Woman charged with juror intimidation after photographing jurors in high-profile Clancy trial
Dawn Light, 56, was arrested for taking photos of jury members outside a Massachusetts courthouse where Lindsay Clancy is being tried for the murders of her three children.
What happened
Dawn Light, a 56-year-old registered nurse with no prior criminal record, was arrested on Tuesday in a restricted area outside Plymouth courthouse in Massachusetts. Prosecutors alleged she photographed jurors exiting the building; Light's attorney claimed she was attempting to photograph defendant Lindsay Clancy. Light pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated intimidation of a juror. She was ordered to stay away from the courthouse and courthouse associates, and prohibited from producing or disseminating photos. Prosecutors sought $50,000 cash bail, which the judge denied.
Context
The Lindsay Clancy trial has drawn extensive media attention with over 200 reporters covering the case and widespread social media engagement. Judge William Sullivan has issued a specific order prohibiting photography or filming of jurors to protect the judicial process. The jury began deliberating on Thursday and jurors are barred from consuming media coverage about the trial. The case involves debates around mental health and postpartum psychosis. The intensity of media and public interest—including groups of supporters gathering at the courthouse—created the conditions that prosecutors described as threatening to the sanctity of the judicial system.
What's disputed
Light's attorney characterized the incident as a misunderstanding, claiming Light was photographing the defendant rather than jurors. Light herself stated she was waiting for Clancy when questioned, though prosecutors produced deleted photos from her phone showing jurors exiting the courthouse.