LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) _ A judge has sentenced a La Crosse funeral home owner for fraudulent billing of a state funeral-assistance program.

Authorities say 59-year-old Darrell Dickinson submitted false claim information on funeral costs to get money through a program that helps cover such expenses for qualified Medicaid recipients. A criminal complaint says Dickinson fraudulently billed for 27 funerals between
2003 and 2006.

Dickinson pleaded guilty in July to two counts of felony public-assistance fraud and repaid the state $55,000 in a deal with prosecutors.

La Crosse County Circuit Judge Todd Bjerke sentenced Dickinson to six months in jail. He specified that Dickinson must serve the first 72 hours behind bars and can do the rest of his time on electronic monitoring.