DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Sheriff defends self after public outrage over $740G beach house, pocketing money from inmate food fund

when yall wonder why i dont trust the cops, well....

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/03/16/she...-food-fund.html

The Alabama sheriff who came under scrutiny after he bought a fancy beach house with the $750,000 he pocketed from funds meant to feed inmates defended his decision this week to keep the cash and buy a $740,000 beach house.

Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin told WBRC what he did was completely legal and if the public did not like the fact that he took the money to buy a beach home then they could ask their legislators to change the law.

"I don't change laws, I don't make the laws," Entrekin told WBRC. "People don't like it. Get on their legislators and change the law. I, as the sheriff, have asked them to change the law, I, as the sheriff, have tried to give it back to the county commission on numerous times. They won't take it. They don't want it."

the house!
Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin owns this house, valued at $740,000.

Entrekin, like other Alabama sheriffs, believe a pre-World War II state law allows them to keep any “excess inmate feeding funds” for themselves. However, in counties such as Jefferson and Montgomery, any excess money is supposed to be given to the county government.

The law "gives" the sheriff $1.75 "per inmate per day" but makes him "responsible for the balance needed to buy food," WBRC reported.

SHERIFF WHO POCKETED $750G FROM INMATE FOOD FUND BOUGHT BEACH HOUSE FOR $740G

"The law also goes on to say that, if there's any excess, the sheriff can use it for his personal use. And so, that's what I've done," Entrekin adds.

The sheriff said when he was voted into his position he decided to take the inmate food fund and “make it a business.”

"Nobody cried out when I took over as sheriff and nearly got close to $400,000 in debt, and didn't know what I was going to do and how I was going to pay it back, until I decided that I was going to make this a business," Entrekin said.

The sheriff did not deny that he and his wife, Karen, own about $1.7 million in real estate including the beach home worth about $740,000 and a two-story home in Orange Beach worth about $200,900. Entrekin’s annual salary is $93,178.80, AL.com reported.

"What does that have to do with the food bill? Honestly, what does it have to do with the food bill?" Entrekin replied. "I'm not going to apologize for my family making wise decisions in business deals. You know, we bought some houses, we bought some condos down there over the years, and we flipped 'em just like every other business person has. And so, I'm not going to apologize for that. That's my business, that's my family's business."

Entrekin said “there was no way he wouldn’t keep the money” since he has to pay taxes on the excess profit.

Entrekin defended his prison and claimed there was a dietitian employed and they buy most of their ingredients from local farmers, which saves money.

ALABAMA MAN AGREES TO PLEA DEAL AFTER BEING ARRESTED 4 DAYS AFTER PUBLICLY CRITICIZING LOCAL SHERIFF

Following AL.com's report on Entrekin's beach house, a number of residents questioned the sheriff’s purchase, including Matthew Qualls, who was arrested on drug charges earlier this month just days after he publicly criticized Entrekin for keeping the fund surplus. Qualls was arrested after police responded to an “anonymous tip” about a marijuana odor coming from an apartment where he and a friend were found inside. He was released from custody after taking a plea deal prompted by public outcry after his arrest.

matt qualls
Matthew Qualls was arrested just days after criticizing Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin for keeping the fund surplus. (Etowah County Sheriff's Office)

Entrekin is also being challenged for his job this year by Rainbow City Police Chief Jonathon Horton who claimed he would make sure the excess funds go to benefit the taxpayers.

Entrekin said he has heard people claim that they would give the money back but nobody ever follows through. He said he would be fine if legislators chose to change the law.

"I don't want to be a restaurant owner, I don't want to do that," he said. "I want to be the sheriff. But the law says that as the sheriff, comes the responsibility of feeding inmates, and the excess I can keep for my personal use."

Swish, I equate posts like this and others by OCD and guys like him the same as I view posts by guys like Diam and the illegal immigrant posts.

We can find corruption and evil acts in all groups of people. Pointing out specific cases as if they are a true representative of that particular group of people is irresponsible and hateful.

Stop lowering yourself to their standards, bro.

well this is corruption amongst people sworn to protect us.

id say the bar has to be set higher. they took the oath.

Sheriff tried to give the money to the government but they said no, you keep it.

He says K.

Yet you hate him. What gives?

