Former Tilton Police Chief pleads guilty to theft of guns from department

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — A former Tilton Police Chief pleaded guilty on Friday to stealing pistols from the police department’s evidence locker.

Court records showed David Cornett pleaded guilty to three counts of theft. He was sentenced to two years of conditional discharge.

Last year, Cornett was charged for knowingly taking three guns from the department evidence locker for his own gain: a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, a Colt 45 semi-automatic pistol and a .22 caliber pistol.

The guns were seized by the police department over the span of 23 years, prosecutors said, between Jan. 1, 1998, and Jan. 31, 2021.

WCIA reached out to the appellate prosecutor prosecuting the case but has not heard back. We will continue to provide updates as we learn more.

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