Jury Fails to Reach a Verdict in Week Three of the Young Theft Trial

SAN ANGELO, TX -- The 12 jurors in John Young’s forgery, theft and money laundering trial left the Tom Green County Courthouse Friday afternoon without reaching a verdict.  

Senior District Judge Brock Jones received a note from the jury during the noon hour requesting a transcript of portions of Armando Martinez’s testimony.  Martinez is the bail bondsman who was with Ray Zapata when John Sullivan’s body was found on June 4, 2014.  

The note from the jury asked what Martinez said about finding the body, what he said about Zapata looking for papers, what he said about Zapata taking the book out of the house, what he testified about ordering an autopsy and what Martinez said about them both being there when police arrived.  

Judge Jones told attorneys that the note was not a proper request and brought the jury back into the courtroom.  The judge then gave the jury further instructions about how to request evidence and transcript testimony.  

The jury’s note said they had a significant amount of dispute about what Martinez said.  

Judge Jones had informed the jury that the court reporter had to leave Friday at 3 p.m. for personal reasons.  The jury indicated at 2:30 that they would not reach a verdict by that time.  The judge then brought the jury back into the courtroom and dismissed them for the weekend.  

The jury returns to continue deliberations at 9 a.m. Monday morning.