A former manager of Lawrence’s Wal-Mart store was sentenced Friday afternoon to serve one year of probation for his conviction of embezzling more than $12,000 from the store last summer.

Douglas County District Judge Paula Martin also ordered James Richard Chappelle to repay $12,309.

As part of a plea agreement, Chappelle had pleaded no contest to one count of felony theft, which said he falsified receipts to embezzle the money.

Chappelle said little during the hearing, except when he told Martin that he currently had a job. Chappelle’s attorney, Jonathan Becker, declined comment after Friday’s sentencing.

According to initial police reports, Chappelle, who was 44 at the time of his arrest, was taken into custody after an audit discovered more than $34,000 missing from the store. Prosecutors had said the evidence showed the lesser amount.