CLEVELAND — A mistrial has been declared regarding the most serious charge in the case of two corrections officers tied to the alleged brutal beating of an inmate at the Cuyahoga County Jail.
A jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the charges of felonious assault and interfering with civil rights in the case of John Wilson, who was accused of beating Joshua Castleberry so hard the inmate had a tooth lodged in his nose. Wilson, however, was acquitted of the charge of unlawful restraint.
"These are hard cases and the jury had a hard job," explains Wilson's Attorney, Adam Chaloupka.
"The jury saw the facts and they really had a hard time."
Jason Jozwiak, meanwhile, was fully acquitted of the charges of falsification and interfering with civil rights after he allegedly denied Castleberry immediate access to a nurse.
"I think justice was done in this case," says Jozwiak's attorney, Scott Ramsey. "He's been harmed from this, his reputation has taken a hit, he's received threats on social media."
Defense attorneys had argued Castleberry had been combative, and that his injuries were inconsistent with his account.
The charges against Officers Wilson and Jozwiak were part of a wide-ranging scandal at the jail, with multiple state and federal investigations finding "inhumane" conditions and many accusing top officials of a cover-up. Five additional Cuyahoga County corrections officers and a warden have also been indicted in separate cases, with one top official reaching an guilty plea in exchange for is cooperation with investigators.
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Had they been convicted, Wilson could have faced more than eight years in prison, while Jozwiak could've gotten nearly a year. Jozwiak is now a free man, while a spokesperson for the Ohio Attorney General's office confirms that Wilson will be re-tried.
Tiffany Tarpley continued our coverage on 3News' What's Next on Wednesday night:
