JUROR'S COMMENT DELAYS ROANE MAN'S TRIAL

(08/05/2009)
A Kanawha County juror's comment has delayed the trial of a Roane County man accused of damaging the West Virginia Veterans Memorial with his car in 2007.

Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Charlie King postponed Howard Roland Gentry's trial yesterday after a juror waiting for opening arguments to begin was overheard saying, "The longer we sit here, the guiltier he gets."

Following the statement, King rescheduled the trial for November 30.

The 60-year-old Gentry is charged with felony destruction of property.

The state has also sued Gentry, seeking to recover $56,162 in repair costs.