Jury pool takes shape in death-penalty case

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Kevin Isom. | Provided Photo~Sun-Times Media

Updated: January 20, 2012 10:02PM

The qualification process for potential jurors in the death penalty case of a Gary man charged in the deaths of three family members continued in court on Friday.

Lake Superior Court Judge Thomas Stefaniak Jr., who will preside at the trial of Kevin Charles Isom, heard from court administrator Martin Goldman that of the 650 jurors initially summoned, a total of 302 were excused under jury rules as of Thursday.

A total of 282 people were mailed lengthy questionnaires, and 272 had been completed and returned.

Goldman said potential jurors have been excused because of residency of age issues, military service overseas, prior jury service within two years, college obligations or being on probation or parole for a felony offense.

In addition, Goldman said police and correctional officers are excused, as are those people who have vacations already scheduled.

On Jan. 6, Stefaniak had asked Goldman to mail questionnaires to 19 people; of that group, 10 people hadn’t responded by the Jan. 13 deadline with their completed forms.

One of those who hadn’t responded was Clarence Blanchard, who told Stefaniak he has nine felony convictions and had been to prison five times in Illinois.

“What good am I on a jury?” he asked.

Stefaniak told him he is not disqualified under state law and must complete the questionnaire.

James Walker said he lost the form but would fill one out and return it.

Isom, 46, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife, Cassandra, 40, and stepchildren Michael Moore, 16, and Di’Andria Cole, 13, and the attempted murder of four Gary police officers.

Police were called on Aug. 6, 2007, to the family’s apartment in the Lakeshore Dunes complex in the Miller section of Gary, where Isom barricaded himself inside.

Isom is charged with firing at police.

The next hearing is Feb. 3. The trial is set to begin Feb. 27 and could last four weeks.