When Benjamin Kohler reported to jury duty in Salem, Oregon being sent to jail was the last thing he thought would happen. But it did.
Kohler was seated as a juror in armed robbery case. He was then instructed by Judge Dennis Graves not to use his cellphone during the trial. Yet, Kohler ignored the judge’s instruction. Later when the lights in courtroom were dimmed in order to show a surveillance video the judge noticed light coming from the pocket of the juror. The judge then cleared the courtroom and questioned Kohler. Kohler then admitted to using the cellphone during the trial. He was then sent to jail where he spent a day and a night in custody.
The judge stated that “Every juror has the responsibility to devote his entire attention” in stating why he was jailing the juror.
Massachusetts Criminal Attorney Patrick Donovan is a criminal defense attorney in Boston Massachusetts and has tried many jury cases. Attorney Donovan handles both felony and misdemeanor crimes. Attorney Donovan has appeared in over fifty courts in Massachusetts.
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