If you have read this blog for any length of time, you are familiar with the name Kendrick Omar Hammond. Hammond is one of the many career criminals in Charlotte who passed through the Mecklenburg County Court system’s revolving door for a long time!Last October, Kendrick Hammond finally did himself in. According to the case documents, Hammond was pulled over by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers on October 4, 2006. Hammond’s original infraction was for not wearing his seat belt but the traffic stop turned out to be much more than a seat belt violation.
Two CMPD officers were inside the patrol car when they signaled for the vehicle Hammond was driving to pull over. As the two officers approached the vehicle, they smelled alcohol and observed an open beer container in the cup holder. One of the officers asked Hammond for his license and registration and he told the officer he did not have a license.
Hammond was then ordered by the police officers to get out of his car in order to arrest him for the open container and to determine whether he was impaired. Hammond exited the vehicle and as the police officer was conducting a frisk for weapons, a bag of crack cocaine fell out of Hammond’s shorts or underwear. When officers searched the vehicle, they found a small bag of marijuana and two Ecstasy pills in the cup holder.
CMPD police cars are equipped with video cameras that automatically turn on when an officer activates the blue lights. The video camera recorded the entire traffic stop, including the drugs falling from Hammond’s shorts. This video tape will haunt Kendrick Hammond for the rest of his life!
Last December, the federal court got involved in the case and indicted Kendrick Hammond on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The evidence against Hammond was overwhelming, including the video tape and his past criminal record, including previous drug offenses.
In spite of the mound of evidence against him, Hammond entered a plea of ‘not guilty.’ Hammond and his attorney filed several motions for the court to dismiss the evidence against him but their requests were denied.
The trial of USA -vs- Kendrick Omar Hammond was set to commence this week. On Wednesday morning, a jury pool was agreed upon and the trial was set to begin after the lunch break. Apparently, Hammond saw the light while eating his lunch because he returned to the courtroom and changed his plea to GUILTY!
The charges against Hammond carry a prison term of ten years to life, however, based on Hammond’s prior convictions, the prosecution requested Hammond serve at least 24 years in federal prison. Over the next few months, the pre-sentencing process will occur and the courts will compile information about Hammond’s prior convictions, family history, background, probability of re-offending, etc. This information will be used by the Judge to determine a proper sentence. Finally, Kendrick Omar Hammond is getting what he deserves… a nice long stay in prison.
Federal Court Documents:
Federal Indictment, Prior Drug Convictions Info, Defense Motion to Suppress Evidence & Government Response, Government’s Motion In Limine