Jailed deputy warden will pay prison costs

Former Deputy Warden Neal Kearney will pay his own prison costs, according to a court order, although he will continue to receive his state pension.

Kearney, a 24-year Department of Correction veteran, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree sexual assault in June for getting sexual favors from a male inmate. He is serving a 30-month sentence in Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Uncasville.

If Kearney serves until his minimum release date, Oct. 12, 2012, he will owe the state $60,781. For each additional day in jail, Kearney will pay $133.

The court order, dated Oct. 31, requires Kearney to pay $10,000 within 30 days.

The order also authorizes the state to take $2,000 from Kearney’s pension each month while he is in jail and, after he leaves prison, half of his pension until the entire debt is paid.

Kearney received a $65,040 pension last year. The state cannot take his whole pension because his crime does not fall under the pension revocation statute.