Former prison guard gets prison sentence

ST. LOUIS -- A former guard at the Farmington State Correctional Center was sentenced to five months in prison for attempted cocaine possession with intent to distribute it to inmates, the U.S. Attorney's office said Friday.

Michael Dale Rowland, 25, of Fredericktown, also was sentenced to five months of home confinement.

Prosecutors said Rowland received marijuana and fake cocaine from a witness cooperating with police last June 15. Authorities said he intended to take the drugs into the prison and distribute them to inmates for money.

Rowland was the second Missouri prison guard sentenced this year on federal drug charges. Michael Dunivan, 29, of Farmington was sentenced in March for possession of heroin with intent to distribute to inmates at Potosi Correctional Center.