A former candidate for sheriff pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally obtaining criminal history information while he served as the Lockhart police chief.

John David Davis II, who was initially arrested in April 2011, faced a 13-count indictment that also include charges he used his office for personal gain.

Court records show Davis obtained criminal offender record information by accessing the Law Enforcement Tactical System (LETS) under false pretenses that it was for an official law enforcement or criminal justice purpose.

Those court records show Davis was providing background checks on those volunteering with the Tri-Cities PeeWee Football League in Florala. Davis was also paid more than $1,100 for the background checks.

Davis, who’d been free on a $100,000 bond after being indicted by a grand jury, entered his plea before Circuit Judge Charles “Lex” Short and was given an eight-year suspended sentence; however, Davis was ordered to also undergo five years of supervised probation. He was required to pay a $5,000 fine and ordered to pay $100 to the Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund.

According to Davis’ sheriff’s 2010 candidacy bio, he had 10 years of law enforcement experience serving in the U.S. Army military police presidential honor guard, as a Maryland State Trooper, a road officer, as well as a road deputy with the Covington County Sheriff’s Office.

He ran on the Republican ticket in the last election and withdrew a month before the November election. However, his name remained on the already-printed ballots. He resigned from the Lockhart Police Department in October 2010 after serving a year and a half to “take a new job in Maryland.”