A Bibb County deputy was fired Tuesday amid allegations he stole about $4,000 from an inmate’s electronic bank transaction card and used the money to buy Christmas presents, a dog and for cash advances to his own account, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

Kerry Andre Woodard, 52, of Warner Robins, was a booking sergeant working at the county jail, said Sheriff David Davis.

An inmate had asked Woodard on two occasions to transfer money from his Social Security payments, stored on an EBT card, to his jail commissary account. After an August 2012 transfer, Woodard allegedly started using money on the card for his personal use, Davis said.

Last week, the inmate spoke with other jail staff members after he was unable to get in touch with Woodard to have more money moved into his account. An internal investigation was launched, Davis said.

Woodard was charged Tuesday with violation of oath by a public officer, financial transaction card fraud and financial transaction card theft, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

He was released on $9,250 bond about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Attempts to reach Woodard on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Davis said deputies are allowed to transfer money from inmates’ EBT cards to their commissary accounts in “extreme cases” when inmates don’t have family members who can give them money.

Normally, a lieutenant is involved in the process, which involves checks, balances and approvals, he said.

The internal affairs probe still is ongoing as deputies investigate whether Woodard followed proper procedures for the two transfers that put money in the inmate’s account, Davis said.

Woodard had worked at the sheriff’s office since 2007.

To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398.