Ex-postmaster in Grygla sentenced on theft charge

A former postmaster accused of stealing money from the U.S. Post Office in Grygla, Minn., has pleaded guilty to theft.

At Tuesday's sentencing in state District Court, a judge ordered Ardeene Hagen to serve five years on supervised probation and gave her the option to serve a month in jail or a month on electronic home monitoring, prosecutor Jeremy Klinger said.

An investigation by postal authorities found that Hagen stole about $1,800 between November 2007 and April 2009. Klinger said Hagen has paid the money back.

Hagen, 48, was charged with four counts of felony theft, but three were dropped as part of a plea agreement, Klinger said.

Hagen resigned after charges were filed in June 2009. She had worked for the post office about 20 years, including 12 as Grygla's postmaster.