The former Jamaica Mayor found with a marijuana growing operation in her home was recently given a deferred judgment.
According to court documents, 51-year-old LaDonna Dee Kennedy pleaded guilty to one count of manufacture, deliver, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver marijuana, and one count of failure to affix drug tax stamp, both class D felonies. The court’s entry of judgment and pronouncement of sentence was then deferred and Kennedy was placed on two years probation for each offense, to be served concurrently. She must pay a $750 civil penalty, and court costs. A second marijuana manufacture count, two other drug tax stamp counts, and one count of keeping a premises for possessing or selling a controlled substance were dismissed, as well as all other pending simple misdemeanors connected with this case. If she meets all terms, conditions, and financial obligations at the end of her probation period, Kennedy will be discharged and her criminal record in regard to this case shall be expunged.
LaDonna’s husband Randy was given a suspended prison sentence on similar charges and placed on probation earlier this month. The two were arrested and charged last January by Guthrie County Sheriff’s Deputies when law enforcement went to their residence to attempt to execute an arrest warrant on Jefferson resident Rodney Halterman, the adoptive brother of Randy’s biological granddaughter. Eighteen marijuana plants and nine packaged bags of marijuana were found, with numerous drug paraphernalia. LaDonna resigned as Mayor shortly after.