Claremore Man Charged With Jury Tampering In Rogers County

A Claremore man has been charged with jury tampering after he reportedly approached a juror and told him to vote “not guilty” in a Rogers County murder trial.

Wednesday, November 5th 2014, 1:40 pm

By: News On 6

Claremore Man Charged With Jury Tampering In Rogers County

A Claremore man has been charged with jury tampering after he reportedly approached a juror and told him to vote “not guilty” in a Rogers County murder trial.

Officials said Christian Allen Cargill, 22, talked to the juror in October in the hallway of the courthouse.

An affidavit says Cargill told the juror, “you should vote not guilty because he didn't do it if it's the murder trial I am thinking of.”

The juror was an alternate in the Vance Wright murder trial for the murder of Kelsey Bray. Bray's strangled and badly decomposed body was found by a mowing crew along the Will Rogers Turnpike in 2011.

10/11/2014 Related Story: Rogers County Jury Finds Man Guilty In Woman's Murder

“Jury tampering is highly unusual and we take this case very seriously,” Rogers County First Assistant District Attorney Larry Edwards said. “Cargill's actions delayed an excruciating wait for Kelsey's family as we had to figure out whether the trial could go forward or would have to start all over again. Thankfully, because Cargill approached an alternate juror, the judge was able to remove that juror and the trial continued resulting in justice for Kelsey.”

The jury was able to complete its duties. Three weeks ago Wright was convicted and the jury recommended he serve the remainder of his life in prison.

Jury tampering in Oklahoma is punishable by a fine up to $500 or imprisonment in county jail for up to one year or both.