KCK activist Tamika Pledger jailed for contempt of court

A judge on Monday ordered a Kansas City, Kan., community activist to serve six days in jail for indirectly contacting victims in a criminal case against her.

Tamika Pledger, 39, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and three counts of aggravated battery after her car struck a group of teenagers Jan. 30 in the 1300 block of Troup Avenue.

Tierra Smith, 17, of Raytown, died from her injuries about a week after the crash.

Pledger had a press conference May 19 shown by local television stations in which she offered condolences to the Smith family.

District Judge Robert Serra had ordered Pledger to have no direct or indirect contact with any of the victims or their families.

On Monday, Assistant District Attorney Kristiane Bryant said that after the press conference, both of Smith’s parents called her to say they were “extremely upset” after seeing the broadcast.

Bryant asked the judge to sentence Pledger to 30 days in jail for being in contempt of the court’s no-contact order.

Appealing directly to the family through the media was indirect contact, Serra said.

“I clearly told her no contact of any kind,” the judge said. “I didn’t get your attention last time apparently.”

He said he would not sentence her to 30 days but instead ordered her taken into custody immediately Monday and said she would be released at 6 p.m. Sunday.

According to documents filed in Wyandotte District Court, Pledger allegedly was speeding to the area after receiving a call from her daughter about a fight that was about to occur.

Investigators determined that her car was going more than 50 mph in a 20-mph zone when it crested a hill and slammed into the teens.

The charges do not allege that she intentionally hit the teens but that she was driving in a reckless manner.

This story was originally published June 8, 2015 at 3:50 PM with the headline "KCK activist Tamika Pledger jailed for contempt of court."