OKEECHOBEE — Tanya Law was sentenced to six months in county jail followed by two years probation after pleading no contest to possession of cocaine and tampering with evidence. Law was arrested December 5, 2020 at approximately 4 a.m. after Okeechobee City Police Officer Ramon Liberato stopped her for not having a rear light on her bicycle. Law told Liberato her name and pulled out a box of cigarettes from her pocket. She withdrew a cigarette from the pack and then crumbled the pack up and threw it on the ground, telling Liberato it was her last cigarette. The officer retrieved the pack and found crack cocaine inside.

While he was speaking to Law, dispatch informed him there was an outstanding warrant on her for grand theft. The grand theft charge came about after Law visited a relative and stole her checkbook, writing herself a check for $750. When she was arrested, she claimed she had paid the woman back $400, but the woman said she had not received any compensation from Law. Law entered a no contest plea on charges of uttering a forged instrument and grand theft. She was sentenced to six months in jail and two years probation on these charges as well. The sentences will be served concurrently. In addition, Law was ordered to pay restitution to the woman from whose account she stole.