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The trial of Timothy Grevenstuk was declared a mistrial this morning in Kosciusko Circuit Court.
The accused arsonist will face another trial on the same charges later this summer.
Grevenstuk is accused of setting a fire that destroyed the Leesburg Grace Brethren Church in July 1996. His trial began Monday afternoon and was declared a mistrial at 9:20 this morning.
Kosciusko County prosecutor David Kolbe said the basis of ruling the mistrial was "improper contact with one of the jurors."
Kolbe and Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed would not disclose the name of the juror or the name of the female juvenile who allegedly contacted the juror. They also would not say what kind of contact was made.
A member of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department said a female juvenile suspect was taken into custody Monday night and is being held at Parkview Juvenile Detention Center, South Bend. She will have her initial hearing at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The juvenile was reportedly a potential witness for the defense.
The juror who was contacted reported it to the court bailiff, who then notified Reed.
The juror who reported the contact was let go from the jury. Kolbe said the prosecutors would have allowed the trial to continue with only 11 jurors, but the defense has the right to refuse consent and demand a full jury.
Reed said the juror did nothing wrong in the situation.
Kolbe said the mistrial was "a bit of a disappointment" since he and his staff worked diligently on the case over the past week.
The trial will be rescheduled for June or July. Grevenstuk remains in custody on two other felony convictions.
