By Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 21, 2007

In their fourth day of deliberations, jurors in the public corruption trial of former Prince George's County schools chief Andre J. Hornsby sent a note yesterday to a federal judge, saying they could not reach a unanimous verdict and asking for a definition of "reasonable doubt."

U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte instructed jurors to press ahead before releasing them for the holiday weekend about 4 p.m. "There will be no further guidance as to the meaning of 'reasonable doubt,' " Messitte said.

The panel's note read in part: "Jurors are firm in their vote. Please advise."

It was unclear whether the jurors were divided on every count in the indictment and how they were split. Messitte delivered the Allen charge, instructing jurors not to abandon strongly held views but to try to reach a unanimous verdict.

Hornsby, 54, who left office in 2005, is accused of arranging for the school system to make a nearly $1 million purchase from an educational technology company where his then-girlfriend worked as a saleswoman. Federal prosecutors allege that Hornsby and the girlfriend, Sienna Owens, then split a $20,000 commission she received because of the deal.

During the trial, Owens, 29, testified that she left $10,000 in cash on the bed she shared with Hornsby in his home in Mitchellville. Owens testified that Hornsby picked up the money and put it in a closet without saying anything.

Hornsby is also accused of steering a consulting contract to a longtime business associate, Cynthia Joffrion, in exchange for kickbacks that were to total $145,000. Joffrion, who cooperated with the FBI, gave Hornsby $1,000 at a meeting in 2004 at a Bowie hotel.

"Okay, if I give you 1,000 now, that means I only owe you 144,000?" she asked Hornsby as FBI cameras rolled.

"Whatever," Hornsby said.