A former Keithsburg police officer’s theft and official misconduct case has been pushed to later this spring. 52-year-old Thomas Bennett of Seaton was scheduled to appear in Mercer County Circuit Court Monday for a pre-trial conference, but the matter was continued to May 16. Bennett’s attorney asked for the continuance last week.
Bennett faces Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 felony counts. He is accused of receiving compensation from the city of Keithsburg for hours he did not actually work.
Bennett was arrested last July and posted ten percent of his $25,000 bond. In addition to working as a Keithsburg Police Officer, Bennett was also employed as a Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy. He resigned from both positions shortly after his arrest.