Government to decide whether to re-try case after mistrial
By Katie Campbell | Arizona Capitol Times
Gary Pierce and his fellow co-defendants aren’t off the hook yet, despite the government’s failed attempt to convince a jury they were part of a scheme to bribe the former utility regulator.
The futures of Pierce, his wife, Sherry Pierce, lobbyist Jim Norton and utility owner George Johnson are no more certain than they were more than a month ago when the so-called “Ghost Lobby” bribery trial began.
The Pierces were accused of accepting $31,500 in bribes from Johnson in exchange for Pierce’s favorable votes while he sat on the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates Johnson Utilities. Norton allegedly facilitated the bribes.
Even as prosecutors failed to convince all 12 jurors of the defendants’ guilt, the defense was also unable to sway them all to vote for acquittal.
Judge John Tuchi of U.S. District Court in Phoenix declared a mistrial on July 17 after the jury reported being deadlocked. Now, the government may opt to try the case again.
And if they want a win the second time around, the prosecution will likely have to work on the credibility of its star witness to get it.
