FARMINGTON — A former office manager for Aramark Higher Education, the University of Maine at Farmington’s contracted dining service, faces paying back a maximum $14,363 in restitution for stealing money from the service’s petty cash.

Matthew Martyn Black, 31, of Farmington pleaded guilty Thursday in Franklin County Superior Court to a felony charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer. The theft occurred between October 2013 and June 2014.

If the case went to trial, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins said there would have been be testimony from the service’s director that Black was employed with the company for three years as office manager and had access to a locked box that contained petty cash.

The director would have testified that he did an audit of the money and discovered something was off and did a more thorough audit and discovered $14,363 was missing.

UMF police Chief Brock Caton would testify that he interviewed Black and he admitted to taking money, but he did not believe he took that much and believed it was under $10,000.

Testimony would have shown that Black claims he surreptitiously paid back $2,000 to $3,000, Robbins said.

Black entered into an agreement that delays sentencing for two years. He was never convicted of a felony charge.

Judge Susan Oram told Black that he must complete all of the terms listed in the agreement. If he does, he could come back to court and withdraw his plea to the felony charge and plead to a misdemeanor charge.

Black must pay the restitution during that time.

The cap on restitution is $14,363, Robbins said. Once they determine the exact amount that needs to be paid back, it will come before the court on March 26.

Defense attorney Jason Bulay said there is also an agreement that if Black makes substantial payments during the two years, the agreement that delays sentencing could be extended.

dperry@sunjournal.com