The second trial in the death of Vann Brown has been postponed due to credible allegations of embracery — the legal term for jury tampering. Jury selection in the trial of Jason Anderson was well underway when, late Monday afternoon, Judge Kelly Brooks suspended jury selection, thereby indefinitely postponing the trial.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will conduct an investigation the embracery charges.
This the second time embracery charges have been a factor in cases involving Brown’s death. In March, Jason Anderson’s father, Joey Anderson, and David Spivey were indicted by a Coffee County Grand Jury and arrested on charges of embracery. Their alleged tampering took place during the trial of Justin Anderson, Jason Anderson’s brother, who was tried in November on charges of murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and making false statements to law enforcement. Justin was acquitted of murder and aggravated assault but was convicted on the other charges. He remains in jail.
Joey Anderson’s grand jury indictment states that “between the 6th day of October, 2022, and the 13th day of November, 2022 . . . with the intent to influence Johnny Spivey, a person summoned as a juror, in the case of the State of Georgia v. Justin Anderson, communicated with said juror otherwise than authorized by law, in an attempt to influence his action as a juror, by communicating with him through David Spivey, the juror’s brother, telling him not to vote in favor of a guilty verdict, Contrary to the laws of said State . . .”
During jury selection for Justin Anderson’s trial, Johnny Spivey stood up and stated that Joey Anderson contacted his brother and asked him to tell Johnny to acquit Justin if chosen. When the court found out what had allegedly happened, Johnny was dismissed. The grand jury indicted both men several months later.
No details regarding these latest embracery allegations have been released. However, with court calendars set for the next year, finding an open week in which to continue the trial will be a challenge.