BEAVER, Beaver County—- A Cranberry Township woman who forged nearly $20,000 in checks from a Jewish community center will be under court supervision for five years.

Elizabeth Zorich, 41, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to forgery and two counts of theft, according to court records.

The same day, Zorich was sentenced by Beaver County Judge Harry Knafelc to serve 6 to 23 months in the Beaver County Jail followed by three years' probation.

She also was ordered to pay the Samuel Jewish Center in Ambridge $19,599 in restitution.

Zorich reportedly had access to the center's checks when she worked there from January to December 2007 as secretary and manager.

After authorities began investigating, Zorich allegedly admitted she took the money by way of about 50 checks and deposited them into her own checking account.

Court records say Zorich is supposed to begin her prison sentence at 9 a.m. June 4.

On the same day she appeared in Beaver County Court on this case, she missed a court date in Butler County Court.

Records say Zorich was scheduled for formal arraignment on two cases, bad checks and felony drug charges, Tuesday in the courtroom of Butler County Judge William Shaffer.

No information was immediately available on the cases, both filed by Cranberry Township police.

A warrant was issued for Zorich's arrest.

No telephone number was available for Zorich, and no attorney has yet filed an appearance for her in Butler County Court.

Felecia Kelley, the public defender who represented Zorich in Beaver County, could not be reached for comment.

In the meantime, Beaver County assistant District Attorney Ronald DiGiorno said officials are hoping the community center will be repaid through third parties, including its insurance agent and the banks involved.

If that happens, Zorich then would be ordered to repay the third parties.