A former Dillons employee has admitted to stealing more than $30,000 — mostly by taking money out of cash registers at the Lawrence store — over a 10-month period ending in March.

Michael Everett Smith, 20, rural Lawrence, pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to one count of felony theft and told District Judge Michael Malone he stole the money from his former employer in addition to taking meals and other items from the store, 4701 W. Sixth St.

“A majority of it was cash, sir,” Smith told the judge.

Douglas County prosecutors had accused Smith of stealing the money from May 2010 to March of this year, when the Dillons security district manager initially contacted Lawrence police.

Defense attorney John Frydman said attorneys expect Smith to qualify for probation because he has no past criminal history. The judge does have authority to order Smith to serve up to two months in jail — even if he qualifies for probation — but prosecutors aren’t expected to ask for that.

Malone is scheduled to sentence Smith at 4 p.m. Jan. 6. Smith remains free on $2,000 bond. Any restitution to Dillons also would be ordered at the sentencing.