PORT VINCENT - Sheriff's deputies in Livingston Parish say a Denham Springs woman turned herself in after she was accused of stealing more than $16,000 in cash from the Village of Port Vincent.

29-year-old Brandi Deaton was employed as the assistant clerk for the Village of Port Vincent from October 2013 to March of this year, according to deputies. Investigators say she was able to collect fees and fines for the village, but she was instead taking the funds for herself and depositing them in her personal account instead of depositing them into the Village of Port Vincent account.

Allegations of misappropriation of funds were first reported to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office by the village in April of this year. The Legislative Auditor's Office was contacted, and an investigation by both agencies was underway until charges were able to be brought against Deaton.

She was booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center on charges of felony theft, injuring public records and malfeasance in office. She was released on $60,500 bond.