NATCHEZ — A Louisiana woman charged with stealing from a senior citizen under her care was ordered Monday to spend two years in prison.

Nicole Mata, 30, of Ridgecrest, pleaded guilty to charges of uttering a forgery and grand larceny before Sixth District Circuit Court Judge Forrest “Al” Johnson.

Mata was working as a domestic helper for a senior citizen in Natchez when she forged a check and stole some of the victim’s jewelry, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office announced. Johnson sentenced Mata to five years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections with the order that she serve two years. Three of the years were suspended, but Mata was given three years post-release supervision.

She was also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to the victim.

“We appreciate Judge Johnson’s sentence,” Attorney General Jim Hood said. “Hopefully, it will deter others from taking advantage of Mississippians who are part of our greatest generation.”

Russell Frazier of the Attorney General’s Vulnerable Adults Unit investigated the case, and Assistant Attorney General Stan Alexander prosecuted the case.