Charter Schools Founder Acquitted Of 6 Counts Of Fraud, Obstruction; Deadlocked On 54 Others
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A federal jury has acquitted a charter schools founder of six counts of fraud and obstruction, but is deadlocked on 54 other counts against her. The jury foreman has told the court emotions ran high and tears were shed during deliberations.
Prosecutors say they will re-try the case against Dorothy June Brown, who is charged in an alleged $6-million fraud case involving several Philadelphia charter schools she founded.
Click here for full CBS Philly coverage of the case against Dorothy June Brown.
Defense attorney Bill McSwain reacts, "We're very pleased there were six not-guilty verdicts on some of the fraud charges and a not-guilty verdict on one of the obstruction charges and a not-guilty verdict on witness tampering charge. The jury was deadlocked on a majority of the counts but we are certainly very happy that the jury didn't find Doctor Brown guilty of anything at this point. And we've always believed in her innocence. She certainly believes in her innocence."
The jury had indicated earlier it had not reached verdicts on any of the counts against Brown and then made little progress during further, difficult deliberations.
Two co-defendants were acquitted by this same jury earlier.