Update: Kathy Hudgins was sentenced to 30 months of probation after pleading guilty today to embezzling from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, where she was a secretary to former Sheriff George Wilhelm.
Check back for more details. Below is an earlier article.

By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
?SALISBURY — Kathy Hudgins, the former secretary to one-time Sheriff George Wilhelm, is expected to plead guilty to embezzlement Thursday in Rowan County Superior Court.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed Hudgins, accused of embezzling more than $56,000 from the Sheriff’s Office during a five-year period as Wilhelm’s personal secretary, will accept a deal. She was scheduled for trial Dec. 10.
Following Hudgins’ 2010 arrest, a prosecutor for the state Attorney General’s Office said Hudgins admitted to an affair with Wilhelm.
“She made a voluntary statement about the relationship,” prosecutor Jim Coman said in 2011.
Hudgins was placed on administrative leave in 2008. Court records show Hudgins is accused of eight counts of embezzlement from July 1, 2003, to March 25, 2008.
After a yearlong investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, the case was turned over to the N.C. Attorney General.
Hudgins was also charged in 2010 with stealing lottery tickets from her employer, S.M. Mart in Rockwell, and cashing the tickets at a Food Lion store.
In that case, Hudgins was charged with three counts of larceny by employee and two counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense.
Check Friday’s Salisbury Post for more information.