By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

An Alabaster woman must pay $3,500 in restitution to several area businesses, and will spend the next five years on probation after she pleaded guilty to pocketing money intended to fund a special-needs playground at Pelham’s Linda Nolen Learning Center.

According to court records, Roseanna Borelli pleaded guilty to one count of felony theft of property second degree on Aug. 12.

Alabaster police arrested Borelli in September 2011 and charged her with using about $6,400 intended to fund a playground for special-needs children at LNLC to purchase items such as clothing, restaurants and online dating services.

The Linda Nolen Learning Center is a school for children throughout Shelby County who have significant special needs. The special-needs playground was opened at LNLC in 2010.

Borelli also was charged in 2012 with three counts of theft by deception after police said she allegedly pocketed nearly $30,000 donated to help cover her son’s medical expenses. The three counts of theft by deception against Borelli were dropped after she pleaded guilty to the theft of property charge.

In the years prior to her 2011 arrest, Borelli was an active fundraiser and advocate for her special-needs child, and set up several websites in his name to solicit donations.

As a result of her guilty plea, Borelli must pay a total of $3,500 in restitution to several area businesses, according to court documents.

She must pay $500 to Alabaster Optical on U.S. 31, $1,000 to Pelham First Baptist Church and $2,000 to Juvenile Court Services, which is housed in the Shelby County Courthouse in Columbiana. She also must pay $50 to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund.

She must pay all restitution by July 23, 2016.