Following a hung jury last week in the trial of former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell, Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack’s office has not yet commented on the jury failing to agree on Mitchell’s guilt or innocence. Mitchell was charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter in the 2018 shooting death of Donna Castleberry.
The office says they are “carefully reviewing all available options” in the case and will make a public announcement in “several days.”
The office declined to comment further.
Mitchell’s attorney Mark Collins told the media that Mitchell was reviewing his options as well.
Mitchell is scheduled to go to trial on July 5 in Columbus’ federal court after being indicted in 2019 on charges that include depriving people of their Constitutional rights by using his badge to kidnap them and forcing them to commit sexual acts. Other charges allege he then tried to cover it up by lying to investigators and tampering with witnesses.
The split Franklin County jury never heard about that case.
Mitchell, an officer since 1988, allegedly forced three people to commit sexual acts for their freedom after taking them against their will while "acting under the color of law," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
Mitchell allegedly attempted to corruptly tamper with two additional victims who are witnesses in this case, and attempted to influence, delay and prevent the testimony of a fifth victim in an official proceeding before a federal grand jury. He is also accused of lying to investigators about having sex with the women he was tasked with policing.
