Superior Court Judge rejects motion to reconvene jury in animal cruelty case

LANCASTER — Saying he did not find the defendant’s testimony credible, Coos Superior Court Justice Peter Bornstein rejected a Berlin man’s request to reconvene the jury in his animal cruelty case.

John Dumas, 36, of 143 Jericho Road, was found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty following a jury trial in September. But before he could be sentenced, Dumas filed a motion requesting the court reconvene the jury to inquire whether there was jury misconduct. He alleged that during a lunch break after the state had wrapped up its case, he saw three members of the jury pool at McDonald’s Restaurant. Dumas testified he heard the jurors discussing the trial and two indicated they thought he was guilty. Two of the three were selected to rule on the case while the third was chosen as an alternate juror.