CANFIELD — Salem Township Constable Dan Valentine waived arraignment and recently entered a written plea of not guilty to theft for allegedly stealing five mini bottles of liquor last month.

Valentine had been scheduled for a telephone arraignment in Mahoning County Court in Canfield on Friday, but that’s been canceled, court bailiff Mara Brandenstein said Wednesday.

A pretrial has been set for 9 a.m. Dec. 11 before Judge Molly Johnson.

Columbiana police charged Valentine, 53, of North Glenview Lane, Leetonia, with the first-degree misdemeanor after an incident Oct. 25 at the Wine Connection on state Route 14.

The manager of the business reported that a man came into the business that afternoon and pocketed four mini bottles of Fireball whiskey and one mini bottle of Crown Royal whiskey before paying for a 30-pack of beer with a credit card. The name on the card was Valentine’s and he was shown on video surveillance, also.

According to the police report, when told about the summons being issued against him for theft, he asked to meet the police officer at Wine Connection, where he allegedly tried to make restitution and returned the bottles of liquor. He told the officer he had just forgotten to pay.

Valentine has been the Salem Township constable since Aug. 1, 1991 and retired from the Beaver Township Police Department two years ago. Salem Township trustees met with him in executive session for personnel last week, but took no action. He remains employed by the township.

A first-degree misdemeanor carries a possible penalty of up to 180 days in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine.