Professor Who Oversaw Jury Survey Put on Leave

California State University officials have placed a criminal justice professor on paid administrative leave while they investigate possible misconduct.

Stephen Schoenthaler oversaw a student-run survey that was meant to assess juror bias in the Scott Peterson case.

The survey was later submitted to the court, and the judge’s decision to move the trial from Modesto to Redwood City was based partly on the results. But students later told the Modesto Bee that they had faked the answers.

Schoenthaler has taught sociology and criminal justice at the Stanislaus campus since 1982. He said that while on leave, he will be working with the investigators. His attorney said that Schoenthaler has been cooperating with the university.