A Billings woman has been charged with embezzling more than $80,000 from a manufacturing company where she worked.

Crystal Deloris Bryant, 26, appeared in District Court today and pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of theft by embezzlement by common scheme. Prosecutors say the woman stole $81,396.65 from Red Oxx Manufacturing.

Bryant was hired at the company in January 2006 as an office manager and bookkeeper, and her duties eventually expanded to include accounts receivable and payable, material ordering, inventory control and banking, according to court records. The alleged thefts were discovered when Bryant went on vacation in August 2008 and the company owner took over her duties while she was gone.

The owner discovered "numerous and exorbitant payments" from the company's bank account to several credit cards belonging to Bryant, court records state. An internal audit determined the company's loss, and a police investigation confirmed the amount in 92 payments between August 2007 and December 2008 to Bryant's credit cards.

Bryant was fired last December. She was allowed to remain free pending trial on a previously posted bond of $20,000.