Former Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Meade was found guilty of reckless homicide by a jury on Thursday. The judge declared a mistrial on a murder charge.
Meade was accused of killing 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr. in 2020. This was the second trial for Meade after the first, two years ago, ended in a mistrial when the jury couldn’t agree on a verdict.
Judge David Young read the verdict after the jury deliberated for two days. Meade's bond was revoked.
Meade and Goodson’s family were present in the courtroom. After Young read the verdict, many of Goodson's family hugged, cried and breathed sighs of relief.
Tamala Payne, Goodson's mother, told reporters while surrounded by family and supporters that the verdict brings closure, but she wants Meade convicted on the murder charge too.
"It gives us peace. And now, I'm sure I speak for my family when I say this, I know now Casey can rest," Payne said.
Special prosecutors Tim Merkle and Gary Schroyer said they won't make a decision yet on whether to retry the case. The two said they will consult with Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla Favor on the path forward.
"Needless to say, we're pleased with the partial verdict. We appreciate the hard work that the jury did. They have spoken and we're pleased with that," Merkle said.
Meade's defense team, which included lawyers Mark Collins and Kaitlyn Stephens, were not immediately available for comment.
Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9 President Brian Steel said the verdict didn't shock him, but Young revoking Meade's bond did. He pointed to other cases where judges let convicted felons out on bonds.
Steel said Favor has a decision to make.
"I hope there for the sake of not only the Meade family, the Goodson family and the community, I hope we don't try to do a third trial on this murder charge. The prosecutor inherited this case and we understand that. But now any decision to try the murder (charge) a third time will be on the hands of Prosecutor Favor," Steel said.
Favor's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The prosecution called 19 witnesses, while the defense only called four. Unlike last time, Meade didn't take the stand in his own defense.
Jurors didn’t have to determine whether or not Meade killed Goodson, but whether he was justified in doing so.
Meade was with a U.S. Marshals task force on an unsuccessful fugitive search when he claimed he saw Goodson waving a gun inside a car. That prompted Meade to follow Goodson home. Goodson was shot in the back six times while entering his home in the Northland area the day he was killed.
Goodson was wearing wireless earbuds while carrying a sandwich bag. Authorities found a gun on him, which had the safety on. Goodson also had a concealed carry permit.
Meade was not wearing a body worn camera at the time and he was the only direct witness to the shooting.
Meade will be sentenced July 16. He faces up to 3 years in prison.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a statement to WOSU his thoughts are with Goodson's family and the community because of the pain and weight of this trial.
“While people will continue to hold deeply felt views about today’s verdict, we must respect the role of the judicial system and the work of the jury, which was asked to carefully consider the facts and evidence presented in this case. Moments like this remind us that healing and trust require continued dialogue, compassion, and a shared commitment to moving our community forward together," Ginther said.
Sheriff Dallas Baldwin declined to comment in a statement to WOSU, citing the fact that there was a mistrial on the murder charge and the legal proceedings are ongoing.
