By Roberto Bustamante
09 Dec 2023, 10:49 AM EST
Former Columbus Police Officer Andrew Mitchellpleaded guilty to federal charges of violating civil rights and obstructing justice as part of a plea deal.
Mitchell He is accused of kidnapping several sex workers under the pretext of arresting them and forcing them to have sex in exchange for their freedom.. He is also accused of pressuring others to help cover up crimes and lying to federal investigators.
In July 2017, prosecutors said he picked up a sex worker on Hilltop, near Sullivant and Whitethorne avenues. While he was in civilian clothes and in an unmarked car, he handcuffed her to the door under the guise of checking for warrants and then drove her to a parking lot. He took her against her will before dropping her off at her boyfriend’s house.
In September 2017, the accused picked up another sex worker under similar circumstances. She talked about sexual activity and then said she was a police officer. This occurred in Lindbergh Park, according to court documents released by Fox 28.
Mitchell was arrested in 2019 at the Columbus Division Police Headquarters. After his arrest, then-interim Chief Thomas Quinlan announced that the city’s vice unit would be disbanded.
During the investigation into his misconduct, he had others clean out his rental properties on Denune Avenue to destroy evidence and records.
The charges in Mitchell’s federal trial include three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, one count of witness tampering, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of false statement or representation made to a department or agency of the United States. Joined.
Previously, Mitchell was acquitted earlier this year of murder and manslaughter charges arising from the death of a woman, identified as Donna Castleberry, 23, whom he shot while working undercover.
He said he acted in self-defense after she stabbed him in the hand during an undercover prostitution investigation. The jury reached her verdict after deliberating for about five hours.
After pleading guilty, prosecutors will recommend to the judge a sentence of seven to 11 years in prison as part of the agreement.
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