Updated 5:38 p.m.
There's more information today about the Channel 30 story on a judge halting a trial Monday to investigate sexual allegations against two jurors serving on the Eddie Scott molestation trial.
Sherry Spears, public information officer for Fresno County Superior Court, issued this statement: "Unconfirmed rumors concerning this jury have been reported in the media. There is no pending investigation concerning any juror. No juror has engaged in misconduct or inappropriate conduct."
Judge James Oppliger told jurors today in court: "There has been false reporting going on and I want you to stay away from the press, and don't share something inadvertently with the press."
Attorney Tony Capozzi explained on Channel 30's Web site today that in his opinion, jurors would not necessarily have to get kicked off a case for having relationships with other jurors or even -- having sex in the courthouse bathroom with another juror.
This could create a waiting list for jury duty years in advance.
Andres Araiza is reporting this on the Channel 30 Web site:
"We have confirmed with multiple sources two jurors were accused of engaging in sexual activity in a courthouse bathroom. Some attorneys believed if this did happen it could have led to a mistrial and the case would have to begin all over again."Capozzi: "This is my first time in my 38 years of experience practicing law. I've never heard of this before."
He believes the judge made the right decision to investigate. It's unknown if the incident actually happened or it was a false report. Capozzi said jurors don't have to be excused if they engage in sexual activity during a trial.
"Technically there's no prohibition against it. The judge doesn't tell the jurors in the beginning of the trial, you can't have a relationship with each other. He doesn't say anything about a sexual relationship."
To read the whole story, click here.
What do you think?
This sounds like a great future Law and Order episode.Depending on if the sex was man on man,woman on woman or man on woman you could dovetail it somehow with the crime of the person on trial to make for a tittilating hour or maybe even one that ends with ...To be Continued.
If this did happen I don't think it has any bearing on them being able to reach a verdict unless they were doing it in the jury room. How freaking horney do you have to be to disrespect yourself as much to do it in a public bathroom. That is just plain gross.
Any truth to the rumor that Sen. Larry Craig was on that jury?
In its desperation to hang onto its (undeserved) No. 1 ranking, Channel 30 engages in these National Enquirer tactics. How pathetic! It'd be nice for Opplinger to find some way to adjudge them in contempt of court for airing this garbage.