Sequestered juror in John Goodman retrial violated rules, used laptop

Judge: Juror's claim he lost laptop 'difficult to accept'

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – South Florida polo mogul John Goodman has already been granted a retrial after his DUI manslaughter conviction, but Monday the retrial almost became a mistrial after one of the sequestered jurors was discovered breaking the rules.

Goodman, 51, is charged with DUI manslaughter in the death of Scott Wilson, 23, in February 2010. He was found guilty in 2012, but the conviction was overturned because of juror misconduct.

To make sure that jurors aren't tainted by news reports in the new trial, there are specific procedures in place. One of the procedures is that jurors can only use their laptops or tablets with the supervision of Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputies.

Before the trial resumed Monday, the judge got word that Juror No. 3, a middle-aged die cast operator who described himself during jury selection as "honest, loyal and handy," violated a court rule by using his laptop in his hotel room instead of accessing the Internet in the presence of one of the deputies assigned to the jury. He also violated rules by not using his laptop in one of the designated common areas in the hotel where jurors are staying.

"He was very vague about where his computer was and how it got in his room," Sgt. Talal Masri told the judge. "I hate to use the word evasive, but he was."

The juror said he lost the laptop and later found it on his bed, so he used it to check fantasy football scores.

"His assertion that mysteriously the computer was left on his bed flies in the face of their procedures (and) flies in the face of common sense," Judge Jeffrey Colbath said. "It's difficult to accept that."

When defense attorney Doug Duncan asked the juror if he used the computer to access any news websites, he replied, "None whatsoever." When asked by prosecutor Sherri Collins which sites he visited, he claimed only two -- Bleacher Report and Yahoo's fantasy football website.

"I have not been compromised at all," the juror said.

Colbath allowed the juror to remain -- at least for now -- fearful that excusing him would adversely affect the outcome of the trial in an appellate court.

Goodman is the founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.

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