A former Tootsie's employee accused of stealing $961.44 from the well-known Sequim restaurant pleaded not guilty to theft charges Friday.

Kallai W. Swanson, 22, of Sequim, is suspected of falsifying 37 receipts over a period of 19 days between Sept. 7, 2009, and Oct. 11, 2009, and pocketing the money, according to court documents.

In a report, Sequim Police said shortages were done by voiding receipts that had been paid for and taking the money from the register. There were also fictitious food orders made, money taken from the register, then voiding of the order from the system without any original receipts, police said.

Documents show the voids were done during Swanson's shifts by using an employee's identification number first, then Swanson's number to complete the void process, police said.

The shortages were noticed by owner Linda Diesen, who reported it to police, according to court documents. Employees provided written statements that they did not participate in the voided orders and at least one employee was not working the day her identification number was used, police said.

Swanson, who is stationed in Ft. Lewis with the U.S. Army, is prohibited from traveling out of state unless deployed.

Her trial date is set for Nov. 1.