Knight sentenced to 20 days in HOC in illegal strip search case

MILWAUKEE (WITI) — A Milwaukee County judge sentenced 32-year-old Jacob Knight on Friday, October 4th to 20 days in the House of Correction, fines and 60 hours of community service.

Knight is one of four Milwaukee police officers accused of illegal strip searches -- he pleaded no contest in July. The others include Michael Vagnini, Jeffrey Dollhop and Brian Kozelek.

The criminal complaint against the officers detailed several instances in which illegal strip searches were allegedly conducted. Many of the allegations began with a traffic stop, leading to a pat down and eventually what prosecutors say were illegal cavity searches.

The complaint details multiple other instances in which the officers accused made illegal strip searches during traffic stops as well as at the District 5 police station. In each of the cases, the officers were allegedly attempting to get drugs they believed were concealed within body cavities on the persons they were searching.

Vagnini pleaded no contest to four felonies and four misdemeanors in April — he was sentenced to 26 months in prison plus another 34 months of extended supervision. As part of his deal, Vagnini will not have to register as a sex offender.