A woman, who was arrested for taking photos of jury members outside the courthouse in the Lindsay Clancy trial, has been charged with aggravated intimidation of a juror.
Dawn Light, 56, is accused of sitting in a restricted area outside the Plymouth courthouse and photographing jurors as they exited the building on Tuesday. Her lawyer called it a misunderstanding as she pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Lindsay Clancy, 36, is charged with the murders of her three children. The livestreamed trial has captured national and international media attention, and drawn strong, often deeply divided reactions from audiences.
The jury has been deliberating on the case since Thursday.
During Light’s appearance in court on Wednesday, Massachusetts lawyers emphasized that the sanctity of the judicial system was at risk because of her actions.
Light, a registered nurse with no prior criminal record, was ordered to stay away from the courthouse grounds and also from those associated with the Clancy trial. She was also ordered not to produce or disseminate photos that could have been preserved on iCloud.
Prosecutors requested a $50,000 (£37,000) cash bail, which was denied by the judge.
“This is a complete misunderstanding, Your Honour. My client was trying to get a picture of Ms Clancy,” Light’s attorney Jennifer White said in court.
After the arraignment, a swarm of reporters gathered around Light. When one asked, “Why did you want to see Lindsay [Clancy]?”, Light replied, “Why not?”.
Authorities reported that Light was found in a restricted area in her parked car on Tuesday. When asked if she was taking videos, she stated she was not and explained that she was waiting for Clancy.
Prosecutors alleged that when they examined Light’s deleted folder on her phone, they discovered photos of jurors exiting the courthouse, leading to her arrest.
Prosecutors highlighted that the courthouse has implemented extensive measures to protect the trial, which has become a spectacle in the coastal Massachusetts town. They described Light’s conduct as a serious matter.
Judge William Sullivan, overseeing the Clancy trial, has an order prohibiting the photographing or filming of jurors.
More than 200 reporters are covering the case, with a group of women supporters fluctuating in size attending the courthouse over the past weeks.
The case has also elicited widespread attention on social media, sparking broader debates surrounding mental health, postpartum psychosis, and the limits of criminal responsibility.
The Plymouth, Massachusetts, jury has been deliberating since Thursday over whether Clancy is criminally responsible for killing her children.
Despite the intense media coverage, jurors are barred from watching or reading coverage of the trial. They must agree on a verdict based solely on the evidence and testimony presented in court.
For a second time in two days, jurors informed the judge they could not agree on a verdict in the murder trial.
Light’s actions have raised concerns at a time when major elements of the justice system are under scrutiny.
Clancy faces murder charges in connection with the death of her three children in 2023.
