NO VERDICT: Wayne Bent jury to resume deliberations Monday

Without having reached a verdict, jurors in the State of New Mexico’s criminal case against the leader of the Lord Our Righteousness Church have been sent home for the weekend.

Closing arguments in the Wayne Bent trial began shortly after 9am (MST) on Friday. Jurors began deliberating shortly before 11am.  About five-and-a-half hours later, they were dismissed and instructed to return Monday.

A grand jury indicted Bent earlier this year on two counts of second-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

During one moment of Friday’s closing arguments, Bent appeared to dabbing lightly at tears.

Shortly after the jury began deliberating, Bent stood outside the courthouse and stated that he would go on a food fast if convicted and sent to prison.

For a detailed account of Friday’s day in court, please visit the Beyond90Seconds.com post, Day 5: Reporter’s updates from Wayne Bent trial. That post features regular updates from KOB-TV investigative reporter Jeremy Jojola.  Jojola’s rich contributions to Beyond90Seconds.com include e-mailed updates, Twitter posts, photographs and audio interviews.

Day 1: Updates on Wayne Bent case from Taos courthouse
Day 2: Reporter’s updates from Wayne Bent trial
Day 3: Reporter’s updates from Wayne Bent trial
Day 4: Reporter’s updates from Wayne Bent trial
Day 5: Reporter’s updates from Wayne Bent trial