Man arrested for contacting jurors in Kane County murder trial

A Hanover Park man was arrested at the Kane County courthouse in St. Charles after interfering with jury selection for a murder trial scheduled to begin this week, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Brian D. Long, 24, was charged with one Class 4 felony count of communicating with jurors and witnesses after the incident Monday at the Kane County Judicial Center, 37W777 Route 38, according to the state's attorney's office.

Assistant State's Attorney Greg Sams said jury selection had been under way for the murder trial of Raul Perez-Gonzalez, 19, of Elgin, when, during a break, Long began approaching potential jurors in a hallway outside of the courtroom and writing down information from their name badges.

"(He) was walking up to jurors, getting real close to them, writing down their names, and then either getting on a cell phone to make calls or text message," Sams said.

Security officers later confiscated a piece of paper on which Long had written down the names of several potential jurors, and he was taken into custody, Sams said.

Afterward, Judge T. Jordan Gallagher declared a mistrial at the joint request of the prosecution and the defense.

"My worry is that these jurors are going to feel uncomfortable, uneasy and threatened," Sams said. "They are going to feel upset that this went on and be more likely to convict this guy (Perez-Gonzalez)."

The incident also raised concerns about the practice of identifying potential jurors by name, and allowing them to roam the judicial center during breaks.

"These potential jurors are out there with family of the defendant, family of the victim, potential witnesses and potentially disruptive parties, shall we say, in this situation," Sams said. "That's probably not the best way to have it."

In court, Long identified himself as a resident of the 6700 block of Valley View Road in Hanover Park. Court records indicate he used to live in Streamwood.

Long was being held in the county jail Tuesday, according to the sheriff's office's website. His bond had not been set, and officials said it was unclear if a bond hearing was scheduled.

The Perez-Gonzalez case was continued Wednesday, when a new trial date will be set, Sams said.

Perez-Gonzalez has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in the Jan. 30, 2009, shooting death of Paola Rodriguez, 22, of Rochelle, in Elgin. He is accused of driving the vehicle from which Rodriguez was shot.