Defendant’s Plea Frees Jurors Who Were Rounded Up Off the Streets

About a dozen citizens who were hastily ushered into Van Nuys Municipal Court last Friday evening and pressed into impromptu jury duty were given unexpected court instructions Tuesday--an order to go home.

“I have good news for you. You’re all discharged from the case,” Van Nuys Municipal Judge Kenneth Lee Chotiner told the panel after the man facing trial pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

Jurors, who earlier had jokingly chanted the slogan “Free the Chotiner 12,” filed out of court in seemingly good spirits.

“I think it was a worthwhile experience,” said Mike Mewlon, 45, an executive with a Van Nuys construction company, who added that jurors should be selected this way more often because it is efficient.

Pam McGuiggan, a phone company saleswoman from Van Nuys, said she didn’t mind being pressed into jury service even though it made her late for a Bible study class and her boss docked her two days pay for missing work.

“We were needed,” said McGuiggan, who was withdrawing money from a bank teller machine on Van Nuys Boulevard when a marshal ushered her into court.

“You don’t know how much I appreciate how well you’ve taken this,” said Chotiner, who ordered the juror roundup so he would not have to dismiss misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace charges against Steven Dean Beaudry, 35, of North Hollywood. Beaudry was accused of throwing beer on a Dodger Stadium security guard Aug. 9.

Courthouse jurors had all been sent home last Friday when Chotiner’s clerk called for a jury panel shortly after 4 p.m.

When Beaudry refused to have his trial postponed, Chotiner invoked an 1872 law that allows judges to press citizens into jury service. Marshals gathered the 17 people from street corners and nearby buildings.

A handful of jurors were later dismissed.

Chotiner placed Beaudry on two years probation and sentenced him to 12 days in jail, which he has already served.