CJF America president misses court again, lawyer says she's hospitalized

CJF America President Kristen Picot missed her court date Thursday in Durham County.

It's the second time she has done so in just as many weeks.

WRAL Investigates has reported extensively on CJF America, the Durham-based nonprofit accused of not paying its employees.

WRAL Investigates' Sarah Krueger has spoken to more than a dozen people owed roughly $500,000 combined.

On Wednesday, Durham police announced charges against the company's founder, Courtney Jordan, and Chief Financial Officer Nicholas Gallardo, for felony conspiracy and obtaining property by false pretense.

As WRAL Investigates reported, Picot, who is facing misdemeanor charges for writing worthless checks, missed her court date on Sept. 16.

On Thursday, she was again absent from court as her name was read, as was her attorney, Eric Williams. Williams later explained to the judge that he was in another courtroom for a separate proceeding.

When the judge asked why Picot was not present, Williams said she was hospitalized in Raleigh, though he did not say for what. He showed the judge a note on his phone, which the judge accepted.

WRAL Investigates contacted every Raleigh hospital to see if they have a patient by the name of Kristen Picot. WakeMed confirms she is listed as a patient there.

"Honestly, it's just not fair," said Briana Thompson, a defendant in the case that was supposed to be heard today. "I feel like it's a waste of time."

Briana Thompson, like the second defendant Jasmine Thompson, worked as camp counselors for CJF America summer camp in Durham. 

"[Picot] needs to own up to what she did," Jasmine Thompson said. "Everybody deserves their money. We worked there. We don't work for free."

The prosecutor in court alluded to more charges pending against Picot. After court, WRAL Investigates' Sarah Krueger asked her what those charges are for, and she said they, too, are for misdemeanor simple worthless check.

In court, the judge asked Picot's attorney if he would take the warrants to her, and he declined, saying he is not authorized to do that.

WRAL Investigates has previously reported that CJF America and its officials have a history of evading law enforcement who are trying to serve warrants or civil actions. WRAL Investigates spoke with a landlord owed thousands, whose case remains unserved from years ago. A lawsuit filed last month by seven former CJF employees also remains unserved, as do the recent arrest warrants for Jordan and Gallardo.

Picot's attorney asked for her case to be continued for two months, noting he did not know when she would be out of the hospital.

The judge declined to extend the case that far, and set a new date for Oct. 30.