COURTLAND—A Franklin woman on Thursday admitted to stealing $14,387 from her employer.

Appearing in Southampton County Circuit Court, Deborah Edwards pleaded guilty to embezzling. Edwards, 46, deposited checks issued to Family Practice Associates in Franklin into several personal accounts between October 2009 and March 2010 while she worked there as a billing clerk, said Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Cooke.

Franklin police originally investigated the theft of three checks totaling $826 in May 2010, but learned Edwards had deposited more than 46 checks, Cooke told the court.

Edwards admitted to police during the investigation to stealing three checks; she claimed she needed the money to hire a private investigator because she thought her husband was cheating, Cooke said.

Sentencing has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8.