A former Rapid City and state law enforcement officer who admitted that he embezzled thousands of dollars from a local police organization was sentenced Friday to two years in the state penitentiary.

Brent Layne Nelson, 46, pleaded guilty Dec. 5 to stealing about $13,000 from the Rapid City Peace Officers Association charitable organization between January 2006 and January 2008 while he served as president.

Nelson admitted to using the association's credit card for personal transactions, including out-of-state motels rooms, gas for his personal vehicle and items from Sam's Club. He was charged with one count of grand theft by embezzlement.

Assistant Attorney General Heidi Linngren asked 7th Circuit Judge A.P. "Pete" Fuller to sentence Nelson to prison time, rather than work release, as Nelson's defense attorney suggested.

"He just flat took advantage of his situation, and he just flat took advantage of the people who trusted him the most," Linngren said.

Nelson did not comment at his sentencing. Fuller sentenced him to 10 years in the South Dakota state penitentiary, suspending eight years as long as Nelson meets requirements, including full restitution. The felony was punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Nelson must pay back about $10,800 to the law enforcement group, Fuller said.

He will be eligible for parole in six months, Linngren said.

Nelson was a part-time city police officer at Rapid City Regional Airport at the time of the thefts and was fired in March. He previously worked in the auto-theft unit of the South Dakota Highway Patrol in Rapid City and with the state Department of Revenue.

He received the same sentence as another law officer who also pleaded guilty this year to embezzling from the Rapid City Peace Officers Association in an unrelated case.

Former Rapid City police officer Chris Hansen was sentenced in July to two years in prison for stealing about $29,000 from the organization while he was serving as its treasurer.