Jeff Burkhead, former director of the Kansas Press Association, was sentenced Friday afternoon in Shawnee County District Court to five years’ probation for the theft of money from the organization.
Judge Thomas Conklin also sentenced Burkhead to 12 months in prison, but the prison term was suspended. Conklin said terms of Burkhead’s probation include: he may not possess or consume alcohol; he must submit to DNA testing; and he may not carry a firearm. Burkhead will be subject to sanctions if he violates his probation.
Burkhead, a former executive editor of The Emporia Gazette, pleaded no contest last January to stealing more than $25,000 from the KPA.
Caroline Trowbridge, president of the Kansas Press Association, said the effects of Burkhead’s actions were far-reaching.
“We lost our members’ confidence in our ability as board members and officers to provide effective oversight of KPA operations,” she said. “A number of former presidents and board members still feel personally responsible for this and believe they failed fellow members.”
Burkhead served as executive director of the KPA from December 2000 until Sept. 17, 2003, when board members asked him to resign for having made an unauthorized personal loan to himself. After his resignation, the organization estimated it had lost $119,500. The estimate was based on personal use of company credit cards, checks, a KPA car, cell phone and K-Tag.
The KPA sued Burkhead in April 2004. In April 2005, the civil case was settled after Burkhead agreed to repay $56,000.
“He betrayed our trust,” Trowbridge said of Burkhead. “His actions hurt our organization and its fundraising efforts for the Kansas Newspaper Foundation.”
Topeka police also began investigating the case, eventually turning it over to the U.S. Secret Service. A criminal charge of felony theft was filed against Burkhead on June 20, 2005.
Burkhead was The Gazette’s executive editor from April 1, 1999 to December 2000.