The Fourth Appellate District reversed a judgment of conviction. The court held that a juror’s daily conversations with a nonjuror regarding, among other things, the defendant’s decision not to testify, violated the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
Robert Cissna was charged with eight counts of sex offenses based on his molestation of his granddaughter. The first charge alleged the continuous sexual abuse of a child under age 14 over a three-year period. The remaining counts alleged cinelewd conduct and oral copulation with a person under age 14. The victim testified at Cissna’s jury trial. Cissna did not. He was convicted.
