An Albert Lea man charged with making unlawful expenditures from the Humane Society of Freeborn County’s gambling account over more than six months pleaded guilty on Monday in Freeborn County District Court.

Ryan Robert Arbuckle Sr., 40, pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor unlawful gambling expenditures.

Court documents state Arbuckle was charged after he made unlawful expenditures from the gambling account of the Humane Society from Sept. 1, 2016, to April 28, 2017.

The case was investigated by a special agent with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division after a referral by the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Arbuckle was gambling manager at the Humane Society.

An audit found he failed to keep receipts or document expenditures from the gambling account.

Arbuckle reportedly made more than $5,400 of unlawful expenditures from the gambling account from Sept. 1, 2016, to Feb. 27, 2017. He allegedly made more than $1,000 of unauthorized expenditures from March 1, 2017, to April 28, 2017.

Arbuckle reportedly said gas expenditures were for trips to pick up animals for the shelter but admitted he did not have documentation showing he picked up the animals.

The charge Arbuckle pleaded guilty to stipulates that he made an unlawful expenditure of between $200 and $2,500.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28. Arbuckle faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Arbuckle was charged with felony unlawful gambling expenditures, but that charge was dismissed.