Hunter/Edited release
09/26/22
A Cedar Rapids woman who allegedly perjured herself when getting selected as a juror for a trial of a known associate has been arrested.
On August 23rd of this year, Sixth Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever declared a mistrial in a case involving a man charged with possessing a firearm as a felon after Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks notified him that one of the jurors, 23-year-old Nakia Long, was an associate of the man on trial.
Officers testifying during the trial recognized the juror and made Maybanks aware of the association between Long and the defendant, 19-year-old Royal Jones.
During jury selection, Long, who was under oath, did not indicate that she knew the defendant, and substantially understated her criminal convictions on her questionnaire.
The woman also reportedly posted on social media about being on the jury and indicated that the Jones would be found not guilty and freed.
After completing their investigation, Long was arrested Friday evening and taken to the Linn County Jail. She faces charges of Perjury and Fradulent Practices. Perjury is a Class D Felony punishable by a prison term of up to five years If convicted.