Friend of Jeffrey Dahmer? Prospective Ohio Juror Dismissed

CLEVELAND (CBS/AP) Growing up with Jeffrey Dahmer can get you out of jury duty.

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An Ohio man was dismissed from a jury pool after mentioning he was a childhood friend of the infamous serial killer.

John Backderf was among prospective jurors being screened last week by a judge in Cleveland. He was asked: "Has anyone you know ever been convicted of a crime?"

Backderf responded: "I had a close friend in high school who killed 17 people."

The Plain Dealer reports Monday the answer caused the judge to freeze and lawyers to drop their pens. Backderf explained he knew Dahmer, who was raised in northeast Ohio.

Backderf is a cartoonist and graphic novelist who has a short story collection due out soon titled, "My Friend Dahmer."

Dahmer was killed in a Wisconsin prison in 1994.