A Mandan woman has pleaded not guilty to Class C felony theft by deception.

Laurene Eastin entered the not guilty plea Tuesday to South Central District Judge Gail Hagerty.

Eastin was charged in September for allegedly making unauthorized personal purchases with credit cards belonging to Buehler-Larson Funeral Home while she was an employee there.

The alleged thefts occurred between 2005 and July 2008, according to court documents.

Hagerty found probable cause for the charge to proceed to trial after a short preliminary hearing.

During the hearing, Mandan Police Sgt. Jay Gruebele testified that the owners of the funeral home had pointed out more than $27,000 in charges on one credit card they believed were not for business purposes and nearly $14,000 on another card.

Gruebele said more than $500 of the charges were made in Morton County.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 29. Eastin remains free on her promise to appear.

- Jenny Michael