SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man who admitted he stole and desroyed a decorative cannon from the Spanish American War Memorial in Riverside Park in Wichita is going to prison.
On Friday, a Sedgwick County District Pro Tem Judge sentenced 38-year-old Gordon Pierce to 53 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In October he pleaded guilty to felony theft and aggravated criminal damage to property, according to the district attorney's office.
On April 3, police were notified of the theft of the decorative cannon from the Spanish American War Memorial in Riverside Park in Wichita, according to Officer Brad Wright.
Wichita Police immediately notified Patrol Officers, Property Crimes Task Force Officers and Detectives. Around 5:00pm police located the cannon at a residence in the 2000 Block of N Woodland. The cannon was significantly damaged. This cannon was gifted to the City in 1900 and was a priceless fixture in the community.
The investigation led to the identification of Pierce as the suspect and he was arrested in the 2300 block of N Amidon in Wichita without incident.
In addition to the more than four years in prison he is also required to pay $320,500 in restitution to the City of Wichita.