Jurors deliberating the fate of a man charged with the sex trafficking of young girls and women hadn't gotten far when they delivered a note Monday to Ramsey County District Judge Rosanne Nathanson, saying they had reached an impasse.
That was about 2:20 p.m., five hours into deliberations that began last Thursday afternoon, skipped Friday and resumed Monday. Nathanson sent them back into deliberations in the case against Otis D. Washington, who is representing himself in court.
The jury delivered a second note at 3:30 p.m., this one more distressing and a potential blow to the case.
"It is not possible for us to come to an agreement," the note read in part. "It has come to people attacking each other," and not about the case.
One juror left the deliberations room and wanted to speak with the judge. Nathanson and Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Karen Kugler both said they didn't want to have the lone juror address his concerns with the court because it would invade the "sanctity" of the deliberation room.
Washington, 29, unsuccessfully lobbied to hear the juror. The note did not specify the reason for the discord.
"I'm very concerned," Nathanson said.
Nathanson said the jury appeared deadlocked, but hadn't deliberated long on the five felony counts facing Washington, who is charged alongside his brother, two uncles and his brother's ex-girlfriend in a years-long sex trafficking ring with multiple victims.
