BEAUMONT, Texas — A Groves woman has had her maximum sentenced reduced after taking a plea deal.
Barbara Kennerly, 62, of Groves was charged with aggravated assault after stabbing someone in a parking lot in 2020.
This charge typically carries two to 20 years in prison and up to a possible $10,000 fine if found guilty.
However, the state was seeking to punish Kennerly as a habitual offender, which is a person who has had at least two previous felony charges and then committed a third offense.
This would change Kennerly's possible punishment range from five to 99 years, or life in prison.
Kennerly appeared before the Criminal District Court Tuesday morning, where she entered a guilty plea in exchange for a maximum sentence of seven years.
Judge John Stevens ordered the probation department to prepare a pre-sentencing report. Kennerly is set for sentencing April 26, 2023.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information
