Even before their sentencing hearing began today, Stewart and Michael Parnell both filed motions for their release while their cases are appealed to the Eleventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta. The Parnell brothers, along with former Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) quality assurance manager Mary Wilkerson, are awaiting sentencing today in federal court in Albany, GA. The court has been hearing character witnesses for the defendants and will also hear statements from the victims of the 2008-09 Salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated PCA products which a jury found were knowingly shipped. But even if they get lengthy prison terms, the Parnells say they should remain free while legal issues they are raising are taken up in Atlanta.
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