Former Chattanooga police sergeant pleads in theft case

Chattanooga Times Free Press, chatterchattanooga.com
BYLINE: Claire Wiseman,

Chattanooga, TN


Kevin Kincer Contributed Photo / Chattanooga Times Free Press.

A former Chattanooga Police Department sergeant accused of stealing evidence pleaded no contest to six charges Tuesday but will not face jail time.

Kevin Kincer was charged in February with three counts of official misconduct and three counts of theft of property. Former Hamilton County District Attorney Bill Cox requested a review by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation after items including pills were found to be missing from bags in the evidence room Kincer was supposed to be monitoring.

Kincer has been out on bond since February. A police spokesman said he has been on leave without pay.

District Attorney General Neal Pinkston said there was "overwhelming evidence" of Kincer's guilt.

A plea of no contest does not equate to a guilty plea. Kincer will serve two years of probation and complete 40 hours of community service, something his attorney, Hank Hill, said he does regularly anyway. If he meets the requirements of his probation, which also include regular drug testing, his record could be expunged. He had no criminal record before this arrest.

"Mr. Kincer is a man of honor, and he's a good person," Hill said.

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