Kevin Alan Kenniston appeared in a South Bay Superior Court room today unshaven and restrained by shackles.
In March, Kenniston, 42, was arrested by Chula Vista police for strong-arm robbery, residential burglary and possession of stolen property with pending charges of domestic violence.
Having made a $100,000 bail on those charges, Kenniston was arrested a second time that month, this time on two felony counts of false imprisonment, two misdemeanor counts of impersonating a peace officer and one count of felony child endangerment.
When Kenniston appeared in court on those charges, the district attorney’s office added 11 additional counts of impersonating a police officer after nearly a dozen witnesses came forward, claiming they were victims.
At the time Kenniston’s attorney Marc Carlos entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf.
“If he (Kenniston) had contact with individuals while he was wearing this uniform and they thought he was a police officer, that’s not his problem,” Carlos said, referring to a funeral escort business Kenniston owned at the time.
Kenniston’s bail that time was set at $500,000. Within days he was out on the street again.
It was while he was free that Kenniston went back to court to face charges of committing a crime while out on bail, violating a temporary restraining order and stalking his ex-girlfriend.
During an April 26 hearing, Kenniston’s bail was set at $1 million. He has been in custody since.
Kenniston has a criminal history with felony and misdemeanor convictions. Court records show he has been arrested on several criminal and domestic charges throughout the county since 1988.
In court today, deputy district attorney William La Fond presented a total of 32 counts against Kenniston after 17 grand jurors heard from 28 witnesses over six days. Carlos, Kenniston’s lawyer, asked Judge Roderick Shelton today to relieve him from representing Kenniston because of the added charges.
Deputy public defender Stephanie Slattery replaced Carlos as Kenniston’s defense attorney.
Judge Shelton set Kenniston’s bail at $5 million.
Kenniston faces charges of domestic violence, kidnapping, false imprisonment, impersonating a police officer and detaining another, child endangerment and abuse, stalking and violation of a stay away order.
La Fond said if found guilty, Kenniston would receive up to 24 years and four months in prison.
Kenniston’s next court appearance is June 24.
