CRYSTAL FALLS -- Update 6:11 p.m. EST
Guilty. That is the verdict reached Friday afternoon in the trial of 37-year-old David Morikawa.
The former Michigan State Trooper was found guilty of two counts second degree criminal sexual conduct stemming from a July 2009 incident with a 12-year-old girl.
The jury deliberated for 11 hours over two days, but a verdict wasn't reached until one of the jurors was removed. Three times during the first seven hours of deliberation, the jury came back saying they were deadlocked and could not agree on a verdict. Each time the judge sent them back to the jury room to continue deliberation.
Around 10:30 a.m. CST, Judge Mary Barglind, filling in for Judge C. Joseph Schwedler, who was called away on other matters, removed one of the jurors from the case and replaced him with the alternate juror. It was later revealed the removed juror had been investigated previously in a separate incident which the judge determined could influence his opinion.
Three hours later, the jury unanimously came back with a guilty verdict.
The removed juror will have a show cause hearing next week to determine if he was in contempt of court by not revealing the information.
After the verdict was read, Morikawa's bond was revoked and he was taken into custody.
His sentencing is scheduled for August 29.
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