State v. Rivers

Appellant was convicted of manufacturing marijuana and criminal conspiracy in connection with an underground greenhouse facility discovered in Fairfield County. He was sentenced to consecutive terms of ten and five years and fined a total of $15,000. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

After the close of the State’s case on the second day of trial, the forelady of the jury requested that the trial judge come to the jury room because a juror had been approached about the case by a third party. The jury did not wish to discuss the incident in open court.

After an initial discussion with the…