A judge sentenced Somerville to the jail time, plus one year on probation and 150 hours of community service after he failed to serve on a jury Aug. 21. Somerville was released Sunday and has a hearing scheduled Friday.
After a long day of sitting and waiting, Somerville said he was picked to serve as a juror on a civil case and was told to return the following day at 9 a.m.
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But he missed his alarm and woke up around 11 or 11:30 a.m. It was almost time to head to his afternoon job so he didn't bother going to the courthouse or calling the bailiff. He just hoped it would all just work out.
Inside the courtroom, he said Judge John Kastrenakes explained that Somerville's negligence delayed the court by 45 minutes.
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"They handcuffed me in the courtroom after that," said Somerville, who spent the next 10 days in jail. He said his first jail experience wasn't scary, but he prayed daily and wrote in a notebook.
and yes, he's black.