Juror brings drugs into court

A Brewton man who showed up for jury duty at the Escambia County Courthouse was quickly excused from duty and escorted to the county jail after he emptied his pockets before going through the metal detector and emptied out a bag containing marijuana and synthetic marijuana (spice).

Jacoby Nykem Curry, 26, 156 Pitts St., was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana II.

Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said Curry was running late for jury duty and when he approached the metal detector on the second floor of the courthouse deputies asked him to empty his pockets before stepping through, which the sheriff said is normal practice for the security officers at the courthouse.

When Curry emptied his pockets, officers saw the bag containing a green, leafy material that tested positive for marijuana and spice.

Jackson said Curry told the officers the drugs were not his and that he had borrowed the pants containing the drugs from his roommate.

During a bond hearing Tuesday before District Judge Eric Coale, Curry said he understood the charges against him. When asked if he wanted the court to appoint him an attorney or would he be hiring his own attorney, Curry's mother, who was inside the courtroom, said they would hire their own attorney.

Curry also told the judge he was not on probation or out on bond at the time. Judge Coale issued Curry a $5,000 signature bond, allowing him to be released from jail.