Juror’s Misconduct During Sexual Assault Trial Leads to Retrial for Basketball Star Alleging Coach’s Abuse

It will give a basketball player a second chance to show a civil jury that her high school coach sexually assaulted her after an unusual case of juror misconduct overturned the decision of the first trial.

Miya Giles-Jones, who is 19, used to be a famous and great point guard for Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Her first year on the Fordham Women’s Basketball team was a redshirt, which means she didn’t play because she was hurt.

In a lawsuit for sexual misconduct, Giles-Jones says that Thurston Jackie Robinson, 61, her now-former high school coach, touched her improperly many times and once exposed himself to her.

Robinson was found not guilty at a hearing in May. Judge Robby Hicks of Cumberland County Superior Court said there would be a second trial on Monday.

A copy of the request for a new trial based on juror misconduct was filed by Giles-Jones’ lawyer less than a week after the loss, according to the Fayetteville-based news website CityView.

And it turned out that one of the jurors broke the rules by calling one of the witnesses to ask them to go on a date.

The motion says, “This contact between a juror and one of the Plaintiff’s witnesses happened with several days left in the trial and well before the jury began to deliberate.” “The fact that a juror made electronic contact with one of the plaintiff’s witnesses and asked her to go on a romantic date, only to be turned down, tainted the trial that happened (which would have been error-free otherwise) and kept the plaintiff from having twelve fair and unbiased jurors.”

Sarrayyah Kennedy got a message on Facebook Messenger from an old friend who was a juror sitting in judgment on the case after she had testified.

Keem Cook, a juror, asked Kennedy out twice, even though they had never met in person. The first time was in 2017, and the second time was right after she testified on the second day of the trial. He said she was “prettier in person” and tried again, but this time it didn’t work, according to CityView.

Kennedy, for her part, had to end the talk because she knew the rules from watching “court shows.” She told the news source that she knew the juror still had work to do and shouldn’t be talking to her even though she was free.

After the decision was read, the witness did let Cook send her another message. He kept at it in one message, calling her a “pretty lady.” Messages also show that both the jury and Kennedy spoke very badly about the accused coach, which may be important to note.

Tar Heel State court rules say that judges can’t do “anything that would interfere with ensuring a fair and impartial trial,” like talking to other people about the case getting in touch with the parties, or letting outside information or evidence affect the jury’s decision.

During the trial, the judge made it clear that jurors were not to talk to anyone interested in the case. This was done in a roundabout way.

The lawyers for the plaintiff didn’t find out about the inappropriate contact until after the hearing was over. Kennedy told Giles-Jones’ mother about the exchange with the juror the next morning. After the verdict, the plaintiff’s mother told Kennedy’s mother what she had heard. Then, the lawyers for Kennedy and Giles-Jones talked about the problem directly.

One of the plaintiff’s lawyers told CityView that the violation was quickly reported to both the defense and the judge.

Now, Giles-Jones’ claims against Robinson will be heard again in a new trial on November 13.

The hoops star for women says that her teacher sexually abused her almost every day from the time she was 16 to 18 years old, until sometime in September 2022.

The man allegedly kissed her, hugged her from behind while rubbing himself against her body, fondled her breasts and behind, and did other sexual touches. It was not as bad as rape.

Based on Giles-Jones’s account, Robinson stopped abusing her only after he was investigated by police.

The former teacher was arrested by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in January 2023 on nine counts of sexual battery and six counts of having inappropriate sexual relations with a student. This happened just a few days after Giles-Jones sued him in civil court.

After he was arrested, the Cumberland County school board said that the man’s contract was no longer valid.

Court records show that Robinson posted bail and is now being charged with 10 counts of misdemeanor sexual abuse, 5 counts of felony taking indecent liberties with a student, and 1 count of felony indecent exposure. Giles-Jones and two other past players are all being accused of crimes.

Robinson has always said he is innocent, even when he is being tried for crimes or legal claims.

According to The Fayetteville Observer, Robinson was given court costs when he won the first time.

This time, the plaintiff got a new trial, and if he doesn’t appeal, she will ask for $2.5 million in damages again.