Former Jefferson County, West Virginia Sheriff, Robert "Bobby" Shirley, pleaded guilty on Monday to violating the civil rights of a bank robbery suspect during his arrest more than three years ago.

U.S. attorney William Ihlenfeld for the Northern District of West Virginia said Shirley was involved in a car chase with bank robbery suspect, Mark Haines, after he attempted to rob City National Bank in Ranson, West Virginia in December of 2010.

"And at the conclusion of the chase, when Mr. Haines was apprehended, Sheriff Shirley basically crossed the line in going after Mr. Haines ," Ihlenfeld said.

Shirley hit Haines in the head at least five times, breaking his nose and fracturing his orbital bone after police caught up with Haines in the two county chase that started in Ranson, West Virginia. Shirley's action were caught on the police crusier cameras that were involved in the pursuit of Haines.

"In this case, we were fortunate that there were cameras on that captured what the former sheriff did. It helped us establish the case and helped us to bring an indictment and cause him to plead guilty," Ihlenfeld said.

Before Haines was captured by police in West Virginia, he stole a car from Frederick County, Maryland. He also robbed banks in Washington County and Martinsburg, West Virginia and attempted to rob a bank in Frederick.

Shirley resigned from being sheriff last Friday and faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000. A hearing date has not yet been set.