Flynn changes plea in drug case

A Gildford man today pleaded no contest to two of four charges stemming from a drug bust at his home in 2001.

Kenneth Jay Flynn told District Judge John Warner he doesn't agree with the allegations in the criminal complaint filed against him, but "I don't feel that in the course of a trial that I would prevail."

Flynn pleaded no contest to a felony charge of possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a law enforcement officer. Hill County Attorney David Rice said after the hearing that the plea agreement recommends dismissal of misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of drugs.

The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Flynn, who declined to comment after the hearing, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Jan. 18. His no-contest plea means he is not admitting guilt.

The charges were filed on Dec. 20, 2001, after law enforcement officers found several kinds of drugs and drug paraphernalia in Flynn's residence when investigating a report of a woman threatening suicide, the criminal complaint said.

The woman, Sage Amber Alexander of Las Vegas, surrendered a rifle in her possession to Hill County sheriff's deputies, the complaint said.

Alexander told deputies that she had come to Gildford at Flynn's request, the complaint said. She said she and Flynn had stayed up the night before using drugs, the complaint said.

After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement officers found 47 grams of marijuana, 693 Xanax pills, .82 grams of methamphetamine and several marijuana pipes and bongs, the complaint said.

District Judge E. Wayne Phillips on May 14 denied a motion to suppress the evidence found in the search. Flynn's lawyer, Kenneth Olson, questioned the credibility of Alexander in his motion, and said the search warrant obtained from her statement to officers was not legal and appropriate.

Alexander had four convictions for prostitution and was under the influence of drugs when she made the 911 call, the motion said.

Phillips, who has jurisdiction of the case, will sentence Flynn on Dec. 18. Phillips will decide whether to dismiss the two misdemeanor charges, Warner said.

Alexander pleaded guilty in June to a felony drug charge and will be sentenced Dec. 10.