A former employee of local payday lenders pleaded guilty last week in Cherokee County General Sessions Court to defrauding his past two employers of more than $50,000 in cash.

Charles Bradford Benton, 33, of 1st Avenue, was sentenced to five years probation and a 10-year suspended prison sentence and will have to make restitution within five years or risk jail time, he was advised in court. A restitution agreement shows he will have to repay $40,000 to Approved Cash Advance and $11,400 to Community Loans of America.

Prosecutors contended Benton converted his employers' money to his own use by processing checks drawn on closed accounts and keeping the money for himself.

Benton pleaded guilty to two counts of breach of trust and 12 counts of forgery.

His lawyer said in court that Benton was going through difficult times and had used the money to support himself and his family. The money wasn't spent on anything like a new car or home, the lawyer noted.

"This is a lot of money," Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes said in court. Wondering aloud about Benton's ability to repay the money, the judge said he could simply sentence Benton to jail rather than give him a probationary sentence that could result in even more jail time if the money isn't repaid. But since the victims wanted their money back, the judge said he was willing to defer to their wishes by giving Benton the opportunity to repay.

"You only have five years to repay this," the judge said. "You need to get this money paid back."

Benton was given credit for 52 days time served from the time of his arrest until he made bond.