A Niles woman pleaded guilty Thursday to embezzlement of more than $50 by a public official while working as an employee of Howard Township.

Christine Nichole Mahar, 45, entered the plea during a preliminary examination conference in Cass County Court, according to the Cass County Prosecutor’s office.

Mahar faces up to 10 years in prison or a $5,000 fine on one count of embezzlement of more than $50 by a public official. She was arraigned on the charge Sept. 8.

She will be sentenced by Judge Michael Dodge in Cass County Circuit Court at a date yet to be determined.

The prosecutor’s office is reporting that Mahar accepted the charge without any plea negotiations.

Mahar worked as an office assistant for Howard Township, but was dismissed from her job when township employees discovered discrepancies in township financial records and turned the case over to the Michigan State Police Aug. 12.

She worked for the township for 12 years.

Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle said Mahar embezzled approximately $24,480.82 from January of 2013 to August of 2015.