Woman charged with juror intimidation in Lindsay Clancy trial
Dawn Light is accused of taking photos of jurors outside the Plymouth courthouse, a practice prohibited by the court.
A woman apprehended for photographing jury members outside the courthouse during the Lindsay Clancy trial now faces a charge of aggravated juror intimidation.
Dawn Light, 56, is accused of occupying a restricted zone outside the Plymouth courthouse and taking pictures of jurors as they departed the building on Tuesday. Her attorney characterized the incident as a misunderstanding, and Light entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.
Lindsay Clancy, 36, stands accused of murdering her three children. The trial, which has been livestreamed, has garnered significant national and international media attention, eliciting strong and often deeply divided public responses.
The jury has been deliberating on the case since Thursday.
During Dawn Light's court appearance on Wednesday, Massachusetts lawyers asserted that her actions jeopardized the integrity of the judicial system.
Light, a registered nurse with no prior criminal history, received orders to remain away from the courthouse premises and from individuals connected to the Clancy trial. She was also instructed not to create or distribute any photos that might have been stored on iCloud.
Prosecutors sought a $50,000 (£37,000) cash bail, which the judge denied.
"This is a complete misunderstanding, your honor. My client was trying to get a picture of Ms. Clancy," Light's attorney, Jennifer White, stated in court.
Following the arraignment, reporters converged around Light. When asked, "Why did you want to see Lindsay [Clancy]?", Light responded, "Why not?"
Authorities reported finding Light in a restricted area in her parked car on Tuesday. When questioned about taking videos, she denied it, explaining that she was waiting for Clancy.
Prosecutors alleged that a review of Light's deleted folder on her phone revealed photos of jurors leaving the courthouse, leading to her arrest.
Prosecutors stated that the courthouse has implemented extensive measures to safeguard the trial, which has become a spectacle in the coastal Massachusetts town. They described Light's behavior as a serious matter.
Judge William Sullivan, who is presiding over the Clancy trial, has issued a specific order prohibiting the photographing or filming of jurors.
The Plymouth, Massachusetts, jury has been deliberating since Thursday on whether Clancy is criminally responsible for the deaths of her children. She faces three counts of first-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty.