KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A federal judge has declared a mistrial in a weapons case involving one of two brothers acquitted on charges of killing a Roane County deputy and the deputy's friend.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the judge declared the mistrial today before lawyers could present opening statements in the trial involving Rocky Joe Houston. U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves declared the mistrial after Houston's lawyer pointed out that the judge failed to strike one of the jurors that the defense wanted out.

Houston is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Houston and his brother, Leon Houston, were acquitted of charges of killing Deputy Bill Jones and a friend of Jones', Mike Brown, during a 2006 shootout.