Kim Sloan
Former Varnell Police chief Tim Henderson and his wife Pam have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft charges and were sentenced to one year of probation by Whitfield County Superior Court Judge Robert Adams as part of a plea deal.
The Hendersons were arrested in January and charged with stealing an answering machine, soap and detergent from the Kmart on Walnut Avenue, where Tim Henderson worked part time as a clerk. Henderson said he was innocent and would not plead guilty.
A felony theft charge and a charge of violation of his oath of office against Henderson were dropped, said Buzz Franklin, district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit. Franklin was appointed a special prosecutor after Kermit McManus, district attorney for Whitfield and Murray counties, recused himself.
The theft charge had nothing to do with Henderson’s position as police chief, Franklin said.
“There has to be some connection to that office,” Franklin said of the violation of oath of office charge. “He was an electronics clerk at Kmart when this occurred.”
As a condition of his plea, Henderson must pay $812.50 in fines, court costs and surcharges within six months; must pay restitution to Kmart of $132.29, and must pay a $44 per month probation fee.
Pam Henderson received those same conditions but must also testify truthfully against Teresa L. Kohnle in a drug case. Kohnle, 36, was arrested at the Hendersons’ home in Varnell in January and charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. She is charged in Catoosa County with felony murder and first degree arson in connection with the death of her husband, James Kohnle, 57, of Boynton. James Kohnle, a Dalton chiropractor, died of smoke inhalation from a fire at the couple’s home on June 29 of last year. Teresa Kohnle was out on bond on the murder and arson charges from Catoosa County and living with the Hendersons at the time of her arrest on the drug charge.
A phone number listed for the Hendersons was repeatedly busy Wednesday.
Varnell Mayor Pro Tem David Owens and current Police Chief Lyle Grant declined to comment.
