Mark Meech, 42, of Garland, who was convicted of criminal threatening, reckless conduct and violation of probation and is serving a four-year term, claimed he received ineffective assistance from attorney Randy Day of Garland during his trial. Specifically, Meech alleged that there was jury tampering and that Day failed to advise the court of Meech’s suspicions until the sentencing. Meech said he had observed a victim in an unrelated case involving Meech talk with two jurors at noon one day during the trial.
A review of Meech’s petition, which requested that the charges be dropped, that he be released from jail and that he be compensated for wrongful incarceration, was heard before Justice William Anderson on March 21 in Piscataquis County Superior Court.
During the review, no evidence was shown of improper juror contact.