A hearing on a felony theft charge against the director of North Dakota's Aeronautics Commission has been put off until October.

Gary Ness' preliminary hearing and arraignment were scheduled for Tuesday at the Burleigh County courthouse.

Ness' lawyer, Thomas Dickson, says the hearing has been delayed until Oct. 15 to allow Ness to keep a medical appointment. Dickson declined to elaborate.

Ness is accused of taking an envelope with $1,770 in cash from the counter of a Bismarck gas station. Police say it was accidentally left there by a woman who later returned to look for it.

North Dakota's Aeronautics Commission has put Ness on paid leave while the charges are pending.

- Associated Press