Woman found guilty on 4 lesser counts in Monroe County slaying

photo Jessica Kennedy looks on during a Thursday, Sept. 15 2011 court hearing in Madisonville, Tenn., where she is charged in the July 10, 2010 slaying of Monroe County Election Commission Chairman Jim Miller.

MADISONVILLE, Tenn. - A jury found the woman charged in the 2010 death of a Monroe County election official guilty on four lesser charges Monday night.

Jurors found Jessica Kennedy, charged in the 2010 death of Jim Miller, guilty of facilitating felony murder, facilitating aggravated robbery, facilitating abuse of a corpse and facilitating setting fire to personal property.

The jury deliberated for about nine hours and delivered the verdict at 8:30 p.m.

These lesser charges mean that Kennedy intentionally assisted in the crimes, but the charges are less serious than the full charges. In April, a Tennessee judge sentenced a man convicted of facilitation of felony murder and facilitation of especially aggravated robbery to 19 years.

Kennedy cried and breathed heavily as the verdict was announced, while the courtroom murmured and a few people gasped.

Kennedy mouthed, "Wow," as the jury filed out. She will be sentenced on Oct. 3 at 9 a.m.

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