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Mistrial declared in Eckstein defamation trial

A mistrial was declared Friday afternoon in the defamation trial of former Butler County Commissioner James Eckstein.

After less than three hours of deliberations, the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty on every allegation against Eckstein in the civil case brought by former Commissioner Dale Pinkerton, county Personnel Director Lori Altman and her husband, state trooper Scott Altman.

But upon a poll of the jurors at the request of plaintiffs’ attorneys, five of the 12 jurors said they disagreed with the verdict.

Judge Kelley Streib had given clear instructions to the jurors the a verdict needed at least 10 of the 12 in agreement on the verdict.

A mistrial means the trial would have to start all over again.

More information coming.

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