SEVIER COUNTY (WVLT) – The Sevier County Sheriff is drawing criticism for taking a campaign contribution from a convicted felon, just days before the primary.

Tyrone Paul Lintner, is a Sevier County Jail kitchen supervisor, overseeing food service.

In the past, he has been convicted on both tax evasion and theft charges.

According to documents filed with the county’s election commission, Lintner made a $500 donation to Sheriff Ron Seals campaign.

"Based on the policies and procedures within the sheriff's department, that's against the procedures to have a convicted felon working there," said Steve Layman, who is also running for Sheriff.

Lintner was convicted in Georgia during the 1990's of federal tax evasion involving nearly $800,000.

He later was convicted in the theft of nearly $50,000 from a Sevier county contractor, who still has not received a dime of restitution.

"As a convicted felon employed at the sheriff's office, his duty and obligation is first to make the restitution that the court ordered him to make,” said Brad Lowe, another candidate for Sheriff.

Some in the community are shocked.

Others say a candidate receiving money from a convicted felon just doesn't look good.

"I am not in favor of him taking donations from somebody like that," said voter Junior Hale. "I have known Ron Seals all my life and I hadn't ever known him to do anything like that. He has always been an honest man."

Kim Pierce, who is the democratic candidate for Sevier County Sheriff, said she was also disappointed.

She believed Lintner should never have been hired in the first place.

Sheriff Seals declined to talk on camera, but he did confirm that he had accepted the donation and reported it, as required under election law.