Juries
Potential Juror Jailed for Elevator Comment
A potential juror who discussed a three-paragraph Washington Post story with another in a courthouse elevator was jailed yesterday for disobeying an order not to discuss the case.
Kenneth P. White reportedly mentioned the story about the murder retrial of Alfredo Prieto, the case for which he was called as potential juror, the Post reports. The Prieto story said the defendant, accused of a 1988 Virginia murder, was on death row in California for a 1990 murder.
White allegedly told another juror the case was “all going to be a crock of [expletive],” according to the newspaper. A court reporter told Judge Randy Bellows of Fairfax County about the exchange, and Bellows ordered White jailed for summary contempt.
White was in jail for five hours.
