LANSING — Anne Minard, a former staffer for ex-House Speaker Lee Chatfield, will likely avoid prison time over a series of financial misconduct charges after agreeing to testify against her old boss at his trial.

Minard at an Oct. 23 hearing agreed to plead guilty to one count of filing a false tax return and another count of embezzling at least $1,000 but less than $20,000 from a nonprofit organization during her time as an aide to Chatfield. Ten other criminal counts, including a criminal conspiracy charge, will be dismissed under the agreement, which was accepted by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo.

"Guilty, your honor," Minard pleaded after Jamo asked if she understood the agreement.

Minard will be sentenced Dec. 3. Prosecutors recommended 36 months of probation, with a

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