Wright jury adjourns for the day


The Wake County jury sitting in judgment of Thomas Wright deliberated for 50 minutes Tuesday before leaving about 5 p.m.

Jurors are due back at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to resume deliberations.

Wright, a Wilmington Democrat and former House member, is charged with obstruction of justice in connection with $150,350 in campaign contributions that he failed to disclose. He is already serving a state prison sentence for a conviction in April on three fraud charges.

Jurors have three options: guilty of felony common-law obstruction of justice, guilty of misdemeanor common-law obstruction of justice or not guilty. A misdemeanor conviction could add as much as 45 days to his prison sentence. A felony conviction, which requires intent or malice, could add as much as 15 months depending on state sentencing guidelines.

The jury has 11 women and one man.

NOTE: Investigators have at times said that Wright did not disclose $185,000 in campaign contributions. The $150,350 figure comes from a narrower list of contributions, and it is the number that was presented to the jury.

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