Jodi Arias Trial On Hold! Juror Booted After Secret Arrest

Jodi Arias' fight against the death penalty was delayed yet again this week, RadarOnline.com has learned, after one of her jurors was arrested!

Melissa Lenette Garcia was Juror #3, one of 12 citizens who would decide if Jodi Arias should die, but now she’s a defendant in her own criminal case.

Garcia’s bad check charge can’t compare to Arias’ murder conviction for killing ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander, but it did get her kicked off the death penalty trial jury last week.

Maricopa County jail records show Garcia, 36, was arrested on November 28, the day after Thanksgiving. Her mugshot is online on inmate search websites, but no other details about her case were published.

Court watchers initially speculated she was removed from jury duty because of a scheduling conflicts as the trial dragged on, with prospects of testimony continuing into January.

Garcia is only the latest juror to be booted. Another was removed after she spoke to a reporter during a court break in October.

Jurors have this week off as the judge and lawyers deal with several issues, including how to handle an appeals court ruling against secret testimony. Testimony is now planned to resume next Monday.

The mystery witness who testified for several days in secret last month turned out to be Arias herself. It is not clear if she will return to the witness stand to complete her testimony in open court.