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Drug-Planting Irvine Dad Surrenders To Authorities

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — An Irvine attorney who helped plant drugs in a school volunteer's car because of a perceived insult to his son surrendered to authorities Thursday.

Kent Wycliffe Easter, 40, was taken into custody following his conviction Wednesday of one felony count of false imprisonment by deceit. He faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison at his sentencing.

His wife and co-defendant Jill Bjorkholm Easter, 41, pleaded guilty on Oct. 30, 2013, to one felony count of false imprisonment by deceit and was sentenced to one year in jail and three years of formal probation.

Officials say Kent Easter planted Vicoden, Percocet, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the car of Kelly Peters, a PTA volunteer at Plaza Vista School, in February of 2011.

Prosecutors allege the Easters, who are both attorneys, were unhappy with the way Peters cared for their son while he was at school.

The couple made cell phone calls and sent text messages to one another as Kent Easter drove to the woman's home to plant the drugs in her unlocked vehicle just after midnight on Feb. 16, 2011, Deputy District Attorney Chris Duff said.

About 1:15 p.m. that same day, Kent Easter allegedly called Irvine police, gave a fake name and phone number and said he was a concerned parent who saw the woman's car being driven erratically at the elementary school.

Irvine police stopped Peters, who agreed to let police search her car and home, Duff said. Officers started to doubt the drugs belonged to her, and an investigation led to the Easters, he added.

The verdict came in what was the second trial of the case after a judge last November declared a mistrial in the case after jurors were deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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