FROM: Jody Pickens, District Attorney General, 26th Judicial District
On April 10, 2026, Brandon James Penny, forty-three (43) years of age, of Henderson, Tennessee, pled guilty to Felony Evading Arrest Creating a Risk of Death or Injury, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia as well as a host of traffic violations and received a total effective sentence for the Tennessee charges is six (6) years to be served in the Tennessee Department of Correction.
The Tennessee sentence will run consecutive to a two (2) year Kern County, California Superior Court sentence for Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale. Penny was extradited from California to face the Chester County, Tennessee indictment. The Chester County Sheriff’s Department was the arresting agency, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney General Chad Wood.
On February 11, 2026, Justin Aaron Burnette, thirty-six (36) years of age, of Jackson, Tennessee, was convicted by a Chester County, Tennessee jury of Felony Evading Arrest Creating a Risk of Death or Injury, Reckless Endangerment, and Driving on a Revoked License Due to a Second Conviction of Driving Under the Influence.
On March 20, 2026, the Defendant was sentenced to a total effective sentence of five and one half (5.5) years to be served in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The Chester County Sheriff’s Department was the arresting agency, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney General Chad Wood.
On December 17, 2025, Robert William Kaneer, forty-three (43) years of age, of Henderson, Tennessee, was convicted by a Chester County, Tennessee jury of two (2) counts of Rape, two (2) counts of Aggravated Statutory Rape, Attempted Rape, two (2) counts of Sexual Battery, Casual Exchange of Marijuana with a Minor, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
At a sentencing hearing on March 10, 2026, the Defendant was sentenced to a total effective sentence of thirty (30) years to serve without parole in the Tennessee Department of Correction. He must also register as a sex offender for life should he complete the lengthy sentence. In this case forensic interviews of the victims were conducted by the Chester County Carl Perkins Center.
The Henderson, Tennessee Police Department was the arresting/investigating agency, and the Tennessee Department of Child’s Services was also involved. The case was prosecuted at trial by then Assistant District Attorney General Josh Dougan and the sentencing hearing was conducted by Assistant District Attorney General Holden Kirk.
(PHOTO: from left, Justin Aaron Burnette, Robert William Kaneer and Brandon James Penny)
