Most Michael Rigas Jurors Wanted to Acquit Him

Jurors who deadlocked on fraud charges against Adelphia Communications Corp. Vice President Michael J. Rigas favored acquitting him 9 to 3, three panelists said.

The jury’s inability to reach a unanimous verdict July 9 after nine days of deliberations forced a mistrial on securities and bank fraud charges against Rigas, 50. The panel convicted Rigas’ father, John, and brother Timothy on those charges as well as conspiracy. They acquitted a fourth executive, Michael C. Mulcahey, on all counts.

After the mistrial, prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Leonard Sand in New York that they would seek a new trial of Michael Rigas, who oversaw operations at Adelphia, the No. 5 U.S. cable television operator. Jurors said prosecutors didn’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rigas looted Adelphia and lied about finances before the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2002.

“I firmly believed he was not guilty,” said juror Colette Duerre, 62, an information technology consultant. “He didn’t do anything willfully or with intent. We reached proper decisions for everyone except Michael Rigas. We could have taken it to the end and found him not guilty. There was nothing we could do anymore because people were exhausted.”

When deliberations began, seven jurors favored convicting all the defendants, according to panelists interviewed. Within four days, the jury decided to convict John J. Rigas, 79, and son Timothy J. Rigas, 47, and wrestled over the charges against Mulcahey and Michael Rigas for a week beyond that.