The former treasurer of the Oxbow Fire Department, initially charged in a 45-count indictment with embezzling about $15,000 in department funds, pleaded guilty Thursday in Jefferson County Court to a single count of petit larceny, a misdemeanor.

Christina M. Cunningham, 25, of 31540 County Route 194, Theresa, pleaded guilty using an Alford plea, meaning she did not admit to the allegations, but did not want to risk a stiffer punishment if found guilty at trial. A trial was scheduled for next week in the matter.

Before her plea Thursday, Judge Kim H. Martusewicz reduced the top count in the indictment from third-degree grand larceny to petit larceny, to which she pleaded guilty. According to court documents, the judge amended the indictment after reviewing a transcript of grand jury proceedings. The remaining charges were dismissed with her plea.

Her attorney, James P. McClusky, said the plea reflected questions that had arisen about the department's use of presigned checks written for cash that were used for such things as paying bands at department events.

"Our position was that she was not the one signing the checks," he said.

Mr. McClusky said Mrs. Cunningham is expected to be sentenced June 30 to a period of probation supervision and ordered to pay $6,925 in restitution. He said the department's insurance carrier has covered more than $7,000 in claimed losses.

In other court activity,Travis M. Johnson,25, of 128 Brainard St., Dexter, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

The charges were contained in an indictment unsealed in court alleging he had and sold heroin in mid-March in Dexter. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was sent to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building on $5,000 bail.