New Trial

Suspect in Salisbury girl's kidnapping, death is indicted The suspect in the slaying of an 11-year-old Salisbury girl found dead Christmas Day was indicted Monday on charges of kidnapping, child abduction and burglary, according to online court records. Thomas J. Leggs Jr. will face additional charges, authorities have said. A medical examiner has determined that Sarah Haley Foxwell's death was a homicide. Her body was found Christmas Day. Leggs, 30, has convictions for sex offenses in Maryland and Delaware.

C ity Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake ordered Thursday a comprehensive review of all city agencies and pledged to keep key public safety leaders in place as she began taking the reins of the city's highest office in the wake of Mayor Sheila Dixon's resignation. Rawlings-Blake, who will ascend to mayor as the city struggles with a historic budget crisis, spoke of the "awesome and enormous responsibility" that comes with the mayor's office. "I pledge to give you my heart and my time so that we can protect our city and deliver essential public services," Rawlings-Blake, ringed by City Council members, said at a news conference yesterday afternoon.

On the eve of a court hearing that might represent her best chance of remaining in office, a reflective Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon said the prospect of stepping down is "not the best feeling" and that she regrets an affair with a developer that she believes led to her legal troubles. Dixon gave a lengthy, if impromptu, interview Monday evening to The Baltimore Sun, making her first extended public remarks about her trial since a jury convicted her last month of embezzling gift cards intended for the needy.

Some of the jurors who convicted Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon of a misdemeanor embezzlement charge have reportedly continued to communicate on Facebook even though a judge asked them not to talk about the case. Five jurors who became friends on the social-networking site during the trial have been ordered to testify at a hearing Wednesday on Dixon's motion for a new trial. Judge Dennis M. Sweeney sent the jurors a letter on Dec. 22 requesting that the five bring printouts of all their Facebook communications from Nov. 9 to Dec. 1, when Dixon's trial was under way. He said he will "make every effort" to be sure that personal messages not related to the trial are not made part of the public record.

Five of the 12 jurors who convicted Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon of embezzling retail gift cards this month have been asked to return to court - this time, as witnesses. A court official confirmed Tuesday that Circuit Judge Dennis M. Sweeney sent a letter to the jurors who had communicated through Facebook during the three-week trial, asking them to appear at a hearing next week on Dixon's motion for a new trial. The letters were delivered to the jurors by sheriff's deputies in recent days, the official said.

State Prosecutor Robert A. Rohrbaugh argued Monday that the conviction of Baltimore Mayor Sheila should stand, saying allegations of juror misconduct do not merit granting the new trial that her defense attorneys have requested. "The Constitution entitles a criminal defendant to a fair trial, not a perfect one," Rohrbaugh wrote in a motion filed Monday afternoon, quoting a Supreme Court case. Dixon was convicted earlier this month of embezzling about $500 of gift cards intended for needy Baltimore families.

State Prosecutor Robert A. Rohrbaugh argued Monday that the conviction of Baltimore Mayor Sheila should stand, saying allegations of juror misconduct do not merit granting the new trial that her defense attorneys have requested. "The Constitution entitles a criminal defendant to a fair trial, not a perfect one," Rohrbaugh wrote in a motion filed Monday afternoon, quoting a Supreme Court case. Dixon was convicted earlier this month of embezzling about $500 of gift cards intended for needy Baltimore families.

Do you agree with Mayor Sheila Dixon's lawyers that problems with the jury that convicted her of embezzlement were serious enough to warrant a new trial? Yes 11% No 86% Not sure 3% (1,179 votes, results not scientific) Next poll: : Two more big banks announced this week plans to repay the TARP money they owe the federal government. In retrospect, was the federal bank bailout program a good idea? Vote at baltimoresun.com/vote