Two Jones County women plead guilty to embezzlement in Jones County Circuit Court Thursday.

Misty Steele, 33, and Kerri Burroughs, 34, both of Laurel avoided jury trials by changing their earlier pleas of not guilty to guilty.

Assistant District Attorney Dennis Bisnett recommended that Steele, who embezzled funds from the Shady Grove Booster Club, receive a five year sentence, serving two years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections and three years of post release supervision.

Burroughs, who embezzled funds from Mimi’s Bridal, received a sentence of five years, serving one year under house arrest and the remaining time under post release supervision.

If their cases were to be tried, Bisnett said he would have been able to prove that Steele, who was treasurer of the Shady Grove Booster Club, “received a check for $3,412.42 to purchase uniforms.” However, Steele did not purchase the uniforms, but used the funds for her own personal use.

Bisnett added that in another incident, Steele was given money to purchase a public announcement system. She purchased the equipment at a lesser price than the amount given to her, but kept the remaining funds for her own use.

Steele was indicted in 2007 and was arrested after about $4,000 went missing from the booster club’s bank account. She was released on a $10,000 bond, but failed to show for a court appearance in September 2008. She was placed on the county’s “Most Wanted” list and was arrested in Leake County in September 2009.

Bisnett said evidence showed that between June and December 2008, Burroughs, who was a cashier for Mimi’s Bridal, took $2,251 from the business. He noted that some of the embezzlement was captured on video.

“It’s good to get these cases resolved,” said Bisnett. “Unfortunately, we haven’t completed all of them and there will probably be even more.

“When times get tough, people look for easy money,” he said. “The fact is, it’s really not easy money. Once caught, you have to suffer the consequences.”