Jury Selection Underway for the Johnny Mack Sketo Calhoun Trial

As of 6:55 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20

With jury selection complete, three alternates were needed and only three were left for the evening’s selection.

After extensive interviews two were dismissed, leaving one alternate.

Tomorrow morning the rest of the potential jurors will be interviewed to find the remaining two alternates.

More coverage will be available tomorrow morning.

As of 6:12 p.m.

Questioning of the new potential jurors has continued on. Calhoun’s Attorney Kimberly Dowgul emphasized that if the jurors decide on the death penalty, strongly saying “if found guilty,” then that is what the sentence would be unless extenuating circumstances forces the judge to intervene.

After a 20-minute break the attorneys deliberated and released 9, the twelve remaining are the jury selected for the trial to begin at 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, strictly enforcing that the trial should never be spoken about outside of the courtroom. Also strictly prohibiting them from any form of media or media communication until the trial is over.

As of 4:55 p.m.

After a 25-minute break of the attorneys deliberating, 10 jurors were asked to leave and were excused from their jury duties. 10 more were selected from the group on stand-by to be inquired by the attorneys. Then two more were asked to leave, replaced by two more.

Attorney Brandon Young started the questioning first once again and the same initial questions were asked of the new potential jurors.

As of 4:15 p.m.

Attorney Brandon Young said Calhoun is facing charges of first degree murder and a charge of kidnapping starting this Wednesday, advising the jury that if Calhoun's found guilty there's only two possibilities and that's life in prison without possibility of parole or the death penalty and asked the jurors if they believe in the death penalty because its a possibility.

All jurors said they believed in the death penalty if they see reasonable cause.

Attorney Kimberly Dowgul explained that if it happens that he gets life in prison without parole that in Florida it is guaranteed that he will spend the remainder of his life in prison and would die in prison.

Attorney Glenn Hess also approached the potential jury.

“If you believe in this justice system and that he’s innocent until proven guilty then we all know that right now Calhoun is innocent,” said Hess. “The judge will tell you that reasonable doubt is that there’s a lack of evidence or a conflict, then there is reasonable doubt, then no one would feel conflicted about sending Calhoun home as innocent. It is the burden of the State, it is our burden to bring forth and present evidence proves otherwise.”

Questioning by the attorneys are over and they are now debating about the current potential jury.

As of 2 p.m.

Phase II of the jury selection is taking place and the questions are getting a little more precise.

Judge Patterson has stated that Calhoun is pleading “Not Guilty.”

Attorney Brandon Young has started the first round of questioning.

Questions include:

1. Tell us your name and occupation.

1. Are you married? If so, tell us your spouse’s name and occupation.
2. How long have you lived in Holmes County? What brought you here?
3. Have you, or close family member/friend ever been a victim of a crime?
4. Are you related to anyone in Law Enforcement?
5. Do you know anyone in the Courtroom?
6. Have you had any experiences with the State Attorney’s Office or Law Enforcement that would affect your service?
7. Have you ever served on a jury before?

As of 11:20 a.m.

BONIFAY - Phase I Jury Selection continues as Judge Patterson interviews potential jury members, by asking and allowing attorneys to ask what possible relationships may exist between them and the defendant or the victim.

Also Judge Patterson indicated that representing the State are Attorneys Glenn Hess and Brandon Young and representing Calhoun are Attorneys Kimberly Dowgul and Kevin Carlisle.

Many jury members were asked to return at 1:30 p.m. after lunch.

Keep checking back as updates are given as provided.

Earlier:

BONIFAY – Jury selection for the Johnny Mack Sketo Calhoun murder trial is commencing today by Judge Christopher Patterson.

The trial scheduled for later in February.

Calhoun is being accused of killing a 24-year-old Bonifay woman by setting her car on fire with her inside the trunk.

Calhoun was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of Mia Brown. Brown went missing from her job at Charlie’s Store in Esto on Dec. 16, 2010. Her body was found in the trunk of her burned out Toyota Avalon, which was abandoned in the woods of Geneva County, Ala.

Keep checking back as updates are given as provided.