MEMPHIS — Prosecutors say a juror has been found in contempt of court for communicating with a defendant on Facebook during a trial.
Shelby County's district attorney's office said Renita Scott was sentenced to 10 days in jail, but Judge James Beasley suspended nine of those days after a hearing Wednesday.
Beasley told Scott she endangered the integrity of the judicial system by communicating with defendant Markelvious Moore.
Moore was convicted in July in an aggravated robbery case and has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Detectives learned Moore used a cellphone to discuss his case with Scott on Facebook. Scott acknowledged that she and Moore were friends on Facebook before the trial and communicated during deliberations while he was free on bond.
Scott joined other jurors in returning a guilty verdict.