TALLAHASSEE, FLORDIA - A judge declared a mistrial Friday in the misdemeanor gambling trial of former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson after his jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked. <br>
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Prosecutors said they will retry McPherson, who is accused of gambling on college and professional games including those he played in by placing bets over the Internet. He had faced up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine if convicted of the second-degree misdemeanor, and would have likely been banned from ever playing college sports again. <br>
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County Judge Tim Harley declared a mistrial because he said the six-member jury could not reach a verdict. The jury had voted 5-1 to convict McPherson, said juror Ben Turner, who voted with the majority. <br>
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``Obviously somebody agrees with me,'' prosecutor Georgia Cappleman said of the vote. ``Beats the heck out of a not guilty.'' <br>
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She was philosophical about the deadlocked jury. <br>
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``That's the way it goes,'' she said. ``You've got to convince all six (jurors).'' <br>
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Cappleman, the daughter of former Florida State quarterback Bill Cappleman, said the state will present a stronger case in the retrial. <br>
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The panel deliberated for about 10 hours Thursday and Friday without reaching an unanimous decision. A transcript of some testimony jurors had requested earlier was read aloud to them Friday. <br>
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McPherson did not testify during his trial. He still faces separate felony charges in trials set for later this summer, accused in one case of stealing a check and in another of bouncing several checks. <br>
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Florida State coach Bobby Bowden testified Thursday that he had heard rumors McPherson was gambling in June 2002, but an investigation found nothing. <br>
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Two of McPherson's boyhood friends, Otis Livingston and Melvin Capers Jr., testified Wednesday they knew of McPherson's gambling, including putting bets on Florida State games. They testified that they and McPherson shared an Internet gambling account. <br>
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Prosecutors have said McPherson used the account to place a bet on an Oct. 21 NFL game between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis and on his own team's games, including the Nov. 23 contest at North Carolina State when McPherson played poorly and the Seminoles lost decidedly. <br>
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McPherson, one of Florida's most celebrated prep athletes, was dismissed from the Florida State football squad in November. He is the only athlete ever acclaimed ``Mr. Basketball'' and ``Mr. Football'' in Florida in the same season for his prep achievements.
