Sometimes things are not quite as they seem. Would you ever expect an 88-year-old woman to be a thief? Most people wouldn't. Here is a sad, but almost comical tale of thievery.

A 91-year-old woman pleaded guilty to stealing $201,000 from the south Alabama town where she was mayor for three decades. She also paid hush money in a bid to keep her crimes secret. As reported in www.cbsnews.com.

For her efforts, Mayor Mary Ella Hixon pleaded guilty to theft and lost her job. She resigned in exchange for authorities dropping another felony ethics charge.

The 91-year-old was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but because of her age she will instead only get five years of probation. That hardly seems fair. Perhaps she should have gotten probation for the rest of her life.

It is especially sad because the thefts left the city all but broke.

Hixon will have to repay the money, with her estate being held responsible if she dies before all the money is refunded.

Hixon illegally transferred $201,610 in city money to others in the last three years, but authorities know there were many more thefts in the past.

She had been one of Alabama's longest-serving mayors and was re-elected to serve the town of River Falls in August. For those of you who have never heard of the place you are not alone. It's little more than a wide spot in the road for people driving to Panhandle beaches and has about 500 residents.

What a ridiculous and sad story. Instead of living in honor after she passes away, her name will be spat upon by future generations. Now that she is out of a job, I doubt she will have many future opportunities to steal.