Knox County Trials End With Conviction, Mistrial

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This week, Knox County courts held two separate jury trials with different outcomes. In Knox Superior Court One, a jury convicted Frederick Kitchell of Vincennes of theft and battery with a deadly weapon, both as Level 5 felonies. In Knox Circuit Court, a rape trial against Jack Washington ended in a mistrial after a juror conducted unauthorized internet research on the defendant and shared the information with other jurors.

Why it matters

The contrasting outcomes in these trials highlight the complexities of the criminal justice system, where some cases result in convictions while others end in mistrials due to procedural issues. The mistrial in the high-profile rape case also raises concerns about juror misconduct and the potential impact on the defendant's right to a fair trial.

The details

In the Knox Superior Court One case, Deputy Prosecutor Brian Lucchi presented the state's case against Frederick Kitchell, who was convicted of theft and battery with a deadly weapon, both as Level 5 felonies. Meanwhile, in the Knox Circuit Court rape trial, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mike Steiner presented the state's case against Jack Washington, who was charged with Level 1 felony rape. However, the judge declared a mistrial after learning that a juror had conducted unauthorized internet research on the defendant and shared that information with other jurors.

• The jury trials took place this week in Knox County, Indiana.

What they’re saying

What’s next

A new trial date will be set for Jack Washington, the defendant in the rape case that ended in a mistrial.