Jeff Burkhead, a former director of the Kansas Press Assn. who pleaded no contest to theft of more than $25,000 from the organization, has been placed on five years probation.

Shawnee County District Court Judge Thomas Conklin originally sentenced Burkhead to 12 months in jail, but on Friday the judge suspended the sentence. Conklin also denied a prosecution request to impose 60 days of jail time, which would have been served on weekends.

Burkhead, a former editor and publisher, resigned from the KPA in September 2003. After an audit, the organization discovered a loss of $112,975 based on personal use of company cash and credit cards.

A lawsuit seeking recovery of money was settled this year by Burkhead. He acknowledged “breach of fiduciary duty” and agreed to pay $56,000 for losses, plus payments he made earlier and a $25,000 insurance settlement.