On June 12, Fort Collins resident DeGood was returning home from a fishing trip in Jackson County. As he drove through Walden, police pulled him over for DUI.
Because he has a driving record, DeGood's offense landed him an eight-month sentence.
"It's in everyone's best interested if I can do something to contribute," said DeGood, who works in commercial construction.
Sheriff Scott Fischer put him to work.
"Dan did such a good job, within the first week he completed his community service hours," Fischer said.
The help soon evolved to building shelves, painting walls and whatever else was needed.
"Pretty much everything you see in this sheriff's office has a finger of Dan DeGood on it," Fischer said smiling.
DeGood then asked if Fischer wanted a sign in the jail.
The answer would be an artistic journey nobody saw coming.
"I asked him, I said, 'How many years have you done this?' And he said, 'This is my first sign,'" Fischer said.
The wooden signs are ornate, and it didn't take long before a sheriff's office sign led to a town hall sign - and then a chamber of commerce sign as well.
All the cash-strapped town of Walden has paid for is the wood.
"He's becoming known as a legend up here," Fischer said.
Just your run of the mill inmate-turned-legend, a man who calls the sheriff his friend.
"I'm surrounded by friends," DeGood said laughing.
He gets out of jail in February.
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)