Former police officer enters 'best interest' plea to assault

Former Jackson police officer Peaches Nesbitt entered a "best interest" plea to a charge of simple assault this morning in Jackson City Court.

A best interest plea means Nesbitt is not admitting guilt but will serve a sentence on the charge.

According to court documents, she was sentenced to six months on probation. She must complete 24 hours of community service and pay a $150 fine. She will be prohibited from having contact with the victim in the case. Nesbitt could receive diversion, meaning the conviction could be removed from her record once she completes her probation, court documents say.

Nesbitt's attorney, Mark Donahoe, said they plan to apply for her record to be expunged at the end of the probationary period. Simple assault is a misdemeanor charge.

According to an affidavit, Courtney Reaves said Nesbitt assaulted her and her 1-year-old daughter, Kennedi McKinnie, at Wal-Mart by grabbing the child and checking her diaper for stolen items.

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According to the affidavit of complaint filed in court, Reaves said Nesbitt was behind her in the checkout line at Wal-Mart and asked her if her daughter had something in her diaper. Reaves said her daughter's diaper was wet. Reaves said Nesbitt then pulled down Kennedi's pants and diaper to see if there was something in it, according to the court document.

Video surveillance from Wal-Mart, provided to The Jackson Sun by the defense, shows Nesbitt behind Reaves in the checkout line. It also shows Nesbitt approaching Reaves and speaking to her. She then appears to grab the child, turn her around and immediately hand the child back to Reaves. The video does not have audio.

Nesbitt said in a prepared statement that she did not do many of the things alleged in Reaves' affidavit.

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"In the event that we're talking about, I was only trying to make Ms. Reaves aware of the white stuff that was on her child's back," Nesbitt said. "That is, as you saw in the video, what the video shows. It does not show any of the other alleged things."

Nesbitt said the video also shows that she helped Reaves put her groceries in her shopping cart and the two went on their way. She said she never accused Reaves of shoplifting. Donahoe said Nesbitt also never pulled down the child's diaper.

"In the end, God knows the truth of what actually happened, and I am grateful for a very good attorney and God being on my side," Nesbitt said.

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Len Ester McAlister, Kennedi McKinnie's grandmother, said she was not happy with the agreement. She said she believes Nesbitt was given special treatment because she is a former police officer.

"I think it's awful, because justice has not been served," McAlister said. "... I would like to see them really handle her. She needs to be charged because of what she did."

Nesbitt worked as an officer with the Jackson Police Department for 33 years and retired in 2012. According to a Wal-Mart manager, Nesbitt was not employed by the store.

Donahoe said he does not believe Nesbitt was given any special treatment because of her former position as an officer.

"I have to commend the district attorney's office in that they didn't treat her any differently than they would have anybody else in this situation," he said.

He said he was prepared to try the case, but the plea allowed them to put the case behind them quickly.

Judge Blake Anderson recused himself from the case because of his personal relationship with Nesbitt. The case was heard by Judge Nathan Pride.