A Roanoke pastor who in April pleaded no contest to embezzling money from two elderly sisters will avoid jail if he repays the money and complies with his other probation requirements.

Richard E. Dent, 45, pastor of Trinity Family Church on Frontier Road, had faced four felony charges for taking more than $63,000 from two women in their 80s and 90s. The women are distant relatives of Dent but are not members of his church.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Joshua Dietz said at Dent's trial that in October 2007, Dent took the elder of the two women to a lawyer's office and had her give him power of attorney over her finances. Dietz said the 91-year-old woman, whose sister was critically ill and died the following day, was too upset to understand what he was doing. Dent took money from both women's bank accounts and reportedly used some of it on computers and a sound system for his church.

On Monday in Roanoke Circuit Court, Dent was convicted of one count of embezzlement and sentenced to five years in jail, with all five suspended. He also was given five years' probation and must repay the money he stole. Two further counts of embezzlement and a charge of obtaining money by false pretenses were dismissed.

Dietz said Monday that Dent has already paid back $20,000 and must make a minimum monthly payment of $722 until the balance of $43,340 has been restored.

Dent's attorney, Art Strickland, said in court he was optimistic the money would be repaid sooner than required.

Dent declined to comment Monday.