No laws broken.

Agree, I read the article and do not see where any laws were broken. He profited off feeding scumbags. Who really cares.

Think of the nice Yacht he could have bought if he let the scum get real skinny.

How so? The law allows it.

I am not saying I agree with it, but the law probably dates back many years when the Sheriff didn't make much money.

93K isn't all that much for the position, but years ago it was way less as a percentage compared to the average Joe.

Funny thing. People seem to excuse something that's the wrong thing to do because it's not illegal. Wrong is wrong.

Explain how it's wrong? By what standard?

The law says it's ok. He didn't write the law and there's no indication or even accusation that he did anything fraudulent to get the money. He tried to give the money back. By all accounts (so far) the money is legally and rightfully his.

Could he have done some other things with the money? Sure. But the fact that it's legally, rightfully his means that it's no one's business or place to tell him what he should have done with it.

He's right, the voters need to get the law changed. I'd also be willing to bet that he's going to take a hit if he should run for re-election.

Thing is Pit, personally, I'm just not on board with this whole criticizing people for not spending their money how I think they should. And I think anyone else who does is just being hypocritical. The Powerball is over what, $400 million right now, about a $228 million cash payout? Let's be honest, not a person here criticizing him would win the lotto and say to themselves "Gee, I make a good income now as it is.. I'm going to give away 99.999% of these winnings because, well, it's wrong for me to keep all this money I don't need".

Fix the law. Vote him out of office. If an audit shows he committed fraud, lock him up.

I'd still buy you a beer. Just don't ask me where I got the money to pay for it...

Any time a public figure uses tax payer money to buy himself a home it's wrong. It may not be illegal but it's wrong none the less.

Do you honestly believe that everything that doesn't have a law to prevent you from doing it is right just because it's not illegal?

I know it sounds like the Trumpian thing to make excuses for but some people place morals just as high as laws.

j\c
I guess that LIBERAL sheriff with blood on his hands in FLORIDA escapes the wrath of being wrong here by the libs.

Man the hateful liberal agenda by some here is pathetic.

What a total crock of BS.

So when a public figure uses his Disability Checks to buy a car you think he is immoral. That was taxpayer money. That is legal.

In this Sheriff's case the law mandates he must take the money. He tried to give it back.

Why would I expect logic from you? That's right, I didn't! lmao

are you seriously trying to compare winning the lottery to a sheriff who used funds to buy a beach house that were supposed to be used on something else?

he could've used that money for body cams, or maybe services on police vehicles, or better equipment for some of his officers.

SOMETHING. but to use it on a beach house?

thats crap, bro. straight up.

what are you talking about? everybody in their momma blasted that sheriff for his inaction.

stop making things up.

Typical Liberal, telling others how to spend their own money.

typical conservative, willing to defend your masters no matter what kind of crap they pull.

Speaking of that, don't forget to vote Democrat again and again and again and again and again

From the people who are always screaming about how poor people spend YOUR tax dollar , but this ninja just bought himself a beach house with the citizens tax dollar and it is ok?

Conservatives understand that you need to socialize the cost and privatize the profit.

Read the article. He tried to give the money over but the government said no. The law says the Sheriff must keep the money.

Sheriff said it is ridiculous and people need to contact their legislators to change this stupid law.

But where is the outrage over this waste of tax dollars? Even if it is not necessarily the Sheriffs fault?

I would bet if there was some legal loophole where $750K in food stamps went to some family none of you would say " oh well they didnt do anything illegal"

Well King we both know it was about who did it and not what was done.

Seems to me from the article that this Sheriff was looking to do just that. Create outrage. This law is an arse.

Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin told WBRC what he did was completely legal and if the public did not like the fact that he took the money to buy a beach home then they could ask their legislators to change the law.

"I don't change laws, I don't make the laws," Entrekin told WBRC. "People don't like it. Get on their legislators and change the law. I, as the sheriff, have asked them to change the law, I, as the sheriff, have tried to give it back to the county commission on numerous times. They won't take it. They don't want it."

Now was the $750.000 all from the tax payers or was that the cost of the house?

Maybe I'm wrong but it seems he had taken the money he received and invested it in houses flipped them made a profit.

