On 2014-02-11 5:39 PM, Gary wrote:

> They can at least in Virginia. 3 misdemeanors equals a felony. I was
> a juror once and the case was some guy shoplifting a $5 steak from a
> grocery store. Misdemeanor. But because that would have been his 3rd
> misdemeanor shoplifting charge in so many years, the judge informed us
> that if we voted guilty, he faced up to 8 years in state prison.
>
> I planned to vote not guilty only because the sentence seems way to
> harsh to me. Luckily the case was dismissed before we had to vote.
>
>

That is a ood argument for jurors not being informed about things like
that in advance. A person is supposed to be judged on the evidence, not
on the severity of the punishment he faces.