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The Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether an auxiliary deputy "inappropriately utilized an inmate work crew." That deputy is no longer working and is under investigation by the commonwealth's attorney.

Sheriff Bill Watson was shown a videotape of activities and, based on what he saw, he launched the internal investigation.

One of the inmates, Donald Self, said Matthew Ejma had used them to do odd jobs for him since January.

"It just got out of hand, like moving his friends' apartments, cutting grass at deputy's houses," Self described. "He told us that we would be compensated, told us to be quiet, everything would work out for the best."

Self admitted he knew what was going on was wrong, but he said inmates face punishment if they don't listen to supervisors.

In a letter apparently signed by Ejma, the inmate crew is praised. It says, in part, "I intend to hire them once they get out to work for my landscaping business and they are just the type of workers I need."

Sheriff Bill Watson says he's checking to see if any other employees were involved.

"There's no excuse for it. Rules are rules. The good 'ol boy system is dead," he stressed.

Sheriff Watson says he's changed the policies regarding work release inmates. They'll have to wear their prison uniforms, so they can be easily recognized in public.