Fmr. Covington Co. Probate Judge released from prison

ANDALUSIA, AL (WSFA) - Former Covington County Probate Judge Sherrie Phillips was released from prison Tuesday following the completion of her three year sentence on a theft conviction.

Phillips was convicted of taking nearly $2 million from an estate that had no heirs. She put the money, which her office retained custody over, into her personal bank account in 2008.

After depositing the money in her account, Phillips wrote 10 checks including checks to pay off loans, a $25,000 check to her husband, a $100,000 check to her brother, a $100,000 check to herself after she had bought a Cadillac for more than $60,000, and a $23,000 check to a Ford dealer for her husband's truck.

She pushed for an early release in 2011 but a judge denied her request.

Phillips was given a split sentence of 10 years, with the three year sentence for theft by deception coming to a conclusion Oct. 23, 2012.

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