Mistrial Declared in the Hampton Trial

TYLER – A mistrial has been declared in the trial of Smith County commissioner JoAnn Hampton. With both the prosecution and defense reaching an agreement, District Judge Jack Skeen declared a mistrial shortly after 4:00 Wednesday afternoon. The jury was then discharged. Hampton was also ordered to enter a 90-day diversion program. Hampton then apologized to the woman she had been accused of pushing. Hampton had been accused of assaulting the 73 year old woman last April. Hampton and the woman got into an argument about setting up the communion table at their church. Hampton was accused of pushing the woman down. She had been facing two different charges of elderly abuse.