FRAUDULENT NOTICE OF FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR JURY DUTY

JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM
SHERIFF DEAN ROESLER
COUNTY CLERK NANCY A. WATERS AND
COUNTY PROSECUTOR D.J. HILSON
January 24, 2013
For more information contact:
Marcia L. Wilkes, Deputy County Clerk
(231) 724-8824
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRAUDULENT NOTICE OF FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR JURY DUTY
PLEASE BE ADVISED that some Muskegon County citizens have been hit with a jury scam.
We have received numerous phone calls from citizens and potential jurors informing us that they have
received phone calls and e-mails stating that they have missed jury duty. Some have been told their
name is on a list at the courthouse, some have been told that they have a bench warrant out for their
arrest. Some have been told that they have the option to pay a $500.00 fine or serve a 30 day jail
sentence.
THIS IS A SCAM. The entire thing is a scam and it tells you to pass it on to trick your friends. It
is part of something called the Humor Hotline.
IF YOU RECEIVE any information concerning your missed jury duty please make sure that the
person is identified as a Muskegon County Jury Clerk. They will always properly identify themselves to
the public.
Sheriff Roseler:
“This ‘humor’ hotline is anything but humorous. It creates disruption within the courts and
creates unnecessary concerns for innocent citizens Even though this phone call suggests to
‘pay it forward’ I would remind citizens that it is a misdemeanor crime to use the telephone to
‘harass, annoy, threaten, intimidate, or otherwise intentionally disrupt a person’s peace.’”
Prosecutor Hilson:
“Our system of justice relies on the citizens of this community to serve as impartial jurors. This
attempt at humor has the potential to deter people from fulfilling their civic duty which limits our
ability to provide a fair cross section of the community in the jury pool.”