Former Youth ChalleNGe Academy worker sentenced

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A former cafeteria manager at the Youth ChalleNGe Academy at Camp Shelby has been sentenced for his role in stealing food.

Agents arrested 51-year-old Jerry Howard, of Hattiesburg, in 2014 after a search of his restaurant, Jerry's Seasoned Food, and his home found large quantities of food purchased by the National Guard. The academy is a National Guard program which serves at-risk youth ages 16-18.

Howard was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison, with two years suspended.

Auditor Stacey Pickering says his agents determined that large amounts of invoiced food never appeared on cafeteria menus. While the number of academy participants remained virtually the same, end of the year food totals increased from $216,000 in 2008 to $306,000 in 2014.