By Ruth Brown
Idaho Falls Post Register
BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho — Brian James Brown, former correctional officer for the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, fought tears as he apologized to the court Monday for taking public funds.
District Judge Dane Watkins Jr. sentenced Brown, 44, after he pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of a financial transaction card.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dismissed his additional charge of misuse of public funds for personal use.
Watkins sentenced Brown to five years in prison, with two years fixed and three years indeterminate time. But the judge retained jurisdiction and mandated that Brown serve a rider program.
Watkins recommended that Brown serve a Correctional Alternative Placement Program rider. A CAPP rider is a 90-day program in which the inmate is incarcerated in a facility where he may receive treatment for cognitive issues or drug and alcohol treatment while the judge retains jurisdiction.
CAPP is for low- to moderate-risk men. If Brown successfully completes the rider program, he may go back before the court and could be eligible to serve the rest of his sentence on probation.
The Idaho Department of Correction makes the final decision on where Brown will be placed, but the department takes Watkins’ recommendation into consideration.
Brown’s charges stem from an October arrest after he charged $147 to a county transaction card. He used the card to fill his personal vehicle with gasoline, law enforcement said.
The total came from three separate uses of the card.
He used a card that had been logged into the Bonneville County Jail’s property Oct. 14.
Brown had worked at the jail for four years.
“I’m deeply sorry for what I’ve done,"" Brown said. ""I’m ashamed.”
Watkins said in court that Brown’s case had heightened sensitivity because of his position as an officer, which was one reason the judge selected the sentence.