Woman charged with juror intimidation in Lindsay Clancy trial

A Massachusetts woman has been formally charged with aggravated intimidation of a juror after she was accused of taking pictures of jury members outside the courthouse in the high-profile Lindsay Clancy case. Dawn Light, 56, appeared in court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors say Light sat in a restricted area near the Plymouth courthouse on Tuesday and photographed jurors as they were leaving. Authorities located Light in her parked car in the restricted area. She initially said she was not recording video and explained that she was waiting for Clancy. Investigators later said they found photos of jurors in the deleted folder of her phone, and she was taken into custody.

Light’s lawyer, Jennifer White, described the incident as a complete misunderstanding. White told the judge that her client was trying to get a picture of Ms Clancy. After the arraignment, reporters surrounded Light. When one asked why she wanted to see Lindsay, Light replied, “Why not?”.

Light, a registered nurse with no prior criminal record, was ordered to stay away from the courthouse and from anyone connected to the Clancy trial. She was also ordered not to create or share any photos that may have been saved to iCloud. Prosecutors had requested $50,000 cash bail, but the judge denied the request.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Massachusetts lawyers argued that Light’s actions threatened the integrity of the judicial system. Judge William Sullivan, who is overseeing the Clancy trial, has a specific order prohibiting the photographing or filming of jurors.

The Clancy trial has drawn massive media attention. Lindsay Clancy, 36, is accused of murdering her three children. The proceedings are being livestreamed and have sparked intense and often conflicting reactions from viewers. More than 200 journalists are covering the case, and a fluctuating group of women supporters has gathered outside the courthouse in recent weeks. The case has also fueled discussions on social media about mental health, postpartum psychosis, and the limits of criminal responsibility.

Jurors have been deliberating since Thursday. They are not allowed to watch or read coverage of the trial and must reach a verdict based solely on evidence and testimony presented in court.