Huntsville City Councilman Devyn Keith entered a not-guilty plea on Monday regarding four misdemeanor theft charges against him for allegedly shoplifting from local Walmarts.

According to court documents, Keith also waived arraignment, and a bench trial date has been set for May 10.

Keith stands accused of shoplifting from several Walmarts in the Huntsville area on 31 separate occasions. He was first arrested Thursday, February 2, and charged with fourth-degree theft of property amounting to $500 or less. He was again arrested and booked into Madison County Jail the following Wednesday morning on four counts of misdemeanor theft of property worth less than $500.

Keith issued a public apology at the council meeting on February 9 before recusing himself from the meeting.

At the next meeting on February 23, council president John Meredith removed Keith from the council's finance committee. Keith's travel request to Washington, D.C. later this year was also denied.

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