Stateville Prison Lt. 'Blindsided' By Theft Charges

A Stateville prison lieutenant said he was shocked to learn he had been charged with stealing “gate money” from two convicts.

“I’ve been blindsided sir,” Lt. Perry Kirk said Saturday morning.

The felony charges were filed against Kirk, a 57-year-old Hazel Crest resident, Thursday in Will County court. The warrant for his arrest carries a $25,000 bond.

Kirk allegedly stole the money two prisoners were supposed to receive when they were released from Stateville.

One of the prisoners was identified in the criminal complaint as Cortez Helton. The Department of Corrections has no record of a prisoner or parolee by that name.

The other prisoner was identified as Kyle Parker. The only Kyle Parker listed in Department of Corrections records as having been incarcerated at Stateville is a 35-year-old who did time for drug, traffic, theft and stolen vehicle convictions out of Winnebago, Kane and Lee counties. Parker is on parole.

Kirk said he has no recollection of either Helton or Parker.

“No sir, I don’t know them,” Kirk said. “I can’t remember them.”

When released from prison, convicts in Illinois receive “their own possessions, and a bus ticket to their parole site if needed,” according to a report from the Center For Public Policy Research.

“The administrator of the facility has discretion to dispense $20-$50 for meals,” the report said.

The amount given to a released inmate “varies,” Kirk said.

Kirk said no one from law enforcement or the Department of Corrections has spoken to him about the allegations or criminal charges. He also said he is still on active duty as a lieutenant but declined to reveal the last time he worked or when he is next scheduled to work.

A Department of Corrections spokeswoman has yet to respond to requests for comment on Kirk’s case.

According to the Illinois Comptroller’s Office, Kirk, who is missing the tip of his right ring finger, was paid $122,650.35 last year.

If found guilty, Kirk faces up to five years in prison.