can an employer delete hours from an employees paycheck for allegedly not clocking out?

My former employer has deleted approx 20 hours from my paycheck stating that I did not clock out. The system does an auto clock out at 5am and as the former general manager of a tavern was often still working at that hour. Essentially they deleted the entire day from payroll as retaliation for a separate wage dispute involving nonpayment of wages from the "remodeling" phase of opening the establishment to the tune of thousands of dollars. I was told that I would be compensated after the place opened, as they paid cash daily to other employees, and told that I would not be terminated when the place opened but be well taken care of. Well the place opened and I was terminated after 2 weeks of business. They don't deny the debt to me but simply refuse to pay. I kept track of my hours on a calendar, and was given about $400 for gas and food but was told much more was due to me.