HARRISBURG -- Deliberations in the Bonusgate public corruption trial are beginning to take their toll on jurors, who completed a fourth day of deliberations Wednesday without reaching a verdict.

"This is hard," one juror told Dauphin County Judge Richard A. Lewis as she and others wiped away tears. "We're turning on each other," she said from the jury box.

"I can imagine it is hard for a jury to announce a unanimous decision," Judge Lewis said. "Juries are able to do that at most times, and we ask that you keep trying."

Jurors are considering 139 criminal charges against four defendants, including former state Rep. Mike Veon, who represented Beaver County and at one time was the second-ranking Democrat in the state House.

Judge Lewis told jurors that deliberation is not about taking a firm stand but about "talking to your neighbors. Sometimes it takes an effort on everyone's part to do that."

The exchange came as jurors ended their 29th hour of deliberations over four days, following six weeks of testimony.

"We're aware of the strain on you, all 12 of you. I'm sure it's a terrible strain," Judge Lewis said.

On trial with Mr. Veon are former legislative staffers Brett Cott, Stephen Keefer and Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink. All are charged with multiple felony counts of theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest.

At the center of the case are allegations that they distributed more than $1.4 million in publicly funded bonuses to state workers in exchange for work on political campaigns. They also are charged with directing legislative aides to do political work on state time, in state buildings and on state equipment.

Earlier Wednesday, jurors had asked if they could reveal a verdict on one defendant's charges if they had not yet reached decisions on the others. Judge Lewis said he would prefer to issue all the verdicts at once.

Jurors are expected to continue deliberating at 8 a.m. today.

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