Man gets 10 days in jail for oversleeping and missing jury duty

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – When Deandre Somerville overslept for jury service at a Florida courtroom, he says he wasn’t prepared for the consequences: 10 days in jail.

A judge sentenced the 21-year-old Somerville to the jail time, plus one year on probation and 150 hours of community service after he missed showing up to serve on a jury Aug. 21. Somerville was released Sunday and has a hearing scheduled Friday in hopes of reducing his probation.

He told The Associated Press he was shocked when he was handcuffed in the courtroom and thought the sentence was excessive. He has no criminal record and says he’s never been arrested. He works for the city parks department working with children in an afterschool program.

Judge John Kastranackas said he can’t comment on pending court matters.