After additional closing arguments and instructions from Judge David Hittner to do everything possible to reach a verdict, the jury in the Jerry Eversole trial said they couldn't.

Channel 13 reports that the jury sent a note to Hittner at 11:05 Wednesday morning after 17 hours of deliberation. Hittner declared a mistrial and said he wanted to start a new trial on Monday. Lawyers for both sides are checking their schedules.

Eversole, a longtime Harris County commissioner, was accused of accepting $100,000 in cash, gifts and travel from his close friend, developer Michael Surface, in exchange for awarding contracts to Surface.

Eversole's attorney, Rusty Hardin, rested his case without calling any witnesses, stating the government did not prove its case.