The records indicate he was on probation for a cocaine conviction last year and should have been jailed after pleading guilty to the marijuana charge March 22. However, court officials said they didn't realize Mr. Chenault was on probation at the time. State law requires judges to first consider probation as punishment instead of prison. But once criminals are on probation, in many cases, they're essentially left unwatched, Fayette County Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson said. As a result of this problem, we now have a tragedy.
Somebody is dead.
One daughter, Lauren, died from Chris Mercer's abuse. The jury recommended seven years for the manslaughter charge and four years for each of the abuse charges, to run consecutively for a total of 15 years. Ms. Mercer was accused of not protecting her children from Mr. Mercer, who earlier this year pleaded guilty to wanton murder and two counts of first-degree criminal abuse. He will serve a minimum of 17 years before he is eligible for parole. Lauren died on May 6, 1999.