MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- A former duckmaster at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis was sentenced to 18 months in prison for robbing a bank after apologizing in federal court.

Daniel Fox, who escorted the world famous ducks that live in the hotel's penthouse to the lobby fountain for four years until 2007, said during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday that he still wanted to contribute to society after the robbery of a SunTrust branch at a Kroger grocery in February.

The Commercial Appeal reported that the bank teller he was accused of robbing, Clayton Mullen, hugged Fox and wished him well during the hearing.

Federal public defender Edwin Perry said Fox used the money to pay his daughter's tuition and to buy food.