BELFAST (AP) – A former math teacher at Belfast Area High School has been handed a four-month jail term for embezzling more than $140,000 from the local teachers union.

Jeffrey Olson, 59, of Searsmont pleaded guilty Thursday in Waldo County Superior Court to theft by unauthorized taking and was sentenced to two years in prison with all but four months suspended.

Justice Donald Marden also sentenced Olson to one year of probation and ordered restitution of $52,408. Olson, who had repaid about $90,000 at the time the theft was discovered, had mortgaged his house to make restitution and immediately handed over a check in the amount set by the judge.

Olson had taught in Belfast for 30 years and served as treasurer of the union for much of that time. The theft came to light when the union’s new president confronted Olson after discovering that funds were missing.

Olson told police that he took the money because of problems with the Internal Revenue Service and credit card debt. Addressing the court Thursday, he apologized to the union, the school district, his family and his former students, Assistant District Attorney Eric Walker said.

The prosecutor had recommended to Marden that Olson be given a suspended sentence.

“He paid it all back, he has no prior record, he cooperated with the police and he admitted his involvement immediately when he was confronted with it,” Walker said. “The judge was satisfied with the recommendation.”