Cedar Lake juror sentenced

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BY MARISA KWIATKOWSKI
mkwiatkowski@nwitimes.com
219.662.5333 | Tuesday, August 05, 2008 | (5 comment(s))

CROWN POINT | Prospective Lake County jurors will get a bold-faced warning when they respond to jury summons next Monday.

Former Lake Criminal Court juror Michael Leibengood was sentenced Tuesday to create a 24-inch by 24-inch sign that reads, "I failed to appear for jury duty" in large lettering. As part of his sentence, he is required to walk back and forth with it from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday in front of the county court building in Crown Point.

The 20-year-old Cedar Lake resident also was sentenced to three hours in Lake County Jail Tuesday.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Thomas Stefaniak issued the unorthodox sentence Tuesday during a criminal contempt hearing to discuss Leibengood's conduct during the spring murder trial of Antonio Rose.

Leibengood did not show up for the second day of Rose's trial and had to be replaced by an alternate juror. That jury later convicted Rose of murder in the perpetration of a robbery.

Leibengood told Stefaniak he had a flat tire the morning of trial.

Stefaniak said Leibengood "very likely produced a fake excuse." The wayward juror said he slept at a house in Crown Point, but the flat occurred in Schererville.

"Do you get the feeling I don't believe you?" Stefaniak asked Leibengood during Tuesday's hearing. "Because I don't."

Stefaniak said Leibengood also lied on his juror questionnaire when he said he wasn't charged or convicted of a crime. He faces misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and public intoxication in Schererville Town Court, court records show.

"I thought it meant a felony," Leibengood said.

After sentencing, Stefaniak recalled the warrant he issued late last week for Leibengood's arrest after he failed to appear for the scheduled court hearing.

Bailiffs took Leibengood into custody, and he served his three-hour jail sentenced before lunch.

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nice wrote on Aug 5, 2008 9:11 PM:

" way to go stefeniak. we need more like you "

RE too easy wrote on Aug 5, 2008 5:52 PM:

" You have a good point. He should have to serve the total amount of jury time x 2. "

Cathy wrote on Aug 5, 2008 4:25 PM:

" Smart judge! Maybe if arrogant and self-involved people faced a little humiliation once in a while, we would have a more respectful society. There are too many young people out there who have been coddled their whole lives, and now they think they don't have to face consequences for anything they do - and that they don't have to follow rules or have any respect for anyone. I'm sure this guy thought he was pretty clever. I hope he learns his lesson. But I doubt it. I'm sure he'll still blame someone else. "

DENNY wrote on Aug 5, 2008 3:05 PM:

" HATS OFF TO JUDGE STEFANIAK. EVERY AMERICAN SOULD DO JURY DUTY AT LEAST ONCE. IT IS YOUR OBLIGATION. IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO, THEN FIND ANOTHER COUNTRY TO RESIDE. ACTUALLY, YOUR HONOR, I THOUGHT YOU WENT A LITTLE EAST ON MR. LIEBENGOOD. GOD BLESS AMERICA. "

too easy wrote on Aug 5, 2008 2:55 PM:

" Sounds like his total sentence was only
4 1/2 hours. How many hours did the others jurors spend on this trial.
This man should have had to serve twice
as many, otherwise I don't really see the deterrent. "

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