The former director of a northeast Kansas animal shelter has pleaded not guilty to stealing $40,000 from the shelter where she worked for seven years.

Lisa Junghans entered her plea Monday in Geary County District Court. Her attorney sqys that the state will have a hard time proving she did anything wrong.

Junghans began working at the Junction City-Geary County Animal Shelter in 2006 and resigned without explanation July 9. A criminal complaint charges her with one count of theft, which it says occurred “in two or more acts or transactions.”

Neither city nor county officials have confirmed what funds might have been stolen, but the City Commission recently approved changes in how pet license fees are handled.

Junghans is scheduled for trial in February.

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Associated Press Information from: The Junction City Daily Union