Woman accused of misleading court during federal jury trial

A woman failed to disclose that she was intimately involved with the nephew of a Rocky Boy man when she served on his jury, federal officials said.

Sienna Olson, 20, of Great Falls was the only juror in Mark Jarvey's trial who voted for his acquittal, resulting in a hung jury earlier this year, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Olson pleaded not guilty today in federal court to obstruction of justice and defrauding the judiciary.

An indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Great Falls said Olson failed to disclose on March 11 that she was personally acquainted with Jarvey, 37, and his family during jury selection for his trial.

Olson was intimately involved with Jarvey's nephew and did not tell fellow jurors during their deliberation, prosecutors say.

If convicted, Olson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and six years of supervised release.