White Co. jury finds Jonathan Hart guilty

CLEVELAND - A White County jury has returned a guilty verdict in the murder trial of Jonathan Hart of Cleveland. Hart was accused of shooting to death his estranged wife Stephanie Hart, a White County 911 operator, at his home on Lothridge Road East of Cleveland last year.

Following six and half days of testimony, the jury received the case Wednesday and spent just over 20 hours in deliberation. During the deliberation on Friday night, Superior Court Judge Lynn Alderman replaced one of the jurors with an alternate after a female juror said she could not continue deliberation in accordance of the instructions given by the court. The jury decided to go home at 7:50 p.m. and return Saturday morning.

Just before 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, the jury emerged with a verdict. Hart was found guilty of Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault, along with Possession of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. Judge Alderman immediately sentenced Hart to life in prison on the first two counts and a consecutive five years on the possession of firearm charge. The juryâ

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