Jury Pool Selection Takes Place in the Streets

Buy an ad on DigitalJournal.com

Jury selection for an upcoming sexual conduct case in St. Johnsbury, VT dwindled from the initial 34 people in the jury pool down to 20, discouraging Judge Harold Eaton, Jr. So, to boost the pool, Judge Eaton sent the County Sheriff and a few deputies into the streets to boost the jury pool on Wednesday morning.

The County Sheriff and three uniformed deputies posted themselves in front of the U. S. Post Office, Price Chopper Supermarket, and the Green Mountain Mall, stopping and asking people if they were over 18 and living in the county. For those who said yes, they were summoned to the courthouse immediately.

Juror recruitment took place in three rounds delivering 45 potential jurors to the courthouse.

Caledonia County Sheriff Michael Bergeron said "99.9 percent were just excellent, they were great." While offering his gratitude to the level of compliance from those who accepted their civic responsibility, he says, "We hope it won't happen again."

According to Boston.com, David Sleigh, the defense attorney for 65 year old Aldoph Charron, objected to the 'impromptu jury pool', and requested that a new pool be started. Judge Eaton denied his request. According to the Judge, this case was already 574 days old, one of the oldest cases on the District Court docket. Charron is charged with two felony counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child.

It is customary to seat 12 jurors for a case like this, with two additional jurors as alternates. With 14 jurors already excused because they felt they would not be able to hear a sex case impartially, Judge Eaton felt that the remaining 20 were not enough to continue with the challenges of the selection process.

Charron was arraigned in June, 2006 and has been free with conditions ever since, pending his trial. He is accused of inappropriately touching a girl of seven years while she was visiting him at his home. Charron said any touch, he believes was on the outside of her clothing and due to her moving his hand around.

If convicted, Charron faces one to 15 years and up to $5000 per charge.