Former prison warden in court

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A former prison warden was in court on felony charges for using inmates for personal gain.

Deangelo Burrell is a 21-year veteran of the Alabama Department of Corrections and he worked as a warden at the Mobile County Work Release center in Prichard until he resigned in Dec. 2011.

The district attorney’s office said Burrell used prison workers to move a building for his own personal use.

Burrell’s attorney pleaded not guilty on his behalf.

Defense Attorney Michael Kaoui said, “If anything was brought to him or delivered to him, it was not at his authorization to deliver it by any state inmate whatsoever. So basically, he did not intend to derive any benefit through his office for personal gain at the cost of the state of Alabama."

A preliminary hearing has been set for January 9, 2013.