Case Against Trooper Ends In Mistrial Jurors Deadlocked In Deliberations Over Officer Accused Of Trying To Stop Abortion

A judge Thursday declared a mistrial in the case of a former Washington State Patrol trooper accused of illegally detaining a young couple to prevent them from going to an abortion appointment.

King County Superior Court Judge Norma Huggins said each juror had told her individually the panel was hopelessly deadlocked after a day and a half of deliberations.

Ex-trooper Lane Jackstadt smiled and hugged his wife upon hearing the decision. “When the truth comes out, you will really see who’s all involved in this,” he told reporters.

Senior assistant attorney general Greg Canova, who prosecuted the case, said he would talk to the couple and weigh the jurors’ reasonings before deciding whether to seek another trial.

Jackstadt’s attorney, Tom Olmstead, said the mistrial was “a relief for right now.

“We’re not claiming ultimate victory,” he added.

Jackstadt, 34, who described himself as an anti-abortion Christian, was charged with two counts of unlawful imprisonment and two counts of official misconduct. He could have faced up to a year in prison.

He was accused of illegally detaining Justin Cooper, 20, and Deanna Thomas, 18, last July 27 when he found out, after stopping their car for speeding, that they were headed for an abortion appointment at a Planned Parenthood clinic.

Jurors split 10-2 in favor of acquittal on the imprisonment counts, and 6-6 on the misconduct charges.

Canova, after talking to the jurors, said most of them believed the couple when they testified they were scared of Jackstadt and didn’t feel free to leave.

“It was the classic ‘We think he did it but you didn’t prove it,”’ Canova said.

Canova said he would evaluate the jurors’ comments “and see if, realistically, there could be anything done differently.” A second trial would have to take place within 90 days. Another option would be to try Jackstadt again on just some of the charges.

Olmstead disagreed with Canova’s characterization that most jurors felt Jackstadt “did it.”

“One juror said that - one of the two jurors in favor of the guilty verdict (on the imprisonment charges),” Olmstead said. “But the other 10 said they did not believe that.”

Most of the jurors walked out of court without talking to reporters. But two female jurors said Canova’s assessment wasn’t accurate.

The women declined to say how they voted and wouldn’t give their names.

“We tried very hard to reach a conclusion and we just couldn’t become unanimous,” one of them said. “I feel we did our job. It was very difficult.”

The same juror also said abortion politics didn’t enter into the deliberations.

The couple’s private attorney, Frank Shoichet, said he informed Thomas by phone of the mistrial. He said she and Cooper wanted a second trial.

“I called expecting to comfort a crying young lady, and she will absolutely not give up,” Shoichet said.

He said a decision on whether to file a civil lawsuit against Jackstadt won’t be made until the criminal process is complete.

The jury began deliberating Wednesday after hearing testimony over four days.

Cooper and Thomas had testified that Jackstadt stopped them for speeding on Interstate 90 east of Seattle, and intimidated and coerced them into following him to a Christian anti-abortion counseling center 30 miles away.

The couple left the center and Thomas had the abortion the next day.

Jackstadt testified that the couple willingly followed him to the Special Delivery counseling center in Woodinville. It was affiliated with Overlake Christian Church, which Jackstadt attended.

He said the couple even thanked him for his help.

Olmstead had argued that Jackstadt was only trying to help a pair of distraught youths when he offered to drive ahead of them to the counseling center so they could learn some alternatives to abortion.

Olmstead also contended the couple’s accusations were motivated by the potential for a lucrative civil suit.

But Canova said it was a clearcut case of a rogue officer out of control.

“His view on abortion is not an issue. What’s at issue is how he chose to impose those views on Jason and Deanna,” Canova said in closing arguments.

Canova also said Thomas and Cooper would never have put their personal life in the public eye simply for financial gain.

The state attorney general’s office prosecuted the case because the King County prosecutor’s office said it had a conflict of interest. It has named Jackstadt as a prosecution witness in an unrelated murder case.

Jackstadt was fired last December for allegedly cheating on a promotion exam, but has appealed that action.