Judge Sends Squabbling Burrell Ellis Jurors Home Early

Squabbling jurors in the corruption trial of former DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis were sent home early Thursday by the judge because they are stressed and disagree on the leadership of the foreperson.

When Judge Courtney Johnson dismissed jurors for the day – with orders to be back in court and ready to again deliberate by 9 a.m. Friday – it was apparent one juror had been crying, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

“I want you all to go home and take a breather get some rest. Relax a little bit. I understand this is a stressful situation,” Johnson said.

The jury sent out a note before noon complaining about personality conflicts and the leadership of the elected foreperson, whom they said cannot lead. Johnson told jurors they may select a new foreperson, but the involved court case requires them to try hard to reach a verdict.

Judge Johnston rejected two defense requests for a mistrial Wednesday, while jurors listened again to secret recordings before leaving for the day without reaching a verdict.

Jury members listened Wednesday to three recordings of conversations Ellis had about campaign contributions from county contractors, including Power and Energy Services, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The firm declined to contribute $2,500 to Ellis’ 2012 re-election campaign.

Ellis faces 14 felony charges, ranging from bribery to theft, which he has consistently denied.

During Monday’s closing arguments in the corruption and bribery case, DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James repeatedly called Ellis a liar, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, saying “liar, liar, pants on fire.”

“People were hurt. This isn’t a show. It’s not a game,” James said. “People were hurt, and they were hurt by him. He’s supposed to serve. He’s supposed to protect.”

Defense attorneys said the charges against Ellis were fumbled attempts to send a honest man to jail.

“He’s a good man, and it’s time for him to put this nightmare behind him,” said his lead attorney, Craig Gillen, according to the newspaper. “It’s time for him to move on. It’s time to put an end to this.”

Ellis spent three days on the witness stand refuting claims he demanded campaign contributions from companies doing business with the county.

Much of the prosecution’s case rests on testimony given by DeKalb Purchasing Director Kelvin Walton, who told the jury Ellis questioned why firms receiving large contracts from the county didn’t donate to his campaign. Ellis refuted testimony by Walton and others when he took the stand.

DeKalb District Attorney Robert James played a wiretap that includes Ellis saying he Walton to drop a vendor - Austell-based Power and Energy Services – because company officials had refused to donate to his re-election effort, reports WABE.

Ellis began his testimony denying that he ever penalized companies that wouldn’t contribute to his re-election campaign.

“I never asked anything in exchange for a campaign contribution. I never promised anything,” Ellis said, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ellis asked for lists of county contractors, and their phone numbers, in order to ask for campaign donations, according to testimony from Walton. Walton recorded conversations he had with his boss to collect evidence for prosecutors, reports The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The jury heard a recording of Ellis telling Walton to place a note in the file of Power and Energy Services so no other county work went to the company.

Walton testified he kept and regularly updated lists of vendors who had contracts with the county so Ellis could solicit the business owners for campaign contributions, FOX Atlanta reports. He said the CEO told him to let contracts expire if a donation wasn’t made to his re-election effort.

Ellis’ attorneys hammered on the lies Walton admits he told a special grand jury. They argued Walton cooperated with prosecutors to avoid facing corruption charges.

Ellis was indicted in the summer of 2013 by a DeKalb County grand jury on charges he illegally pressured contractors into giving him campaign contributions. He faces 14 felony charges that accuse him of shaking down county vendors for campaign donations and punishing those who did not give, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

»Former DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis in court. Credit: FOX Atlanta screenshot

Related:

Jury Watch: No Verdict in Burrell Ellis Case

Burrell Ellis Denies Dropping Vendor’s Contract

Ellis Denies Trading County Work for Campaign Donations

Ellis Defense Hammers on Lies Told by Witness

Jurors Hear Ellis Demand Donations in Secret Recordings

Request for Mistrial Rejected in Burrell Ellis Bribery Trial

Juror Excused from DeKalb CEO’s Trial; Testimony Focuses on Campaign Cash