A former employee of the U.S. Postal Service in Warren County has been sentenced to two years probation for opening mail and stealing gift cards.

Melody Thornhill, 35, whose address could not be confirmed, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge David Bramlette on Tuesday. Court records say the crimes occurred between Aug. 7 and 25, 2011.

Thornhill was also fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $113 in restitution. The charges had carried a maximum of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

She had pleaded guilty in May following an indictment in February.