Shane French is charged with four counts of assault, including several against peace officers, and five counts of resisting arrest in the Valentine’s Day confrontation.
From a pool of about 70 Montezuma County residents, the trial started Monday with voir dire, a process to vet and select an impartial panel. Excused from duty were a college student, a store manager and a woman who had to take her child to a doctor’s appointment later in the week.
“The charges are not evidence,” District Court Judge Todd Plewe told the jury of seven women and six men.
Jurors have been permitted to record notes, but have been prohibited from discussing the evidence. An elderly male juror has been witnessed twiddling his thumbs, and appearing to nod off on occasion, sparking concerns from attorneys.
“I pop a jelly bean to keep me going,” said Plewe, reminding jurors and an alternate to pay attention.
Prosecutors, led by District Attorney Will Furse, told jurors during a 12-minute opening statement on Tuesday that French stabbed officer Casey Eubanks after he responded to an emergency 911 call.
Attorneys from the public defender’s office have argued French’s actions were justified under the state Make My Day law. They contend French was trying to defend his blind father and elderly mother.
The trial was set for five days but is now expected to go into next week.
[email protected]
