Jury rules former Lorain worker not guilty

Was charged with gross sexual imposition

A jury ruled a former Lorain sewer crew chief was not guilty of gross sexual imposition for allegedly having sexual contact with a coworker. On March 6, the Lorain County Common Pleas Court jury acquitted Hector Medina, 48, of Avon, who was fired and later indicted stemming from the Dec. 11, 2017, incident. Attorneys made their closing arguments on March 5, and the jury deliberated about 40 minutes. The following day they returned and deliberated less than two hours before returning the verdict, according to court records. At the end of the six-day trial, Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Pete Gauthier and defense attorney Brent L. English said they had dramatically different versions of events from December 2017. Medina and the female co-worker testified. Medina and the woman were at the Lorain Utilities Department’s sewer division offices at the Philip Q. Maiorana Wastewater Treatment Plant, 6301 W. Erie Ave., when the alleged incident happened. The two spent several hours working on computerized records there, according to city records. When the worker attempted to leave, Medina allegedly grabbed her buttocks and pulled her on top of him as he was seated in a chair. The worker resisted and punched Medina in the chest to get up. Medina allegedly hid the keys to a city vehicle she was using. When Medina showed her the keys, the worker attempted to take them, but then he pushed her against a wall and began trying to kiss and grope her, according to city records.

RICHARD PAYERCHIN — THE MORNING JOURNAL Hector Medina, 48, left, a former Lorain sewer crew chief, and defense attorney Brent L. English sit at the defendant’s table in the courtroom of Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge John Miraldi on March 5, 2019. A jury on March 6 ruled Medina not guilty of gross sexual imposition for allegedly having sexual contact with a female coworker at a city sewer plant in December 2017.