Vice cop will remain in custody until trial

A federal magistrate ordered Columbus police vice Officer Andrew K. Mitchell to remain behind bars while he awaits trial on charges that he used his authority as a police officer to force two women into having sex in exchange for their freedom.

Mitchell, 55, appeared in a jail uniform and shackled at the wrists and ankles during an appearance Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Columbus.

Mitchell, a 30-year veteran of the Police Division, is accused of making two Mitchell

women believe they were under arrest and forcing them to have sex in exchange for releasing them.

Mitchell also is accused of trying to get other witnesses to change their testimony before a federal grand jury after he became aware he was being investigated.

During Wednesday’s hearing before federal Magistrate Judge Kimberly Jolson, Mitchell’s attorney, Mark Collins, said the officer knew at least two accusers or witnesses in the case going back to 2014 because they were tenants at properties that Mitchell owned.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Kim said the two women who accused Mitchell of holding them against their will were not Mitchell’s tenants. She said they didn’t even know his name when they spoke to investigators.

Kim said that both the accusers and witnesses are, “quite frankly, terrified” of Mitchell and other law-enforcement officers who they fear might retaliate against them.

Collins argued that Mitchell should be released because he has strong community ties and was not a flight risk during the three-day lapse between the federal indictment and his arrest on Monday, or during his restricted-duty police work between Sept. 26 and Monday.

After a five-minute recess to make her decision, Jolson said that what would have worked in Mitchell’s favor in most scenarios worked against him in this case because he is accused of abusing his police authority.

“There was a moment in time when he could have taken a different path,” she said. “The calculus has now changed.”

Mitchell is scheduled to appear March 21 for an arraignment. Collins said Mitchell intends to enter not guilty pleas at that hearing. Collins said he’ll also again argue for Mitchell’s release.

Mitchell also is to testify before a Franklin County grand jury in the Aug. 23 shooting death of 23-yearold Donna Castleberry, which occurred while Mitchell was working undercover as a vice officer and she was in his car. Mitchell has said he shot her after she stabbed him in a hand.

The FBI’S investigation into Mitchell and the Columbus police vice unit continues. Anyone with information is asked to call a tip line at 614-849-1777.