Pickens County Sheriff Abston resigns, pleads guilty to fraud

For the past four years former Pickens County sheriff David Abston legally kept the leftover funds used to purchase food for prisoners but was breaking other laws. 

It was discovered Abston was using the West Alabama Food Bank account of the church where he is a member — Highland Baptist Church, Gordo — to purchase reduced-price food meant for the poor to feed prisoners instead of purchasing food from appropriate sources.  

Sheriffs get state reimbursements to feed prisoners and Alabama law (until recently) allowed sheriffs to keep leftover funds for personal use. The Legislature changed the law in May. 

He pleaded guilty in federal court July 23 to wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

Abston, who served as sheriff for 32 years, resigned June 14.

All parties have declined to comment. (TAB)