ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Michael Delatore, former principal at Martins Ferry Middle School, was sentenced Monday afternoon after pleading guilty to theft in office.

Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra handed down a sentence of one year of community controls, or probation, for the fifth-degree felony crime. Delatore will pay for an audit of school district finances.

Delatore is the third and final defendant to plead guilty to the offense, along with former Martins Ferry City School District superintendent Dirk Fitch and Delatore’s brother-in-law Robert Kimble. Kimble worked for an organization that would match contributions made to certain nonprofit or civic organizations. Delatore would provide money for contribution for Kimble’s company to match; after the company donated matching money to the Martins Ferry student athletic growth fund, Fitch would reimburse Delatore. About $10,000 was taken, according to court documents.

Delatore apologized to all involved. He had been a school district employee for more than 30 years but retired in January.