in this case, dog food. The charges against Hartwell were filed April 5; she was fired from the director’s position the third week of April.

Hartwell’s attorney Jeffrey Portko, with Advocate Law Offices in Grand Rapids, told Schipper that Hartwell has absolutely no criminal record, and is extremely remorseful and sorry for what she did.

He said the county fired her and he saw, “no reasonable expectation,” that she would get her job back. “It cost her her job and career…besides the embarrassment,” he said. “I’m fully confident it won’t happen again.”

Schipper said he put her on probation for two reasons; to make sure costs, fines and restitution are paid, and because he didn’t know her, to have the court monitor her to be sure doesn’t repeat the aberrant behavior.