ELYRIA — A former Wellington High School teacher was sentenced Wednesday to three years of probation for stealing from the Future Farmers of America club that he advised.

Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Rothgery also ordered Patrick Knoble, 38, to repay the FFA $3,500 and warned him that if he violated the conditions of his probation, he would be sent to prison.

Knoble pleaded guilty in September to charges of theft and of theft in office. His attorney, Shimane Smith, said he was pleased that Knoble avoided prison time in the case.

“He’s very remorseful about the whole incident, and he’s going to put this behind him,” Smith said.

The allegations came after school officials cleaning out his desk following his resignation in 2007 discovered evidence of the thefts.

Knoble had been suspended at the time after unrelated allegations that he had failed to report abuse or neglect.

The Ohio Board of Education has permanently revoked his teaching license.

During the investigation, a review by the Ohio Auditor’s Office accused Knoble of stealing $20,666 from the club, but Smith said that figure was revised downward based on what could be proven that Knoble took for his own use.

Last year, Knoble was sentenced to jail and probation in Oberlin Municipal Court after he was convicted of threatening to burn down the school with then-Superintendent Victor Cardenzana inside.

And in 2006, he was cleared of criminal charges alleging that he allowed students staying at his house to view pornography on his computer.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.

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