Man fails to show up for jury duty, found to be intoxicated

At a jury trial Friday before Associate Circuit Judge Scott E. Thomsen, one man was found guilty of driving while intoxicated, and another, after he failed to show up for jury duty, was found to be intoxicated.

Curtis D. Lemons, 50, of 33 N. Ellis St., Apt. A, had received a summons to appear as a prospective juror to hear the case against Billy L. Blackman, 62, who was being tried on his first DWI offense.

When the other 35 Cape Girardeau County residents were in the courtroom by 8:45 a.m. and there was no sign of Lemons, a court bailiff called his house to see why he hadn't shown up, according to a news release from Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

Lemons told the bailiff he was "too busy" to come to court.

Thomsen heard about the conversation and decided to issue a "body attachment" order allowing officers to seize Lemons and bring him to the courthouse.

When deputies from the sheriff's department placed Lemons in custody and prepared to escort him to Jackson, they detected a strong odor of alcohol on him.

He was held in custody all day at the courthouse while the trial was going on.

When the trial concluded, Thomsen spoke to Lemons and noticed he still smelled of alcohol.

When asked by Thomsen when he'd had his last drink, Lemons said he'd been drinking rum earlier that morning.

Thomsen found Lemons in contempt of court for failing to obey a jury summons and issued him a fine of $250, which he paid that day.

Julia Meiners, assistant prosecuting attorney, applauded Thomsen for sending a message that if you "totally disregard your jury duty something bad will happen to you."

"I am glad, though, that Lemons didn't drive drunk to the courthouse to serve as a juror in my DWI case," Meiners said.

Blackman was found guilty, but a sentencing date was scheduled for Nov. 25, meaning Lemons has at this time spent more time in custody than the defendant in the DWI case.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245

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