"Nobody cried out when I took over as sheriff and nearly got close to $400,000 in debt, and didn't know what I was going to do and how I was going to pay it back, until I decided that I was going to make this a business," Entrekin said.

So he had taken over and got taxpayers out of a $400,000 hole.

"What does that have to do with the food bill? Honestly, what does it have to do with the food bill?" Entrekin replied. "I'm not going to apologize for my family making wise decisions in business deals. You know, we bought some houses, we bought some condos down there over the years, and we flipped 'em just like every other business person has. And so, I'm not going to apologize for that. That's my business, that's my family's business."



He did nothing illegal but if he really thought the money should have been returned he could have used it to up grade the community schools, roads, etc...

^^^This. Right here.^^^




For me, this story is not as much about legality as it is character- and what personal choices get made. I'd like to think that both of us would go the route you mentioned. Makes me wonder if this guy ever thought of these options at all. Because if he didn't, that says something about him. And if he did... and still chose as did- that says something about him, as well.

Use the money pay the taxes any left over use to improve community. Not that hard of concept.

Why did you hijack my response to Vambo in your quote?
Don't you realize people can simply look up to see the original exchange?

WTF, Dawg?

I was just posting a reply to the last post. I am not sure how my post included what you posted. I apologize.

I wish you would talk more in the football forums and EE forum instead of wasting your time in this wasteland, bro.

That isn't intended to be insulting towards you at all. You're a great poster and you are spending you time w/the scum of this board.

You know what I would like? Not that you care...LOL....but, I will throw it out there anyway. Remember our conversation on the Animals album? Remember how it relates to art imitating life or life imitating art? No, we never said that, but that is what it was about. I'd love to see your genius talking about art, life, social issues, man's search for meaning, etc. I'll join in and I am not as dumb as I sometimes pretend.

Why didn't he donate the money to the jail. Improve their facilities? Donate the money to programs to help inmates so they don't go back to jail? Donate it to mentor programs for underage/at risk children. Do something contructive with the money.

Instead he buys an expensive beach house.


Jail is not just for punishment. It's for rehabilitation.

The money should have been used differently. As Pitt said, what's wrong is wrong. This guy was wrong. I don't care what the law says. He should be embarassed

Really?

Maybe he chooses to exercise his first amendment rights and actually participate in the conversation at the most controversial time in American politics since the 60s! You putting on airs and acting above it does not add anything of value to the conversation yet here you are.

I have mad respect for you Vers, but you have a habit of being very judgemental against those who have your back. So if you think the "scum" in here are below you maybe you should stay out?

*scratching my head* hmmmm maybe he should have used the money to pay for womens abortions. Then these guys would be happier

Seems to me the Sheriff is very frustrated with this waste of taxpayer money and went to extremes to get people to finally listen.

It should not be the Sheriff's job to distribute this money, it is up to his local legislators to do that.

Well it worked in Browns Town as he got our attention.

Exactly. This is a pre-WWII law, and is obviously outdated. The budget was probably much smaller then, and the Sheriff salary was much lower then as well. If it requires him to claim it as income, that needs changed. Until then, play your taxes with the money, and donate the rest, or leave the money in the fund.

Using taxpayer money for personal use is wrong. He knows it, yet uses the "law' to justify it. He has $1.7 million in assets on a $90k salary. Something is very wrong with that.

There are plenty of stupid laws around the country that are ignored or outdated but technically are the "law."

I haven't seen it yet, but I'm curious to know a couple things:

a) was the $400k in debt his personal debt, or was the Sheriff's Office in debt when he took over? If it's personal debt, sounds like a personal problem bud. If it's personal debt accrued by running for office.... eh, I still think it's a personal problem. Gotta spend your money wisely.

But if it's his agency in debt and he used the money to get out, then I think that's legit. At least the first $400k is legit.

After that?

b) what kind of a time frame are we looking at? If it's in 1 year? Ef this guy. But are we talking about say 8 or 10 years? Then we're looking at between $35k and $90k a year (depending on the $400k debt thing).

If the program nets the Sheriff whomever it may be, $35k a year, maybe the County is counting it as part of the their compensation. It saves them some money out of their budget (I assume the program is State or even Fed funded).


At least it's not Civil Forfeiture!

At least with civil forfeiture you know when you're getting bleeped.