A Hollister resident was recently arrested and charged with jury
tampering
– a charge rare to the San Benito County court system.
A Hollister resident was recently arrested and charged with jury tampering – a charge rare to the San Benito County court system.
Doug Hogeman, the 40-year-old owner of a construction business, was arrested on suspicion of jury tampering and criminal conspiracy after being found guilty of spousal abuse against his wife of 17 years.
After being found guilty of the crime on March 10, which can carry a maximum sentence of three years in state prison or felony probation with a county jail sentence, Hogeman was arrested March 22 for criminal conspiracy and allegedly attempting to bribe a juror in the case.
According to Sheriff Curtis Hill, Hogeman conspired with another Hollister man, Ronald Martin, to tamper with the jury’s outcome.
In the original domestic violence case, Hogeman and his wife were both under the influence of alcohol when a domestic dispute that elevated into a physical altercation occurred, said Harry Damkar, Hogeman’s attorney in that case.
During the trial, Hogeman’s wife testified on his behalf, stating that she had asked the district attorney to dismiss the charges.
“She and her husband had no issues,” Damkar said. “She wanted this to go away.”
However, when the Sheriff’s Department responded to the domestic violence call, they seized a gun collection totaling 30 pieces which Hogeman’s wife voluntarily turned over to them, Damkar said.
Another local publication stated that the jury tampering resulted in Hogeman’s “desperate” attempt not to lose this collection – because felons are not allowed to own firearms.
“Hogeman was never desperate about the guns,” Damkar said. “His wife wanted the guns back because they have value.”
While Hogeman was arrested, booked and later released on $20,000 bail from the San Benito County Jail, Martin was referred to the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office for jury tampering and conspiracy, Detective Sgt. Wes Walker said.
It is common practice to refer suspects to the District Attorney’s office for review instead of booking them if they are cooperative, do not pose a flight risk or meet other thresholds that would give a basis to the district attorney issuing a warrant, Walker said.
“In this case, Martin met one of those thresholds,” he said.
Because the case is under investigation, he would not elaborate as to which one.
District Attorney John Sarsfield did not return phone calls Friday.
Hogeman has now attained Public Defender Greg LaForge to represent him for the jury tampering and conspiracy charges.
A jury tampering charge is rare in San Benito County, and this is the first time LaForge has come up against it, he said.
If Hogeman is found guilty for the jury tampering and conspiracy charges, he could face an additional three years in state prison or a fine not exceeding $10,000.
“My investigation has just begun in this case,” LaForge said.
Hogeman’s first court appearance is set for April 22 at 9 a.m.
