Former Extension Agent Begins Prison Sentence

A long time community activist and former winner of the Presidents Award for Excellence began serving a jail sentence for embezzling public funds Monday.

Brenda Holden who was a former family and consumer sciences Extension agent for Virginia Tech will serve two years in prison and will face $100,000 in fines. Holden pled guilty and was sentenced earlier this month but was allowed to spend the holiday season with her family.

Holden who has worked as an Extension agent for years continued to serve the community as a volunteer for the Salvation Army this Christmas despite her legal difficulties.

Judge Glen A. Tyler said, "This is one of the most serious cases of misuse and misappropriation. This cannot be something that you simply walk away from and put on probation. What message does that say to public officials?"