Jury unable to reach verdict in rape case
Staff Writer
Published: October 23, 2009
A Lee County Circuit Court judge declared a mistrial Friday after the jury selected to hear the case against an Opelika man charged with the rape of an elderly woman was unable to reach a verdict after several hours of deliberation.
The jury chairman told Judge John V. Denson II shortly before 5 p.m. that further deliberations would not help the group to reach an unanimous decision. Denson said he was “disappointed” the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
He said he had no choice but to declare a mistrial and allow the state to try the case against Anthony James Vines, 43, before a different jury. Denson instructed all the jurors not to talk to the media as their comments may prejudice the next jury.
The current criminal term continues next week, but it may not be tried again so quickly.
Vines allegedly forced his way into the home of a then-90-year-old woman and raped her in the early morning hours of Nov. 9, 2008. Both the victim, now 91, and Vines took the stand this week.
The jury for the murder case against Reginald Moffett, 45, of Opelika was able to reach a verdict Friday. After nearly a day of deliberations, the jury found Moffett not guilty in the June 9, 2008 shooting death of Demecio Charee Griffin, 25, on South Long Street in Opelika. Moffett had pleaded not guilty in the case, and cited self-defense when he took the stand this week.
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before you start sending complanints to tory king you need to see how many cases he has tried. I beleve its just one and it was a very small case with no jury.If you have only seen one or two cases i your life have no way to know what gos on every day in a judges,das or a lawyers life.We have some of the best in the state in lee co.Its not easy beleve me .what you dont know in a count hering you cant say just any thing you wont to in a case.al people have rights weather we like it or not.Look at the win lost rates of lee co you may be surpiseed
I have sent a complaint to Troy king’s office as others should also. He needs to step in and see how are these don’t want to send anyone to prison jurors are picked. Moffett was acquitted, there was evidence, witnesses and DNA linking him to murder. How could a jury let a murderer go free. It seems as though they need to be standing right there looking at these murders before they can reach a verdict. Griffin was an honorably discharged Navy vet, would have graduated fron Southern Union Dec. 2008. The good thing is Moffett is not free from his conscious nor God. Lee County is gaining a new motto” RAPE old ladies, KILL friends and son in laws, The Jury will let you go free” Hope none of these don’t knock on the jurors doors then they will have open minds, because right now they don’t comprehend. Please voice opinions to Troy King’s office. Anybody knows why Jurors are 95% white and 5% black.
CSANDS, my experience with the Lee County court system was the same as yours, one big disappointment. I have gone from calling the Justice System merely the Legal System because I did not find justice in it. It has really saddened me greatly.
I was also a juror in the case. Above post is correct. Judge explained that reasonable doubt is not ablolutely no doubt, but 2 jurors said they could not convict unless they knew for certain. They refused to deliberate and told foreperson to tell the judge we were deadlocked. I would like to say the DA and the Lee county courts DID NOT mess this case up. It was WELL PRESENTED. The state and the defense asked the proper questions when interviewing potential jurors, but individuals ended up on the jury that should not have been on it. ALL jurors opinions were respected. Majority wanted to continue deliberating. This was not an issue of one or two jurors with a different opinion, but an unwillingness to continue discussing the case.
I do believe the people in the district attorney’s office do a wonderful job. They are swamped with more cases than they should have to handle. There needs to be more personnel in that office to handle the load. The lawyers of the accused just seem to have the upperhand. In the rape case the jurors who couldn’t make a decision—how strange he said he did rape her according to the paper. That indicates 100% guilt. The doctor indicated that she was raped. Obviously the guy’s attorney picked these jurors because he or she knew they would never convict him. If we would stop letting these criminals go free then we would have less crime. Less people getting hurt or worse.
people get real. if this was my g mother i would be mad too. but hering 1 case or serving on 1 jury dont make you an expert.no some people dont like serving on a jury.its hard for some people.As far as the DA in this case they did a good job for what they had to work with.it starts with the investagtion and the information the DAs office is given.As far as the Judges in lee co.they are some of the best around. my job takes me to the courts in russell chambers tallapoosa clay co. In my opion Lee co courts are run the best and more fair than any of the others.The das office Is the best run by far than the others with the number of cases they have to try (over 600 per term thats 2400 plus per year)So before you get down on the courts of lee co waik their shoes every day they dont like to lose a case at all beleve me. I hope the guy gets whats coming to him and he will. Some time it take longer the we what but all dogs have their day
I want to say that I WAS one of the jurors on this rape case. People on the outside don’t understand why our jury was deadlocked. The assistant DA did a fine job of presenting the case. A couple of the jurors felt they could not send a man to prison unless they were 100% certain he was guilty. I understand their feelings and they really should not have been on the jury. They were not open to having their opinion swayed either. It is really a shame because the defendant made a fool of himself on the stand. I feel so bad for this woman to have to go through this again.
SO,really what you are saying is the JUDGE has no control of his court room.THE D.A. and the lawyers have the RIGHT to OBJECT TO ANY QUESTION/ANSWER…But the JUDGE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SUSTAIN/OVERRULE the objection as its merit to the case/evidence.
A LOT OF LAWYERS SAY LEE COUNTY HAS A buddy/buddy system and they hate to have court here. I DO AGREE IF SHE DID NOT KNOW THE GUY,AND HE FORCED HIS WAY INTO THE HOUSE,WELL WHERE IS THE CONSENT? I KNOW SHE CONSENTED SO HE WOULD NOT KILL HER??THEY DO TELL WOMEN TO GIVE IN TO RAPIST,SO MAYBE THAT WAS THE CONSENT. THE JURY SHOULD BE DRUG TESTED,OR THEY DID NOT WANT TO SERVE,SO THEY DID THIS TO GET OUT OF SERVING…...PEOPLE DO DO THAT YOU KNOW…VERY SAD!!!
This is ridiculous. I feel as if Troy King, the State Attorney General, should step in to see what is going on in the courtrooms in Lee County. To the family of the victim and the victim I am very sorry that you are going through this very difficult situation. I was recently involved with the courts in Lee County and have found it to be nothing more than a circus show. I was surprised and stricken with aw when testimony(mostly lies) from the accused, their parents, and their attorneys was admissable without any sort of objections from the district attorneys office. I felt as if we were the ones on trial when the attorneys of the accused asked us questions without any objections from the assistant district attorney. It actually made us feel as if we were the ones who had committed the crime. When the victim was asked questions by the judge before any answers could be given the attorneys would object. Each time the assistant district attorney would start to give the judge information or answer questions from the judge the attorneys objected. It was just amazing! The victims are the ones on trial in Lee County! I have heard this from others who have been in Lee County’s courtrooms. Now this validates my theory! This man sat in court and lied about this lady to say that she initiated the sex! And the jury couldn’t see that this man is a complete liar! This is just AMAZING and a travesty of justice and a complete waste of the citizens money. In the end this man will pay for what he did—just as they all will do and their attorneys will pay along with them. Knowing this is how I get through the day.
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