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DALLAS (CN) - A mentally ill man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for making thousands of prank phone calls to the National Runaway Switchboard crisis line.

Jermmie Marquis Davis, 24, told a federal judge he had not been taking medication for his schizophrenia when he made as many as 1,000 calls a month from 2005 through 2008.

Davis said he would dial the hotline, then make a three-way call to a phone sex line, hang up and immediately dial again, according to the Dallas Morning News.

The National Runaway Switchboard operates its crisis line 24 hours a day, offering free, anonymous and confidential help for runaways, relatives, teachers and friends. It is partially funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The judge also ordered Davis to repay $88,738 to Sprint, the cell phone carrier he used to make the calls on various accounts.

Davis apologized and said he is taking his medicine now, according to The Associated Press.

Follow @davejourno

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