Kelly & Robert Trim, Barbara Knowles Petition Court For Appeal Bond

The trio who were found guilty of lying to police when they accused Cherokee Schools Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo of trying to run them over will be back before Superior Court Judge Ellen McElyea later this month.

Robert and Kelly Trim, a former Cherokee County School Board member, and Barbara Knowles, are scheduled to appear before McElyea at 9 a.m. July 25. 

McElyea will consider granting an appeal bond for the three defendants, who were all sentenced to serve 60 days in jail and 10 years on probation for lying to Canton police when they accused Petruzielo of trying to run them over as the crossed East Main Street in June 2013.

An appeal bond is sought so a defendant can remain out of jail pending an appeal, said Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Rachelle Carnesale, who prosecuted the case. 

As expected, all three defendants have appealed the guilty verdicts rendered by the jury. 

Carnesale said the state will oppose the appeal bond in this case as, "the defendants were given the discretion to decide when, during the course of this first year, they will serve the incarceration portion of their sentences."  

Kelly Trim, who married partner Robert Trim after the sentencing, was convicted on two counts of making false statements, both of which are felonies.

Robert Trim, a former political consultant, was found guilty on two counts of making false statements while Knowles, the former secretary of the Cherokee County Republican Party, was convicted on one count of filing a false police report and two counts of making false statements.

The conviction forced Trim to resign from the Cherokee County School Board's District 1 seat.