GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former University of Florida football player Jamar Hornsby will avoid jail time by accepting a plea bargain on four misdemeanor charges of improper use of a credit card.

He was sentenced Monday to one year of probation and ordered to pay nearly $9,000 in restitution and court costs.

Hornsby, a former safety, was arrested by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office in May on felony charges that he made nearly 70 fraudulent charges on the gas card of Ashley Slonina, a UF student who died alongside a walk-on football player in a motorcycle accident in October 2007.

Hornsby was dismissed from the football team after his arrest. The state attorney's office filed the misdemeanor charges in August.

"I hope the defendant understands the harm he's created that goes far beyond just using somebody's credit car under these circumstances," state attorney Bill Cervone said.

In a letter of apology read to the court by his attorney, Huntley Johnson, Hornsby said he took full responsibility for what he called "a mistake," and he described Slonina as a friend.

He declined further comment after the hearing.

Slonina's father said the sentencing offered the family some closure.

"Are we satisfied with what happened? If it changes him into a better person, absolutely," said James Henry Slonina.

Hornsby, 21, also was ordered to tour the Florida State Prison at Raiford and write an essay about his experience during the tour within 90 days.

If he fails to comply with the terms of the plea deal, Hornsby faces up to four years in jail.

Hornsby played in UF's first seven games in 2007 as a redshirt sophomore, but sat out the next five because of a university suspension for selling his complimentary tickets. He returned for the Capital One Bowl and finished the season with five tackles.

He played football this past season at East Mississippi Junior College and has verbally committed to Ole Miss.