Former Idaho Rodeo Queen Sentenced to Jail

BOISE (KTVB) -- A former rodeo queen is headed to jail after admitting to embezzling more than $22,000 from her employer.

Chelsi Ann Horton, 23, pleaded guilty to grand theft in November.

Judge Deborah Bail sentenced Horton to seven years in prison Monday morning, but suspended the sentence and granted probation, ordering Horton to spend six months in jail instead.

Horton was also allowed entry into the work-release program, meaning she will be released from detention each day to go to her job and return to custody in the evening.

Horton could have been sentenced to up to 14 years in prison.

The 2014 Miss Caldwell Night Rodeo Queen and former Boise State University Bronco girl was arrested in late July. She later admitted to paying herself more than her salary while working as a bookkeeper for King Concrete in Nampa.

Horton was paid $9 per hour, but increased her pay to $18 an hour, prosecutors said. She also paid herself for overtime she had not worked and deposited business checks in her personal bank account.

Prosecutor Kai Wittwer says Horton was ordered to pay $22,145.98 in restitution to her former employer.