A Lancaster County man arrested following an altercation at a White Stone area bar and restaurant was denied bond Friday afternoon in Lancaster County Circuit Court. Judge Harry T. Taliaferro III denied bond for 53 year old James Todd Kessler of the Kilmarnock area, based on testimony that the suspect poses a threat to society.
Kessler was arrested by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday morning July 23rd and charged with one count of felony aggravated malicious wounding. The charge stems from an altercation at “Pelican’s at the Point” at Windmill Point Marina on the evening of Saturday July 19th. Kessler will be due in General District Court on September 3rd at 11 for arraignment.
Kessler is also reportedly the last person seen with Claudine J. Gifford of the Burgess area, missing since leaving Pelican’s with Kessler on the evening of July 6th. Lancaster Sheriff’s officials stress that the assault charge and missing person investigation are not related.
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office is interested in speaking with four white males who reportedly assisted Gifford from Pelican’s into a silver Nissan SUV the evening of her disappearance. These four males are asked to contact Lt. E.T. Self or Inv. D.S. Hogge at the sheriff’s office. If you have information that could help investigators, call the Lancaster Sheriff’s Office at 804-462-5111 or Crime Solvers at 804-46-CRIME(462-7463).
