Russell Otis jury deliberations will resume Monday

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The six-man, six-woman Los Angeles County Superior Court jury deliberating the alleged sex-related and financial crimes of former Compton Dominguez High boys’ basketball Coach Russell Otis still haven’t returned a verdict, and will return to the Compton courthouse Monday to resume discussions.

The jury spent four days deliberating this week, skipping a state-ordered court furlough day Wednesday, then asking for read-backs of testimony from the alleged victim who testified Otis, 47, offered him a stack of $1,500 in cash to engage in a sexual ‘experiment,’ allowing the coach to sexually arouse the boy. The boy testified he denied that offer, and ultimately moved on to another Southland school.

The jury also asked for read-backs from Otis’ son, who testified Otis never left home on the night of the alleged meeting, August 30, 2008, and from a friend of the alleged victim who testified he saw some text messages setting up the boy’s meeting with the coach, who directed Dominguez to five state championships and 10 Southern Section titles between 1987 and 2008.

Earlier in the week, the jury requested read-backs from witnesses involved in Otis’ deposit of a $15,000 check from his team’s sponsor Nike into his personal bank account. The check was written to Compton Unified School District.

‘Waiting is the hardest part, and we’re hopeful they’ll do the right thing,’ Otis’ attorney Leonard Levine said Friday.

-- Lance Pugmire