A Zanesville woman pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to charges of embezzling merchandise from her employer.

Heather McCance, 33 years-old, stood beside her defense attorney Jeremy McLendon as she admitted to Judge Kelly Cottrill to stealing items from a Maple Avenue gas station.

According to Muskingum County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch, between April and May of this year, McCance stole cigarettes and other items from the Duchess BP Gas station located at 3415 Maple Avenue.

She would place the items in a trash bag near the store’s dumpster for another individual, whom she refused to identify, to pick up.

McLendon said that McCance had no prior criminal history and requested a reduced bond, stating that if allowed, she would move in with her mother and step-father.

When questioned by Cottrill, McCance admitted she would use the stolen items to fund her addiction to Heroin.

During her arraignment, McCance previously admitted to using Fentanyl.

As part of a plea agreement between her defense attorney and prosecutors, in exchange for her plea of guilty, prosecutors would recommend McCance receive community control.

Charged with one count of theft, not exceeding $7,500, a felony of the fifth degree, McCance faces up to one year in prison.

She will be ordered to pay $2,539.34 in restitution.

Cottrill ordered a presentencing investigation (PSI) to be conducted and lowered McCance’s bond from a previously established $10,000 cash, property or surety bond to a $5,000 own recognizance bond, as long as she passed a drug test.

McCance has been held in the Muskingum County Jail since Wednesday, August 5.