Jury selection has begun in the criminal trial of former state Rep. Thomas Wright.
Wright, a Wilmington Democrat, faces charges that he used a health foundation to solicit charitable contributions and to secure a $150,000 bank loan and then pocketed the money, reports David Ingram of The Charlotte Observer.
Judge Henry Hight of Wake Superior Court ruled this morning that media coverage of Wright's case - and of his expulsion from the N.C. House this month - should not prevent the trial from moving forward.
Wright's attorney Doug Harris had argued that potential jurors "would almost have to be living in a cave" not to be aware of the case and asked for a delay of two or three months. "This is all very fresh in the prospective jurors' minds," he said.
Wake District Attorney Colon Willoughby disagreed.
"I don't think this case has nearly the public interest that Mr. Harris suggests," he said.
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After Hight ruled against a delay, Harris continued to protest. When the judge asked Harris whether he was ready to proceed with jury selection, Harris replied, "No, your honor."
"Why?" Hight asked.
"Frankly, your honor, we've had extraordinary publicity," Harris said before Hight cut him off and said the objection was no longer germane.
Later, under questioning from Hight, seven of the first 12 potential jurors said they had heard or seen media coverage of the case. All seven said they could put the coverage aside and determine Wright's fate based only on the trial.
The trial will cover four charges that Wright obtained property by false pretense - three contributions from charities and the bank loan. A fifth charge of obtaining property by false pretense has been dropped.
Wright's health foundation was incorporated as a nonprofit, but it never had bylaws, it did not provide any services and its board of directors never met, according to investigators. It also did not have authority from the Internal Revenue Service to solicit tax-deductible contributions.
Hight ruled Monday that a sixth charge of obstruction of justice would require a separate trial because it involves a separate issue - Wright's failure to disclose about $185,000 in campaign contributions.
