State police say a secretary has been charged in connection with the theft of more than $700,000 from the Hudson Valley law firm where she worked.

Troopers say 43-year-old Mary Merten of New Paltz was charged Wednesday with grand larceny, forgery, falsifying business records and possession of a forged instrument.

The arrest follows a five-month investigation into an embezzlement scheme at a local attorneys office where Merten worked as a legal secretary and bookkeeper.

Investigators say more than $700,000 was stolen from corporate and personal accounts associated with the firm. The law firm's name wasn't released.

Merten was being held Thursday in Ulster County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. It couldn't be immediately determined if she had a lawyer.