NATCHEZ — A former Adams County employee is going to prison for embezzlement, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.

Charles Nations, 48, of Natchez, pleaded guilty today before Adams County Circuit Court Judge Forrest A. Johnson in Natchez this morning.

Nations, who was administrator of the Adams County juvenile justice center, admitted in court to embezzling $173,000 from the center.

Nations was sentenced to 15 years, with five years suspended, 10 years to serve, followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $173,000 plus interest and $1,000 to the state’s crime victim compensation program.

“It hurts all of us in the law enforcement community when a law enforcement officer violates the law,” Hood said. “I hope the 10 year sentence Judge Johnson imposed will serve as a deterrent to other would be embezzlers.

The case was investigated by Roger Cribb and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Stan Alexander following recusal by the District Attorney’s Office.