Antonovich Calls for Ban on Jury Contacts
Reacting to reports that a Tarzana man convicted of murder attempted to contact the jurors in his case at their homes, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich on Tuesday called for state legislation to make such contact a criminal violation.
Currently, Antonovich said, contact with jurors is allowed only with the jurors’ consent and at a place of their choosing.
Robert Peernock, 54, was found guilty in September of murdering his wife and trying to kill his then 18-year-old daughter by staging an elaborate car crash.
Two weeks ago, as he was facing sentencing, a San Fernando Superior Court judge ordered a search of Peernock’s cell.
The investigation came after an investigator he hired began contacting jurors by telephone.
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