CLARION, Pa. -- A man fired as a county jail guard for fraternizing with a female inmate says he was treated differently than younger female guards who violated the same policy.

The federal lawsuit filed Friday by Joseph Greenawalt, of Knox, Clarion County, says he was fired from the county jail in August 2008 after he gave small sums of money to an inmate to buy necessities.

The lawsuit says two younger, female guards who violated the fraternization policy -- including one who lived with an inmate after his release from the jail -- weren't fired.

Warden Jeff Hornberger said today he hasn't seen the lawsuit against the county. But he says the incidents leading to Mr. Greenawalt's firing were very different from those involving the female guards, though he wouldn't offer specifics.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.