State v. Wasson

Harwell, Justice:

Appellant was convicted of criminal conspiracy, burglary in the second degree, and grand larceny. The issue on appeal is whether the trial judge abused his discretion in denying appellant’s motion for a mistrial based upon the fact that during the course of jury service, two jurors read a newspaper article discussing the appellant’s involvement in other criminal activity.

FACTS

The jury found Wasson guilty of all three offenses. Following the reading of the verdict, the trial judge, on his own motion began to question the jurors about a newspaper article involving Wasson that…