CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation Friday into juror misconduct in a Kanawha County murder trial.
The trial of Tremaine Jackson, 24, of Charleston, ended abruptly Thursday in a mistrial when it was learned a member of the jury went to the crime scene herself after deliberations had begun and then lied to Kanawha County Circuit Judge Charles King about it. King then declared the mistrial.
The investigation into what the juror did and whether charges should be filed shouldn’t take long, according to Kanawha County Assistant Prosecutor Maryclaire Akers.
“I think everybody has an interest in seeing it through and making a decision as quickly as possible,” Akers said Friday. “We won’t rush it but once all of the information is in we’ll make a decision.”
Meanwhile, a status hearing on the case is scheduled for Sept. 15. The prosecution plans to take Jackson to trial a second time at some point, Akers said.
“This is a murder case, an important case. It involves other peoples’ lives and we’ll try it again if we have to,” Akers said.
Jackson allegedly shot and killed Bryan Rogers, 29, of Ripley, last December near a sandwich shop on Charleston’s West Side over a $3,000 heroin debt. The jury deliberated for parts of three days before King stopped the trial. Akers said the mistrial was hard on Rogers’ family.
“That’s who I was the most upset for but everyone was disappointed,” she said.