A St. Paul police officer facing forgery charges rejected a plea deal that would have spared her prison time.

Ruby Diaz, 38, of Lauderdale, appeared in Ramsey County District Court Wednesday morning on two counts of aggravated forgery and one count of electronic use of false pretense to obtain identity.

Diaz allegedly used a college classmate's identity to wire $1,500 to convicted felon, Ramone D. Smaller, in prison. Diaz and Smaller, 22, were allegedly romantically involved.

Authorities allege that Smaller is a violent gang member. Smaller is serving time for attempted murder and was charged in June in several violent drive-by shootings.

Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Andrew LeFevour, who is prosecuting the case for Ramsey County, said he offered Diaz a plea deal that would involve her pleading guilty to any one of the accounts. In exchange, LeFevour said, she would be offered a 90-day cap for an possible workhouse or jail time, be spared any prison time and be placed on three years' probation.

"Did you reject the offer?" asked Ramsey County District Court Judge Leonardo Castro.

"Yes, judge," Diaz said.

After the hearing, Diaz's attorney, William Bulmer, said that his client maintains her innocence.

"She feels she's innocent of the charges," Bulmer said. "She'd like to resume her career in law enforcement and any felonies would be career-ending."

LeFevour said he's open to ongoing plea negotiations although he feels attorneys have reached an "impasse."

Diaz is on paid-administrative leave pending the outcome of her case. She is scheduled to go to trial on Dec. 8.