LISBON - Judge Scott Washam declared a mistrial Tuesday in the criminal trial of Morris E. Jones Jr., an East Liverpool man charged with a misdemeanor sexual imposition, attempted burglary, criminal trespassing and two counts of burglary.
Assistant County Prosecutor Tim McNicol said Washam declared the mistrial at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday stating there had been misconduct after two jurors made improper comments. The jury was dismissed.
Initially, the trial was supposed to begin Monday, but was delayed after too few potential jurors appeared for jury duty. Additional jurors had to be brought in off the streets to fill all the positions, including alternates.
According to court documents, Jones, 29, Mapletree Street, East Liverpool, is accused of having sexual contact with a teen between 13 and 16 years old in February. Additionally, he is accused of breaking into a neighboring home on Mapletree Street on both May 6, 2011 and May 13, 2011. Then on July 7, 2011, Jones was on someone else's property while he attempted to break into another neighboring home.
The jury trial has been reset in August.
