photo by: Nick Krug

Former Lawrence Mayor Jeremy Farmer enters the Frank Carlson Federal Building on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, in Topeka. Farmer was appearing on a charge of embezzling funds during his time as the executive director of Just Food.

Topeka ? Former Lawrence Mayor Jeremy Farmer may well admit to embezzling money from Just Food, but for now he’s considering his options.

Thursday morning Farmer appeared in court where Federal Judge Gary Sebelius formally charged him with a single count of interstate travel of embezzled funds.

Though he pleaded not guilty to the charge, Farmer’s attorney, John Cowles, said his client might reconsider.

“We did intend to enter a guilty plea to the information,” Cowles said in court. “But this is the first time he’s been through criminal proceedings, so I felt he could use more time to consider.”

If convicted of the charge of stealing from the food bank, Farmer faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Farmer may also be ordered to forfeit his personal assets to make up for any ill-gotten gains, if he is convicted.

Silently, Farmer walked into the federal courthouse in Topeka wearing a blue button-down shirt and sunglasses. He did not respond to multiple questions about his criminal charge.

Farmer was hired as the executive director of Just Food in 2011.

“In that position he had access to Just Food bank accounts and accounting systems,” according to federal court filings.

Beginning in 2013 and ending in 2015, Farmer embezzled money from the nonprofit food agency, the documents say.

He is accused of taking more than $55,000 in funds.

He also tried to cover his tracks by “adjusting entries in the QuickBooks and financial statements provided to the board of directors,” the documents say.

Farmer resigned from Just Food and his elected seat on the Lawrence City Commission in August 2015 after it was revealed he had not paid more than $50,000 in federal and state payroll taxes on behalf of Just Food. At the time he said taxes weren’t paid due to an oversight.

A month later, Just Food’s board of directors released the results of its own investigation, saying Farmer made unauthorized payments to himself of more than $52,000 in salary and benefits over a two-year period. The nonprofit now believes that total is closer to $56,000.

Prosecutor Rich Hathaway told the judge that the state is not asking for Farmer to be detained during the criminal proceedings. Instead, he asked that a bond of $5,000 be set in case Farmer fails to appear for any future court hearings.

Hathaway also asked that Farmer surrender his passport.

Farmer agreed to the conditions.

Cowles told the court that Farmer is now living in Kansas City, Kan.

The next court hearing for Farmer’s case is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 26.