{London, Kentucky}...Former Kentucky State Police Trooper Michael Fred Pennington was sentenced Thursday to 74 months in prison for drug trafficking and carrying a firearm while trafficking prescription narcotics. In May, a jury convicted Pennington of the firearm charge. Prior to his trial, Pennington pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking. He previously worked out of KSP's London post. In September 2011, while at a woman's residence on official duty, Pennington spotted a crushed Lortab pill and found a container with some additional pills in her residence. After confiscating the pills, he told her if she had sex with him he would not arrest or charge her. The woman informed KSP officials of Pennington's inappropriate actions. The next day Pennington, off duty at the time, offered the woman a Lortab pill in exchange for sex; once Pennington arrived at her London residence and gave her the pill, detectives with KSP immediately intervened. Pennington resigned hours later. KSP officials found the other pills in his cruiser the next morning. Pennington will have to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence. Following his release, he will be on probation for four years.
