James Powers in court for arraignment on assault charges
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Cathy Perfect
Kern Valley Sun
James Powers, of Lake Isabella, appeared in the East Division/Kern Valley, Kern County Superior Court Oct. 8 for an arraignment on one count each of assault with a deadly weapon other than firearm or great bodily injury force; battery on a person; preventing or dissuading a witness or victim. Originally filed as felonies, the charges had been reduced to misdemeanors prior to Powers' court appearance.
The charges stem from an incident on Friday, Sept. 19, when Powers, 59, was arrested and charged with severely beating Sharon Vermillion, owner of CARZ, an automotive business in Lake Isabella, and attempting to prevent his stepson, Corey Wimmer, from testifying to the events he had witnessed. According to Vermillion, Powers was on the premises to collect money prior to the attack.
Accompanied in the courtroom by his wife, Cindy, Powers told Judge Cory J. Woodward, "I need a public defender... because I'm in bankruptcy." In addition to making arrangements for Powers' request for representation, Judge Woodward told Powers that "stay away" orders were in effect. The judge explained, "You are to stay away from Sharon Vermillion's home and her place of business. These are the conditions of your release today," he stated. "That means you are not to use force or violence against anyone." He added that the stay away orders pertained to his stepson, Corey Wimmer, as well. "You may not discuss this case with him. You are not to tell him how to testify or not to testify."
Powers has a history of violence, according to Kern County Superior Court records. On Nov. 27, 1991, he pled guilty to raping his then-wife. At that hearing, additional felony and misdemeanor counts were dismissed, according to court records. He served 158 days in Wasco State Prison and paid a $100 fine, the records stated.
