The former Andalusia police officer who pleaded guilty to unlawful distribution of a controlled substance last May is now behind bars, serving a one-year jail sentence.

Joshua Chad Wood, 30, was arrested by Drug Task Force agents in 2008 for allegedly trading prescription pills for sex. He entered his plea before Circuit Judge Lex Short and received a 97-month sentence per a plea agreement. He immediately applied for probation.

Court records show a judge’s order was executed Tuesday modifying Wood’s sentence to a “reverse split” sentence of 12 months confinement in the county jail and 18 months of probation – meaning he will serve the jail time now and then be placed on probation.

Last year, Short told Wood during his probation hearing that he held Wood to a higher standard.

“The fact of it is that I hold you to a high standard,” Judge Short said to Wood. “If you were not a police officer, I would probably grant you probation. But, I wrestle with the decision. I’ve not made up my mind. I want you to know I do hold you to a higher standard and because of that, you’re not getting an answer today. I’ll issue an order on it.”

Wood was arrested by DTF agents after it was discovered he was providing a police escort inside the city limits to known drug dealers to protect them from police contact. Wood was caught following an undercover operation at a local motel.

He had the prescription pills in his possession, and it was alleged he was trading them for sex.