Juror in contempt for posting online comments in news article about trial of attorney murder case
A juror has been held in contempt for posting online comments, during trial last year, in a newspaper article about the felony-murder case against one of nine defendants accused of playing a role in the slaying of a Kansas attorney.
James M. Reeder must either pay a $1,000 fine or serve 3 days in jail, reports the Topeka Capital-Journal. A judge in the Shawnee County case ordered the newspaper to reveal his identity after a commenter claiming to be a juror posted online.
The defendant, Anceo Stovall, had been charged with felony first-degree murder of Natalie Gibson, but the jury hung on all counts except two, convicting him of the armed robbery of a co-defendant and acquitting him of a Jeep burglary. He subsequently took a plea deal and was sentenced in February to 109 months for reckless second-degree murder, and an additional 22 months for crimes committed against Gibson’s life partner, Lori Allison.
See also
ABAJournal.com: “9 Charged with Felony Murder and Robbery in Slaying of Kansas Lawyer Shot to Death at Her Home”
ABAJournal.com: “First Felony Murder Trial Under Way in Slaying of Kansas Lawyer”
ABAJournal.com: “Judge Orders Newspaper to ID Claimed Juror Who Commented Online During Trial Over Attorney’s Murder”
