Marijuana found on witness during murder trial at Waukesha courthouse

Published on: 2/22/2016

A woman who had a warrant out for her arrest and testified in a murder case last week is behind bars herself after marijuana was found in her possession at the Waukesha County Courthouse.

Shakendra F. Thomas, who testified on behalf of the state during last week's jury trial in which Darrin Malone was found guilty of felony murder-party to a crime in the killing of a Citgo gas station clerk, has been charged with second offense possession of THC.

Thomas is the sister of Kenneth Thomas, one of three people charged in the armed robbery that resulted in the death of 65-year-old Saeed Sharwani in January 2015.

She was taken into custody one day before she took the stand in Malone's jury trial.

According to the criminal complaint, Shakendra Thomas, 22, was at the Waukesha County Courthouse on Monday, Feb. 15, the first day of Malone's trial. She was stopped as she was trying to leave the courthouse because of an arrest warrant for $1,991 through the Town of Brookfield Police Department.

When the deputy notified her of the warrant and asked if she was going to post the money, Thomas said she didn't have the money, the complaint said. While speaking with Shakendra Thomas, the deputy detected an odor of marijuana and then took her into custody on the warrant.

When the deputy patted her down for a weapons search before turning her over to the jail, he smelled marijuana, the complaint said. She denied smoking marijuana and indicated she didn't have any in her possession.

Another deputy said in the complaint that upon a search in the jail by correctional staff they located marijuana on her. During another booking procedure within the jail additional marijuana was also found on her, the complaint said.

Shakendra Thomas made her initial court appearance Feb. 16, the same day she also testified in Malone's trial. Her preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 25.

Court Commissioner Laura Lau has set a $2,500 signature bond for Shakendra Thomas. According to online court records, she has not signed the bond and remains in custody at the Waukesha County Jail.

If convicted of the felony, Shakendra Thomas could spend 31/2 years in prison and fined up to $10,000. The complaint says she was convicted of misdemeanor possession of THC without a valid prescription in Milwaukee County in 2012.