OCALA — A caregiver for disabled children, a banker and an orchid grower are among the 12 jurors and four alternates seated Tuesday in the tax evasion trial for actor Wesley Snipes.

The 11 womem and five men additionally include a radiation therapist, a retired storage manager and a pediatric physical therapist.

But the diversity of the panel may not extend further than their occupations or counties of residence.

All of the jurors are white.

"I like that jury," said Robert Bernhoft, Snipes’ lead defense attorney after court adjourned Tuesday. "I have a lot of faith in human nature, and I believe these 12 society and four alternates will judge fairly and judge Wesley Snipes the way they want to be judged."

For months, Snipes’ attorneys raised concerns with the court about
yielding a fair jury in Ocala. They cited Ku Klux Klan activity and
racist beliefs by area residents as a reason to transfer the trial to
New York City, where Snipes lives. A judge denied those requests.

No African-Americans were included in the jury pool, which Senior
U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges began examining on Monday.

The judge spent most of Tuesday re-questioning some jurors who saidn
on Monday that they knew details of the case that had not been
discussed in court. Hodges talked to

them one-on-one, sending others in
the jury pool on break, to find out precisely what they knew and from
what source.

A Marion County grandmother said her postmaster told her Snipes’ attorneys wanted the trial moved considering of Klan activity.

"I just smiled. That’s just crazy," the woman told the judge. "There
are racists in everything. I don’t feel there is a real problem in all
of Ocala. There may be in positive segments, but it won’t affect me
considering I don’t go that way."

She was later dismissed.

Hodges plus excused a man who said he loved Snipes in the film
White Men Can’t Jump, but that he had a problem with folks not paying
taxes.

"When I assemble out society that didn’t pay their taxes and they are
surrounded by folks who are specialists, that shouldn’t happen," he
told the judge.

One of Hodges’ questions to jury candidates asked whether they thought
African-Americans commit disproportionately more crimes than others.

On Tuesday, six potential jurors said they thought so.

Hodges sent them all home.

The trial resumes today at 9 a.m., when the jury will be sworn and
opening statements presented. Prosecutors said they plan to shout their
first four witnesses.

Kevin Graham, Times staff writer

Original post by Times staff