The former treasurer of a southwest Roanoke sports organization was convicted Thursday of stealing money meant to support young athletes.

Bob Collis pleaded no contest to one count of felony embezzlement from the nonprofit Greater Southwest Athletic Association, Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell said.

As part of a plea agreement, Collis, 51, received a three-year suspended prison sentence, was placed on probation for a year and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

Last summer, members of the association's board of directors discovered that Collis had stolen about $85,000 by writing checks to himself, Caldwell said.

He has since repaid the full amount, which Caldwell said was a factor in charging him with embezzling just $8,000. Had Collis been charged with stealing the full amount, sentencing guidelines would have still recommended probation instead of jail time.

Collis, who once worked as a certified public accountant, had lost a high-paying job as a financial officer for Western Sizzlin before the embezzlement occurred. He turned to theft to support a lifestyle he could no longer afford, Caldwell said.

Even as he was taking the money, Collis always intended to pay it back, defense attorney Ray Ferris said.

"Bob is extremely remorseful and never intended to harm the Greater Southwest Athletic Association, his family and his friends," Ferris said.

"He had bills to pay and he panicked."

The embezzlement began in July 2010, shortly after Collis was named volunteer treasurer for the sports club, and continued until last summer, when a check written to pay for uniforms was returned for insufficient funds.

The Greater Southwest Athletic Association fields teams in football, basketball, baseball, softball and soccer for 6- to 17-year-olds in the city's southwest quadrant. The teams compete with those from the city's other three sections.

The bulk of the association's funding comes from registration fees and donations by parents. The money is used to pay for uniforms, equipment and other operating costs.

When the embezzlement came to light last summer, members of the association's board of directors were split over whether to report the case to law enforcement.

Some were sympathetic to Collis and feared the negative publicity that would come with a trial, board member Scot Sutherland said earlier. Others preferred putting off a decision on filing charges until Collis paid the money back, which took nearly two months.

The board met with Caldwell twice to discuss its options. With the six-member board deadlocked 3-3, the prosecutor decided to take the case to a grand jury.

It's not unusual for some private businesses to decide against prosecuting an embezzler when the money has been returned, Caldwell said.

The athletic club was different, Caldwell said, because it relied on community support.

Although Collis' embezzlement nearly emptied the association's coffers, board members said his quick reimbursement enabled the organization to continue its services.

Collis, who was ordered to perform his community service at the Roanoke Rescue Mission, "looks forward to getting back to being a productive member of society," Ferris said.