Stateville Prison Lt. Stole Convicts' 'Gate Money': Cops

A Stateville prison lieutenant was charged with stealing the “gate money” from two convicts.

Perry Kirk, 57, of Hazel Crest was charged in Will County court with official misconduct and theft.

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.

A message left with a woman answering Kirk’s phone was not returned. A Department of Corrections spokeswoman did not 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.

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.

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