NORWICH – A young woman pleaded guilty Monday to stealing more than $50,000 worth of antique and gold coins to feed her heroin addiction and was told by the judge that she needed to stay away from her boyfriend.

Between Feb. 12 and May 20, 2009, 24-year-old Meghan L. Matthews of Unadilla sold $50,534 worth of collector’s coins to a Norwich coin dealer after stealing them from her boyfriend’s parents.

Matthews pleaded guilty to second degree criminal possession of stolen property and was sentenced to six months in jail, five years probation, must repay about $42,334 in restitution and will be admitted in to Chenango County Drug Treatment Court. The court ordered payments of at least $100 a month until the debt is paid, meaning it will take her more than 35 years to pay the amount if she makes the minimum monthly deposit.

District Attorney Joseph McBride said Matthews had already served her time in jail after she was originally released by the court and tested positive for continued drug use on more than one occasion.

“She’s spent the last 30 days in jail judge, since the last time you let her out and she tested positive for heroin, I believe,” McBride told the court.

McBride said Matthews received nearly what the coins were estimated to be worth when she sold them, and that she admitted to buying tens of thousands of dollars in drugs with the money.