News

Actions

Corrections officer must testify against coworkers as part of guilty plea in drug case

Posted at 10:53 PM, Oct 14, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-14 22:53:13-04

KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A Kent County corrections officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to a drug charge and must testify against his coworkers as part of the plea deal, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Brian Tennant pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug house, which carries a maximum of two years behind bars.

Kent County prosecutors agreed to drop charges of delivery and manufacturing and marijuana possession.

Tennant and fellow officers Tim Bernhardt, Todd Vandoorne and Michael Frederick were all facing charges in connection with a March bust.  Vandoorne and Frederick are appealing an earlier ruling, delaying their trial.

The four were arrestedafter a suspicious package containing marijuana butter was found in the mail.

They maintained the substance was for medical use.

According to Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Chris Becker, Tennant must give up his job as part of the deal.

The alleged caregivers, Tim and Alyssa Scherzer, have also pleaded guilty in this case.