Associated Press - February 27, 2010 4:44 PM ET

BELVIDERE, Ill. (AP) - A former northern Illinois mayor has been found not-guilty of stealing a political yard sign.

Former Belvidere Mayor Rory Peterson was charged with misdemeanor theft in the March 8 incident.

Peterson testified that he moved the sign belonging to former Ald. David Deckert but that he didn't steal it.

Peterson said the sign was in the public way, a violation of city code. He said he moved it to private property.

Judge John Young found him not-guilty after a bench trial but warned him to leave the moving of signs to elections officials in the future.

Prosecutors alleged that the 53-year-old former mayor took the sign because he supported Deckert's opponent. Peterson denied that claim.

Information from: Rockford Register Star, http://www.rrstar.com

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