Hunter
08/25/22
Sixth Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case of a man on trial for being a felon in possession of a firearm after police officers who were there to testify recognized one of the jurors as an associate of people connected to the man.
The Gazette reports that after officers investigated the juror, they found that the woman was a known associate of individuals 19-year-old Royal Jones knows. A phone call Jones made from the Linn County Jail after the jury was selected confirmed that he was familiar with the juror.
The woman also reportedly posted on social media about being on the jury and indicated that the person on trial would be found not guilty and freed.
The woman also has a criminal history, which doesn’t prevent her from being a juror because she doesn’t have a felony. But she neglected disclose her arrests during jury selection.
Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks told the Gazette that Jones will be tried at a later date. He is also looking into whether criminal charges could be filed against the juror.