Former London KSP trooper sentenced

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Former London KSP trooper sentenced

Traded prescription pills for sexual favors

By Carol Mills Staff Writer The Sentinel-Echo Wed Sep 12, 2012, 10:17 AM EDT

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — A former Kentucky State Police trooper who tried to trade a woman drugs in exchange for sex was sentenced to 74 months in prison Thursday for drug trafficking and carrying a firearm while trafficking prescription narcotics.

In May, a jury convicted Michael Fred Pennington, 35, of the firearm charge. Prior to his two-day trial, Pennington pled guilty to two counts of drug trafficking. He previously worked out of KSP Post 11 in London.

Testimony at the trial proved that Pennington tried to use his authority, including his firearm, to intimidate Regina West. He was off duty at the time, but still was in full uniform, carrying his gun, when he gave her a Lortab.

“This case illustrates that the Kentucky State Police continues to react quickly regarding allegations of misconduct involving an employee,” said Rodney Brewer, Kentucky State Police commissioner. “Although this is a rare occurrence, it underscores the public oath we have taken to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth from all criminals.”

In September 2011, Pennington went to West’s home with social workers on a case in which one of the woman’s children had allegedly been physically abused. While at the woman’s residence, Pennington spotted a crushed Lortab pill and found a container with some additional pills in her residence. After confiscating the pills, he told her if she had sex with him, he would not arrest or charge her. The woman informed KSP officials of Pennington’s inappropriate actions.

The next day Pennington, off duty at the time, offered West a Lortab pill in exchange for sex; once Pennington arrived at her London residence and gave her the pill, detectives with KSP immediately intervened.

The Lortab pill Pennington provided the woman was one of several he had taken from her residence the day before. KSP officials found the other pills in his cruiser the next morning.

Pennington, who had been a KSP trooper for more than 10 years, resigned a few hours after the incident occurred.

cmills@sentinel-echo.com