Pickernell's failure to appear results in heavier sentence

Thomas J. Pickernell, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of bail jumping and was sentenced to his previous offense of second degree theft, identify theft, and bail jumping.

Pickernell had taken a credit card belonging to his mother and utilized the card and pin. He was initially charged with theft and identify theft and admitted to bail. However, when he failed to appear at a court hearing a count of bail jumping was added. Pickernell entered a guilty plea to those three offenses and sentencing was set over so that Pickernell could obtain a chemical dependency treatment evaluation in order to be admitted to a residential treatment facility rather than prison or county jail.

"Because this initial offense involved a minor theft from a family member, we routinely seek input from the victim as to what type of sentence is appropriate," said Pacific County Prosecutor Mark McClain. "Here, the victim wanted her son to get drug treatment, which is why we agreed to a residential drug offender treatment alternative, something that would have caused Mr. Pickernell to serve three to six months in an inpatient treatment facility.

"However, Mr. Pickernell failed to appear at sentencing and we insisted that he go to prison for a year rather than securing treatment in an inpatient facility," McClain said.

If Pickernell fails to complete treatment, he will serve an additional year in prison. Pickernell remains in custody at the Pacific County jail and will be transported to prison later this week.

Kennedy Pleads Guilty
in Methamphetamine Case

Susan (Sue) R. Kennedy, 59, of Raymond pleads guilty to two counts of delivery of methamphetamine and one count of possession of methamphetamine.

"Ms. Kennedy had become the target of an undercover narcotics investigation when officers of the Pacific County Drug Task Force learned from a confidential informant that Ms. Kennedy was selling methamphetamine," McClain said.

Detectives, utilizing a confidential informant, purchased methamphetamine from Ms. Kennedy at her Raymond Apartment and at the conclusion of the investigation officers executed a search warrant, locating an additional amount of methamphetamine.

Kennedy is scheduled to next appear in Pacific County Superior Court on January 15, 2016 for sentencing where it is anticipated she will receive a one-year prison sentence.

"The legislature sets the sentence range for this felony based on a defendant's criminal history," McClain said. "Here, this is Ms. Kennedy's first felony and her sentence range is 12 to 20 months in prison. We anticipate a sentence of one year followed by a requirement of chemical dependence treatment while on probation."