A former Alabama probation officer has been sentenced to prison after he engaged in sexual conduct with a woman under his supervision.

Michael Steven Painter, 51, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin announced Friday.

The sentence included 20 years for his conviction on custodial sexual misconduct and 10 years for use of official position or office for personal gain.

A jury convicted Painter in December. Fayette County Circuit Judge Sam Junkin ordered Painter’s sentences be served consecutively.

Painter, of Haleyville, was employed as a probation officer assigned to Fayette County.

A criminal investigation began in May 2020 after a report that Painter had engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a woman under his supervision, in addition to soliciting explicit photographs and videos from her.

Investigators with the 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office – Criminal Investigations Division learned of explicit images and videos sent by Painter and numerous acts of custodial sexual misconduct.

“This defendant exploited the vulnerabilities of a woman who he was supposed to be helping,” Hamlin said. “She should have been able to trust him, and the court system should have been able to trust him. Instead, he abused his position of authority for his own gratification.”

Painter was arrested and fired from his job in May 2020.

Agencies that assisted in the investigation included ALEA-SBI, and the 25th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office – Criminal Investigations Division.

“Actions like this undermine the public’s trust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system,’’ Hamlin said. “I’m grateful to Judge Junkin for listening to the evidence and imposing this sentence, and hope that it sends a clear message that actions like his won’t be tolerated.”