A former manager of Lawrence’s Wal-Mart store entered a plea Thursday to a charge that he embezzled more than $12,000 from the store last summer by falsifying refunds.

During a hearing in Douglas County District Court, James Richard Chappelle pleaded no contest to one count of felony theft. He will be sentenced Feb. 23 and likely faces probation, but he will be ordered to repay the money.

Deputy District Attorney Robert Claus said the evidence included videotape of Chappelle “creating false refund receipts and then pocketing the money.” Claus said that Chappelle admitted stealing $12,309.

Initial police reports last fall indicated that Chappelle, 44 at the time of his arrest, was arrested after an internal audit discovered $34,945.44 missing from the store. District Attorney Charles Branson said the lesser amount “is what the evidence showed.”