Escambia grand juror arrested

A Brewton man who served on the most recent Escambia County grand jury has been arrested on a felony charge after being accused of revealing testimony he heard while serving on the jury.

Donald R. Jackson, 52, 1802 Sowell Road, was arrested this week by Brewton Police Sgt. Andrew Casey and charged with revealing grand jury evidence. Jackson was released Monday on $5,000 bond.

According to the arrest warrant Sgt. Casey presented testimony to the grand jury which Jackson was serving on on Jan. 31. The warrant states Jackson revealed Casey's testimony to someone outside the grand jury.

Casey said the police department developed information that Jackson was giving out information that only a grand juror would know and that he had informed multiple people of the evidence presented.

District Attorney Steve Billy said all grand jury proceedings are secret under Alabama law. Billy said the grand jury panel is told by the judge prior to the jury convening that they are not to discuss the evidence or any testimony discussed in the grand jury. Billy said he also tells the grand jurors they are not to discuss anything presented in the grand jury and noted the judge tells them again when the grand jury ends.

Billy said the information Jackson revealed caused a confrontation and put a witness' safety at risk.

Billy also said if a grand juror reveals that someone has been indicted that person may flee before being arrested or retaliate against witnesses.

"It's a very serious offense," Billy said. "We take revealing grand jury testimony and lying under oath very seriously."

Casey said the case remains under investigation.