WARREN, Ohio - The former office manager of a Howland Township chiropractor will not go to prison for stealing more than $62,000 from the business.

During a hearing in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Monday, 40-year-old Brandy Cotton of Bazetta Township was placed on probation for five years and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service after pleading guilty earlier to a charge of grand theft.

In addition, Judge Peter Kontos ordered Cotton to repay the money she stole from Dr. Christopher Stychno.

Police say Cotton was an office manager for the chiropractor for six years at his office on Route 46 until she stopped working for him in 2018.

Dr. Stychno told investigators that he discovered was transferring patient credit card payments to her bank and withdrawing the cash from an ATM.

Cotton was indicted following an investigation that determined that between 2016 and early 2019, Cotton stole $62,623 from the doctor.