Sheriff jailed for pocketing money meant for inmate meals

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/09/alabama.sheriff.jailed/?iref=mpstoryview

(CNN) -- A federal judge ordered a north Alabama sheriff jailed this week, saying the lawman intentionally served jail inmates "woefully insufficient" meals in order to pocket more than $200,000.

Sheriff Greg Bartlett is now pledging to see that all state and federal food funds are used to feed prisoners.

Morgan County, Alabama, Sheriff Greg Bartlett was ordered to jail Wednesday by U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon in Birmingham.

After a Wednesday hearing, Clemon found Bartlett in contempt of court, saying he had failed to comply with a consent decree in the 2001 lawsuit regarding conditions at the Morgan County Jail, according to documents filed in the case.

Clemon ordered Bartlett released from the federal Talladega Correctional Facility the following day after the sheriff's attorneys pledged to provide better and healthier meals to inmates.