SONOMA COUNTY WOMAN CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLING $1.6M : SAN RAFAEL  (AP) — A 44-year-old Sonoma County woman has been convicted of embezzling nearly $1.6 million from her employer.

Prosecutors say 44-year-old Jodi Michele Azevedo pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two felony embezzlement counts and an enhancement for white-collar crime as part of a plea deal.

The Marin Independent Journal reports (that she is expected to receive a six-year prison term. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20.

Authorities have said Azevedo stole the money over about a decade from the San Rafael law firm of Plastiras and Terrizzi and its affiliated real estate brokerage and management company, Parkway Properties Investment Corp.

She was accused of writing checks to herself from the corporate account.

HIGH TIDES, BIG WAVES TO HIT NORCAL BEACHES: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Forecasters are urging people enjoying the Northern California coast to be careful as high tides and big waves hit the region's beaches during the next few days.

The National Weather Service says so-called King Tides — caused by a rather unique combination of how the sun, the moon and the earth align — will bring the highest tides of the year on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings.

Forecasters say a tide surge of 9.6 feet is expected in Redwood City a little before 11 a.m. Thursday, while areas near the Golden Gate Bridge will see a tide of 7.2 feet.

Along with the high tides, forecasters say a building swell will bring large breaking waves to area beaches.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the combination of high tides and surf has flooded some parking lots in San Francisco and in Marin County.