An employee with a well drilling company is accused of using his fuel card and the cards of two other employees to purchase $15,000 in gas.

Nathan Donald Rufus Sherbahn, 26, used the cards not only for his personal vehicle, but also to help gas up family and friends' cars, prosecutors allege.

Sherbahn pleaded innocent Wednesday in Benton County Superior Court to one count of first-degree theft. His trial is March 19.

Court documents show Sherbahn has a post office box in Burbank, but don't give an actual street address.

According to the documents filed last week by Deputy Prosecutor Brendan Siefken, Sherbahn was working for Carpenter Drilling when the theft occurred between June 11 and July 15.

He was issued a company fuel card and was authorized to use it to buy gas for company business. The company later discovered the alleged theft.

Carpenter Drilling's projects have included helping to drill 305 wells at Hanford with federal economic stimulus money as a subcontractor for CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co.

Sherbahn, when contacted by a Benton County sheriff's deputy, reportedly admitted to the unauthorized use of his fuel card and added that he took two cards from other employees to use as well, court documents said.