A one-time employee of an Adams Township landscaping business will spend 7 to 18 months in jail for returning to the property and helping himself to cash.

According to court records, 33-year-old James Kern of Valencia was employed by Treesdale Landscape on Hutchman Road for two days before he was fired.

Still, the business owner recognized Kern on a surveillance video of the property taken June 3.

According to court records, the video captured images of Kern entering the building, then exiting 10 minutes later, counting money.

Court records say a door inside the business leading to an upstairs apartment was broken and, inside the apartment, $250 in cash and the contents of a change jar were taken.

Kern, when arrested at his home, reportedly was in possession of a spoon, a syringe and four stamp bags of heroin, according to court records.

Initially, Kern was charged with multiple crimes, including burglary and possession of a controlled substance.

However, as part of a plea arrangement with the Butler County District Attorney’s Office, Kern pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal trespassing.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped the other charges and made the sentence recommendation to Butler County Judge Timothy McCune.

The judge sentenced Kern Thursday to the prison time followed by a year of probation.

The defendant also was ordered to pay the business owner $30 and tenant who rents the upstairs apartment $300 in restitution.