Mistrial declared in Leonard case

• Tweet
• 

The felony rape and home invasion case against Daniel Danny Leonard was declared a mistrial in Isabella County on Tuesday.

Risa Scully, chief assistant prosecutor attorney, said it was deemed a mistrial for a variety of reasons, but mostly because the number of jurors brought in was too small.

Scully said there were about 50 jurors, and prior to Leonard’s arrest, several of them received emergency phone calls warning residents of the alleged crimes.

Leonard, a 26-year-old Weidman man, is accused of raping a 24-year-old woman in her Deerfield Road apartment in Union Township on Jan. 8.

She said the court and the parties involved believe this interjects the potential jurors into the case and could create bias.

A new trial date is set to start Sept. 7 with a much larger jury pool, Scully said.

“We think if we bring in enough jurors we will be able to get a fair jury seated,” Scully said.

She said the defense is also trying to change the location of the trail but Scully said no trial in Isabella County has ever had a change of venue.

He is charged with two counts each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree home invasion, assault with intent to commit sexual conduct, attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with a weapon and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent.
First-degree criminal sexual conduct is punishable of up to life in prison, first- degree home invasion carries up to 20 years, assault with intent to commit sexual conduct carries 10 years and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful
intent carries five years.

Leonard remains in the Isabella County Jail.