MACON, Ga. — Former Jones County coroner Jerry Bridges was released from prison on Friday, after serving time for several charges, including theft by conversion.
He is now out on parole, and will be until December of 2025.
Bridges was charged back in 2019 for mishandling money for prepaid funerals or burial expenses.
In 2020 he pled guilty to 43 fraud-related counts before Judge Brenda Trammell. Each count represented a person or family that Bridges took $750 to $18,000 from during his time as a funeral home and cemetery owner.
He admitted in court "to taking that money and using it for other purposes."
The charges included 10 misdemeanors and 33 felonies that involved higher dollar amounts for theft by conversion.
Related: 'Like a knife in the heart': Former Jones County coroner sentenced to 20 years in funeral thefts
Bridges was sentenced to 20 years, the first five having to be served in prison. He was to serve the final 15 years of his sentence on probation.
Bridges also had to pay more than $200,000 in restitution to his victims.