DECATUR — Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson is suing outgoing Sheriff Ana Franklin, asking the court to prevent her from spending money Anderson claims was taken from the county jail food fund.

The suit also demands that Franklin repay any money she has spent from the fund that was not used to feed inmates.

“Sheriff Franklin told the federal court the money she took from the jail food account has been returned,” Anderson claims in the lawsuit. “Actually, the sheriff put the money into a personal savings account that only she controls, and there is no indication the money taken from the account was used to buy or prepare food for the inmates.”

Anderson asked the court in the lawsuit to freeze any money currently remaining in any food account the sheriff maintains, order an accounting of any and all jail food accounts, and order Franklin to reimburse the county and state for any money that was spent improperly.

Franklin, who is finishing her last term as sheriff, agreed earlier in the month to plead guilty to tax-related charges.

According to the lawsuit, Morgan County sheriff-elect Ron Puckett, who takes over in January, said in a statement he fully agrees with Anderson’s lawsuit to preserve jail food money.

Anderson said in the lawsuit, “Sheriff Franklin is leaving office, and taxpayers deserve assurance that she won’t spend or take with her money that rightfully should go to defraying the costs of feeding inmates.”

— Story from WAFF-48.