A high-ranking Magnolia police officer was tried and convicted Friday in Pike County Court after allegedly violating a domestic abuse protection order.
Pike County Court Judge John Price found 61-year-old James E. Kenny of McComb guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt” on the misdemeanor charge of knowingly violating a protection order, according to court records.
Kenny is a captain with the Magnolia Police Department and second in command to Chief Ray Reynolds.
He received a $350 fine and a 30-day suspended sentence in the Pike County jail, pending his successful completion of a six-month probationary period.
“I truly regret that I was placed in a position wherein my duties required me to prosecute a law enforcement officer I have known for many years,” County Prosecutor David Brewer said.
Brewer said that on Feb. 12, the county court entered a domestic abuse protection order which, among other things, prohibited Kenny from electronically communicating with 52-year-old Sheila F. Brown of Summit.
According to the protection order, Kenny “attempted to cause or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily injury to the protected person,” meaning Brown.
On Friday, the court found that Kenny sent emails to Brown on two separate occasions after the entry of the protection order.
Copies of the emails, as presented in court, showed that Kenny tried to contact Brown at an address that used the account name “Sheila Kenny.”
In the emails, Kenny appeared to ask Brown that she discontinue using his last name on her Internet accounts. Brown did not appear to have replied to the letters.
“They did not appear to this office to be threatening or violent in their nature; however, the evidence showed that Ms. Brown was the owner of the email account and the previously entered order was clearly violated by the communications,” Brewer said.
Brown said she was happy with the Court’s ruling, claiming she was tired of Kenny’s “threats and intimidation.”
Kenny spoke to the Enterprise-Journal but did not wish to comment on the record.
“There are two stories in all domestic cases; however, the court’s ruling in this matter evidences the seriousness with which the justice system of Pike County must handle issues of a domestic nature,” Brewer said.
Protection orders typically prohibit respondents from possessing firearms pursuant to federal law, but Brewer said the law does not apply to a law enforcement officer while on duty.
