Irvine mom accused of planting drugs in PTA volunteer’s car pleads guilty

An Irvine mother accused of planting drugs in the car of a PTA volunteer at her son’s school pleaded guilty Wednesday to a false imprisonment charge, the Orange County district attorney’s office said.

Jill Bjorkholm Easter, 40, will serve one year in county jail and three years of formal probation, the office said.

Easter and her husband, Kent Wycliff Easter, 40, allegedly plotted against school volunteer Kelli Peters in retaliation for what they said was her poor treatment of their young son at the school.

Kent Easter faces felony charges of conspiracy to falsely charge a crime, false imprisonment by violence or deceit, and conspiracy to commit a crime, which could bring three years in state prison if he is convicted.

His jury trial is expected to begin next week, the D.A.’s office said.

The couple, both lawyers, believed Peters had locked their then-first grade son outside during an afterschool program and had threatened Jill Easter and said negative things about her to other parents, the Times reported, citing court documents.

Just after midnight Feb. 16, 2011, Kent Easter allegedly drove to Peters’ home and placed a bag of Vicodin, Percocet, marijuana and a used marijuana pipe behind the driver’s seat of her unlocked car, authorities said.

The next afternoon, officials said, he is accused of calling an Irvine police non-emergency line from a public phone, giving authorities a false name and address. Officials alleged the father told the dispatcher he was a concerned parent and had seen erratic driving near an elementary school.

He identified Peters by name and claimed to have witnessed her hiding a bag of drugs in her car. He then gave a description of the vehicle.

Prosecutors allege Easter remained in constant contact with his wife through calling and texting as their alleged plot unfolded.

Twitter: @Sam_Schaefer

Samantha.Schaefer@latimes.com

Schaefer writes for the Los Angeles Times.