Not guilty plea in embezzlement case

A former accounts payable manager for Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii pleaded not guilty Thursday to a first-degree theft charge.

Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura ordered Sharleen Makaneole, also known as Jaynne Avelin, to appear for trial at 9 a.m. June 13.

The 40-year-old Hilo woman was indicted March 9 by a grand jury. She’s accused of stealing $89,753 from the Hilo office of the statewide medical laboratory company in a five-year period between Jan. 1, 2008, and Feb. 27, 2013.

First-degree theft is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment upon conviction.

Makaneole, who has no prior criminal record, is free on $5,000 bail.