Munster pastor excused from serving on jury in death penalty case

CROWN POINT | Juror No. 395 arrived at Tuesday's court hearing on Lake County's only death penalty case with his own attorney at hand.

Neither the judge nor the trial attorneys registered any surprise when the potential juror confirmed having asked the court to be excused based on moral grounds.

The potential juror, Steve Munsey, pastor of Munster's Family Christian Center, remained calm but firm in his stance under questioning from Lake Criminal Court Judge Thomas Stefaniak Jr., defense attorney Herbert Shaps and deputy prosecutor Michelle Jatkiewicz.

Munsey's attorney, former Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez, waited in the wings unneeded.

Munsey told Shaps he could not see himself serving on the trial under any conditions.

"I am opposed to capital punishment," he told the court.

Munsey got his wish, with Stefaniak telling him he would be called some other time to serve on a lesser case.

Munsey was among more than a dozen people excused or disqualified Tuesday from serving at the upcoming trial of Kevin Isom, 46.

If Isom is convicted of killing his wife and two stepchildren in August 2007 in Gary, jurors will be charged with considering whether Isom will pay the ultimate penalty, with his life.

Besides Munsey's moral concerns, the court considered the reluctance of individuals with physical or mental limitations, language difficulties or family issues, one of those including a stay-at-home wife of a construction worker with three of the couple's small children in tow.

Six jurors who failed to appear Tuesday as ordered will face contempt charges at a hearing Stefaniak set for April 20.

With the juror process at a close, the jury pool has a final count of 270. Those ultimately chosen to decide Isom's fate will be sequestered at a hotel for up to four weeks with visits from family members limited to 90 minutes a week.

Stefaniak set perhaps the last pretrial hearing for Thursday, with the trial scheduled to begin Monday.

Selection of the final jury is anticipated to take up the first week of trial.