Lake County courthouse security guard accused of theft, fired, police said

A security guard at the Lake County courthouse has been fired from her job and charged with theft after she stole money from someone entering the courthouse in Waukegan earlier this week, police said.

Nikita McClain, 28, of the 4200 block of Hickory Hills Drive in Waukegan, was charged with theft under $500 on Wednesday, said Sgt. Sara Balmes, spokeswoman for the Lake County sheriff's office.

An investigation determined McClain stole $100 from the security checkpoint bin at the Lake County Courthouse Babcox entrance on Tuesday, authorities said.

McClain was an employee of US Securities, a contract that Lake County oversees, Balmes said. The county requested McClain's termination immediately after the theft was discovered, officials said.

McClain posted 10 percent of her $1,500 bail and was released. She will next appear in court Oct. 16.