Published: May 16, 2007 12:03 pm      

Pannell pleas to witness tampering

One of two Commerce brothers indicted on tampering charges for allegedly trying to influence a witness in a drug case pleaded guilty Monday.

The second brother, a convicted murderer, remains on the run.

Cedric Lee Pannell, 47, and Norman Jerome Pannell, 42, were each indicted in September by the Hunt County grand jury on one count of tampering with a witness. The pair were alleged of having intended to influence a prospective witness in a criminal felony trial from February 2006 to withhold testimony or information.

Monday, Norman Pannell pleaded guilty to the count. Under a plea bargain arrangement, Pannell was placed on three years of deferred adjudication probation and was fined $500.

Deferred adjudication carries no finding of guilt, although those defendants who are found to have violated a deferred probation are subject to being sentenced to the maximum punishment.

Norman Pannell was facing a maximum sentence upon conviction of from 180 days to two years in a state jail and an optional fine of up to $10,000. He has three previous convictions listed on his indictment, two for delivery of a controlled substance and one for burglary.

As of Monday evening, Cedric Pannell still had a warrant out for his arrest. Pannell has been wanted since shortly after his indictment was issued, as he failed to appear for his arraignment on the charge. Cedric Pannell has a 1994 conviction for burglary out of Dallas County and a 1977 conviction for murder from Hunt County.