Bruce Sames, former fire chief of Prior Lake, was sentenced in Scott County on Friday for embezzling more than $13,000 from Fire Department bank accounts.

He was sentenced to up to five years' probation, 15 days in jail and 30 days' community service. He is also being ordered to have a gambling assessment done.

"I think that Bruce felt that the sentence was fair, under the circumstances," said his attorney, Michael McDonald. "He felt bad about what happened."

Sames, 49, of Jordan, had been part-time fire chief since 1997. He took money from the department over a period of one year. Fire Department treasurer Brian Davis first noticed the discrepancies when he gave a $50 check to Sames for a firefighter recognition dinner, but when the checking account's monthly statement arrived, the check amount had changed to $5,500.

Sames told county sheriff's detectives that he had intended to repay the money, but his construction business had been slow and he had financial problems because of gambling and a divorce.

McDonald said that Sames has apologized to the Prior Lake City Council and the members of the department. He has also paid back all of the money.

EMILY JOHNS