The former head of a nonprofit group that raised money to restore popular trails in the White Mountains will plead guilty to federal embezzlement charges.
Melanie Luce, who led the Campton-based White Mountains Trail Collective from 2019 to 2021, is accused of stealing funds, as well as misleading the group’s board of directors about grant funding, earning her unwarranted performance bonuses.
Luce’s trial was scheduled to begin next week. On Wednesday, she entered into a plea agreement that, if approved, calls for her to serve a two-year prison sentence, and pay $193,724 in restitution.
Luce’s attorney said he was unable to comment.
According to the plea agreement, prosecutors say Luce opened a credit card in March 2021 without the approval of the nonprofit’s board of directors. She

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