Former Centre police officer agrees to plead guilty in federal drug case, admits to falsifying evidence in drug offenses

CENTRE, Alabama (WBRC) – A former Centre police officer has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Michael Kilgore admits in a federal confession that in January 2023, he worked with an unnamed co-conspirator while he was a police officer in Centre to Planting methamphetamine and other drugs in a person's car and then arresting them.

For an unknown reason, several pages of the agreement are missing from the court file. WBRC has requested the entire document.

According to information currently available, Kilgore said he contacted the unnamed co-conspirator and said he wanted to “build a drug case.” According to court documents, the two hatched a plan and the co-conspirator put the drugs, including 1/8 ounce of methamphetamine, 5 Percocet pills and four or five grams of marijuana, in a package and attached it to the underbody of the victim's car with a magnet.

Kilgore told federal investigators he stopped the driver, claiming she was not staying in her lane and had an expired license plate. He told the driver she was nervous and asked for permission to search her vehicle, which was granted, according to the agreement.

“After a search near the rear driver's side tire, Kilgore discovered an object that was the drug package placed by Co-Conspirator #1.”

The driver and her passenger were arrested.

The plea agreement states that Kilgore contacted the co-conspirator to arrange another drug purchase and to plant enough drugs to constitute “a drug trafficking case.” Kilgore asked that marijuana be placed in the package so that “he would have probable cause to search the victim's vehicle due to the odor of marijuana.”

Kilgore was arrested on state charges in May 2023 and fired from the department. The case is still pending. He has a guilty plea hearing in December.

Kilgore is also accused in a civil lawsuit in federal court of violating the victims' constitutional rights.

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.

All rights reserved.