Defendant accused of jury tampering

Juror reportedly felt uneasy about interactions with Jones, who is accused of robbery, more

A criminal defendant who allegedly followed a just-selected juror to his car on the eve of trial last year has been charged with jury tampering in Miller County.

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Jerald Deral Jones, 30, is facing other charges as well. Jones was set to go on trial in May 2017 for robbery and false imprisonment for allegedly dragging a former girlfriend to a car, driving away with her and stealing her wallet. A jury and two alternates were chosen to decide the case May 15, 2017, and testimony was scheduled to begin the following morning before Circuit Judge Kirk Johnson, according to court records and a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account.

One male juror did not report for duty the morning of May 16, 2017. The juror told investigators with the Miller County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and Texarkana, Ark., police that he felt uneasy about serving because of interaction with Jones on the day of jury selection.

The juror reported that while on a break during jury selection he walked to his car to retrieve his cellphone. On the way back, Jones allegedly said, "Look out lil' famI know you ain't up in here snitchin'."

The then-prospective juror realized after hearing Jones' name in the courtroom that he recognized him as a former inmate of the Bowie County jail annex where he worked as a jailer at the time. The man informed the court of his familiarity with Jones and it was determined that he was still eligible to serve on the jury.

The man was chosen to serve as a juror and the court was adjourned that evening at approximately 6:15 with instructions from Johnson to return the following morning. The juror told investigators that as he was leaving, he passed by Jones, who allegedly "appeared to be waiting in the stairwell."

The juror did not respond when Jones allegedly said, "Hey man, can I get a ride."

The juror reported that after getting into his car he noticed Jones had followed him and was pulling on a passenger-side door handle. The juror had locked his doors but had cracked his windows to let in fresh air. As the juror started backing up Jones allegedly threw up his hands and said, "You ain't gonna give me a ride?"

When the juror replied, "No," Jones allegedly asked to borrow his cellphone.

"(The juror) stated he thought Mr. Jones was trying to be friends with him and that he believed Mr. Jones thought he had a friend on the jury," the affidavit states. "(The juror) said he was extremely uncomfortable with this encounter and believed it would be inappropriate to serve on the jury."

The juror wasn't the only party who failed to show for the trial. Jones did not appear either and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was taken into custody Sept. 12. In addition to the robbery and false imprisonment charges for which he was supposed to be tried in May 2017, Jones now faces charges of jury tampering and failure to appear in court. At an initial appearance on the new charges, bail was set at $150,000.

Jones was free on a $25,000 bond when he failed to show for his own trial. According to a probable cause affidavit, Jones allegedly grabbed his former girlfriend March 24, 2016, as she was leaving for work. Jones, who records show is 6'3, allegedly dragged the woman and forced her into a black Crown Victoria. While in the car, Jones allegedly took the woman's cellphone and wallet, which contained about $600 as she had just cashed her paycheck.

The woman told Texarkana, Ark., police that Jones punched her in the face and would not allow her to get out of the car. As Jones slowed down to turn on Vernal Street in Texarkana, Ark., the woman jumped out, hurting her back and losing her shoe. A woman who happened to be driving by stopped and helped the woman who'd leapt from Jones' car get into her car. Jones had allegedly stopped the Crown Victoria and was coming toward the woman in the street when the witness helped her get away. The good Samaritan took the woman to her nearby apartment and called for police and emergency medical services.

Jones' former girlfriend told police she had been having problems with Jones and reported that a few days before, Jones had jumped out of some bushes "at her" at 4 a.m.

Jones is being held in the Miller County jail. He is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 16.

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