Jury recesses; deliberations resume tomorrow

11/8/2006

BY MIKE WILKINSON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Jurors hearing the Tom Noe embezzlement case have recessed for the day. Deliberations resume tomorrow morning.

The jury of eight women and four men began their deliberations at 11 a.m. today and recessed for the day shortly about 4:30 p.m. They report to court at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow to resume deliberations.

This morning, it took more than an hour for Judge Thomas Osowik to read the jury instructions on how to weigh the evidence and testimony they've heard for more than three weeks.

The jurors are considering whether Noe is guilty of 40 felony counts that could put him in prison for over a decade.

Three alternate jurors were dismissed, reducing the total number of jurors to the final 12.

Among the alternates was a man who said he "leaning toward conviction" during jury selection, a young woman who said she knew nothing about the case; and a retired auto worker who once had a workers' compensation claim in Michigan.

Jurors must unanimously agree on a verdict, Judge Osowik said, and determine whether Noe is guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt."

Prosecutors have charged that Noe stole millions from the rare coin funds he managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, which gave him $50 million to invest.

Noe and his accomplice Tim LaPointe, prosecutors said, created numerous fake documents to cover up the theft.

Read more in later editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com.

Day 18 testimony: Final arguments given in Noe trial

Day 17 testimony: Defense calls no witnesses, then rests

Day 16 testimony: Noe unlikely to testify as defense steps up

Day 15 testimony: Noe wrote 71 checks to self, witness says

Day 14 testimony: Noe V.P. says he faked data with consent

Day 13 testimony: Signatures forged on checks, 6 testify

Day 12 testimony: Jurors see video of Noe bragging about luxuries

Day 11 testimony: Witness says Noe moved $11.2M just before search

Day 10 testimony: Judge likely to rule today on funds assets

Day 9 testimony: Coin sales didn't occur, court told