Lorelee Byrd stood silent in front of Judge James Foster during a 10-minute sentencing hearing at the County Courthouse This Afternoon.

Judge Foster sentenced Byrd to 300 hours of community service to be completed by July 1, 2004.

Byrd's lawyer asked for leniency from the Judge because Byrd lacked a prior record and because she has cooperated with investigators since they began looking into financial irregularities in the office.

The financial irregularities began when Byrd wrote almost $300,000 in checks and then voided them after the legislative session ended.

Byrd announced her resignation, effective Jan. 6, earlier this month.