Former guard admits stealing from people entering courthouse

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A former security guard who admitted stealing money from people as he scanned their belongings at the Burlington courthouse is going to jail for five days.

Thirty-four-year-old Derek Kearns pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of petty larceny.

His lawyer says it’s the first time in Vermont that a jail sentence was ordered for misdemeanor theft.

Deputy Prosecutor Mary Morrissey says Kearns’ actions violated the public trust and warranted harsher punishment than other people facing the same charge.

Kearns is accused of stealing an unspecified amount of money from a man’s belongings as they were scanned at the entrance of the Edward J. Costello Courthouse in September.

Kearns had no prior criminal record.

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