Cellblock Santa: Local inmates get 'calls' for Christmas

They'll be in dark cells on Christmas Day, but it was a 'merry and bright' Christmas Eve for McLennan County Jail inmates.

Santa Claus stopped by the Waco jail, but not to bring the accused criminals coal; instead, the men and women serving time, got extra phone time.

GTL, the phone company at the jail, gave all the inmates two, five-minute phone calls so they could talk longer to their families over the holidays, jail officials said.

"Inmates were laughing and smiling and asking Santa for presents," said Capt. Ricky Armstrong, Jail Administrator. "It lifted their spirits."

While Santa didn't give them any presents per say, he delivered the news about the free phone calls Monday, and brought some candy for the guards.

"One inmate even woke up the guy next to him and said 'Santa is here!'" said Armstrong.