The Region - News from July 15, 1987

Jurors in the retrial of Sagon Penn were sequestered--at their own request. Before the jury began its 21st day of deliberations, foreman Howard McDowell handed San Diego Superior Court Judge J. Morgan Lester a note that said the panel had discussed the issue and wished to be secluded from friends, families and co-workers until their work is done. Lester said he granted the request, despite “very mild” defense objections after being told that co-workers had made comments to some jurors about the case last week. The jury in the first Penn trial was sequestered after Superior Court Judge Ben W. Hamrick received reports from the prosecution that one of the jurors had discussed the case with co-workers. Penn was acquitted in June, 1986, of murder in the shooting death of Police Agent Thomas Riggs and attempted murder in the wounding of Police Agent Donovan Jacobs. The first jury deadlocked on several other counts, prompting the retrial.