ABERDEEN, Miss. (WTVA) - More information has been released about former Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell’s sudden resignation.
Monroe County Attorney Candace Blalock confirmed the state auditor’s office began investigating Cantrell after a video surfaced earlier this year.
The video showed an inmate constructing Cantrell's re-election campaign signs.
The investigation determined the incident was a state violation and could result in a misdemeanor charge.
The auditor's office recommended Cantrell immediately resign.
If he did so, the state auditor's office would have no interest in pursuing the misdemeanor charge at this time.
The Monroe County Board of Supervisors accepted the now-former sheriff’s resignation during a board meeting on Friday.
Cantrell had four months remaining on his term as sheriff.
During the same board meeting, county supervisors named Curtis Knight as interim sheriff. He was the chief deputy at the time of Cantrell's resignation.
Sheriff-elect Kevin Crook was also at the meeting; supervisors named him interim chief deputy.
Crook will become the sheriff in January.
Crook defeated Cantrell in the Aug. 6 Democratic Primary election.
The Republican candidate, Andy Hood, dropped out of the race on Wednesday, leaving Crook as the only remaining candidate.