He was hired to protect people entering court , but a security screener in Burlington, Vermont is now accused of stealing from them.
The roles were reversed for Derek Kearns, 33, of Burlington when he entered the Burlington District Court Tuesday morning. This time, he was the one being screened by his former courthouse security colleagues.
Kearns was himself a security screener in Burlington for two and half years until two months ago.
That's when police say he was caught red-handed pilfering cash from people who had placed the contents of their pockets in the trays to be x-rayed. Police say Kearns sometimes reached into the machines, grabbed a bill or two, crinkled them up, and quickly put them in his pockets.
According to the police, Kearns might still be working as a security screener if his colleagues hadn't begun to suspect that he was stealing from people coming into the courthouse. According to police, his colleagues specially positioned the security cameras that documented some thefts on videotape and that became key evidence in the case.
"It gets back to who will watch the watchmen themselves?" said Chittenden County Prosecutor T.J. Donovan.
"It's an age-old question and it's a question that was answered in the affirmative by the wonderful people who work as the court security officers here in this building," added Donovan.
In court, Kearns entered not guilty pleas to two counts of petit theft. Police say he stole $50 from one specific victim and unspecified amounts from others. Authorities say it will probably be impossible to determine exactly how much was stolen and how many were people victimized. The prosecutor says the charges are relatively minor misdemeanors but the harm to the community is very large.
"The integrity of the personnel, the people who work in this building, must be beyond reproach," said Donovan.
"So it's a very serious case because it goes to the very foundation of the legal system and that's the public trust in this system," he added.
Kearns was released on conditions pending trial. He and his lawyer declined comment as they left the courthouse.
Court officials say Kearns has been placed on administrative paid leave and continues to draw his state pay of about $500 a week. Asked how long that will continue, they declined comment. Brian Joyce - WCAX News
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