A former employee of the city of Waseca pleaded guilty this week to stealing public funds.

Leslee Milbrath entered a guilty plea to gross misdemeanor theft in Waseca County District Court. In exchange for the plea, charges of felony embezzlement and gross misdemeanor misconduct of a public officer were dropped.

As the city receptionist, Milbrath pocketed $458 cash in the summer of 2010. She has since paid restitution to the city but must perform a yet-undetermined number of hours of community service.