By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
A Rowan County man has been charged with harassing a juror in an attempted murder trial.
Edward Roy Workman, 56, was charged Sunday with harassing and communicating with a juror, a felony.
According to authorities, Workman said he was familiar with Debora Kay Nelson, who stood trial in late January in the attempted murder of Richard Whitling.
Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Capt. John Sifford said Workman went to a local convenience store where a juror works and told her “the wrong person is being tried.”
The juror told Workman she was not allowed to talk to him, Sifford said.
The incident occurred Jan. 23 at 3:30 a.m. That juror told court personnel, who then told the judge presiding over the case.
Nelson is accused of putting rat poison in Whitling’s coffee. She has been in jail since her August 2007 arrest.
Nelson’s trial was declared a mistrial when jurors could not reach a verdict, District Attorney Bill Kenerly said.
“That issue came up during the trial and was addressed by Judge Ron Spivey at that time,” he said.
There is no connection between the mistrial and Workman’s felony charge.
“No connection other than it came up during the course of the trial,” Kenerly said.
Workman was released from the Rowan County Detention Center after posting $2,500 bond.
Nelson’s case will have to be placed back on the superior court trial calendar. It could take another year or two for the case to return to court.
Spivey is a judge in Forsyth County.