Man Who Stole New Berlin Mayor's Gun Sentenced to Prison

A former Brookfield man who stole a handgun and other valuables from New Berlin Mayor Jack Chiovatero is headed to prison.

Cory Naber, 22, was sentenced by Waukesha County Circuit Judge Kathryn Foster to two years in prison followed by three years of extended supervision in the community.

If Naber is able to pay $9,767 he owes in restitution to the victims, he could get his extended supervision dropped to two years, plus credit for the 180 days he already has served in Waukesha County Jail.

Although prosecutors sought probation and possible jail time, Foster said she felt prison time was needed in order to allow Naber to get treatment for his heroin addiction and to give the community “a breather.”

“My focus isn’t to punish you, but to protect you from yourself,” Foster said.

Naber was a friend of Chiovatero’s daughter and was staying at the mayor's house when Naber stole a handgun and other items to pawn for heroin. Naber also stole a handgun and other items from his own father’s house during the same time period.

After Naber was arrested he was briefly out of jail on bail in July, but was sent back after he overdosed on heroin and nearly died.

Chiovatero was at the sentencing Thursday, but chose not to address the court. In a letter he submitted to Foster, he said he wasn’t going to speak in court because it could become a “spectacle” and it wouldn’t be fair to Naber.

Chiovatero wrote he has seen addiction within members of his own family over the years and he asked Foster to give Naber jail time in order to realize who he is.

“His crimes against me, my family, to several citizens and businesses in New Berlin has caused me to be realistic and feel that he needs to spend time in jail and pay for his actions he knowingly committed,” the letter states. “There are several crimes he has not admitted also. To lose the many things left by my deceased wife that was to be passed on (to) my children, to have him invade our privacy and home and to cause much distrust in New Berlin as well as the embarrassment is a disgrace and Cory needs to pay restitution and time.”

Naber’s father Thomas Naber told Judge Foster he wanted his son to move forward and work to make sure he doesn’t relapse.

Naber apologized to the Chiovateros and the victims for his actions and the issues they have caused.

“I have to deal with drug addiction one day at a time for the rest of my life,” he said.