COLUMBUS — A lawyer for a Columbus vice squad officer says his client is innocent of federal charges of forcing women to have sex with him under threat of arrest.
Defense attorney Mark Collins says Columbus Police Officer Andrew Mitchell looks forward to entering a not guilty plea to charges in an indictment unveiled Monday.
Mitchell, 55, of Sunbury, was arrested Monday by federal agents before a March 7 grand jury indictment unsealed at Mitchell’s initial appearance in federal court.
The seven-count indictment was the result of a still-ongoing investigation by the FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Columbus police and other state and federal authorities.
Among the charges are four counts that state that, while acting under “color of law,” deprived victims of their civil rights by holding them and demanding they have sex with him in exchange for their freedom.
Anyone with additional information regarding this case is encouraged to call the FBI task force at 614-849-1777. pic.twitter.com/Gpnv2ic3Md
— Mayor Andrew Ginther (@MayorGinther) March 11, 2019
“Our officers are given tremendous power to keep our residents safe and the overwhelming majority are dedicated to serving our residents honorably every day,” Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a statement released by his office. “But when an officer abuses that power, the City of Columbus is committed to holding him or her accountable.”
The indictment also accuses the 30-year veteran of the Division of Police of witness tampering and lying to federal agents when he said he’d never had sex with prostitutes. Mitchell faces life in prison if convicted.
Mitchell has been investigated by state authorities after police said he fatally shot Donna Castleberry, a prostitute who stabbed him in the hand while sitting in his unmarked police car in August. Franklin County prosecutor Ron O’Brien said Monday he expects to take that case to a grand jury soon.
“The community has every right to be disgusted by this news as well as anyone who wears this badge,” acting police Chief Tom Quinlan said in a statement released by the division.
The indictment charges Mitchell with three counts of depriving individuals of their civil rights while acting under the color of law, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison, two counts of witness tampering, one count of obstructing justice and one count of making false statements to federal agents.
According to the indictment, Mitchell, who joined the Vice Unit in March 2017, allegedly kidnapped two victims in July and September of that year and transported them to locations he forced them to engage in sex acts in exchange for their freedom. The indictment claims Mitchell kidnapped the second victim again last year.
Court documents also say Mitchell attempted to tamper with two additional victims, who are witnesses in the case, and tried to influence, delay or prevent the testimony of a fifth victim, who was called to testify before the grand jury. The indictment also says Mitchell lied to FBI agents in September 2018 when he said he had never had sex with a prostitute, when authorities say Mitchell has had sex with numerous prostitutes, including having paid women money for sex.
Anyone who believes they are a potential victim related to this case or has any relevant information is asked to contact the FBI at 614-849-1777.