Defendant falls to his death in Jefferson County courthouse
STEUBENVILLE — City Police and the Ohio Bureau of Investigation are conducting an investigation into the apparent suicide of Jason Binkiewicz Friday morning in the Jefferson County Courthouse.
The 42-year-old Binkiewicz of Dillonvale plunged to his death from the third floor of the courthouse minutes after he was sentenced to 13 years in prison by Common Pleas Judge Michelle Miller.
Binkiewicz had been found guilty of felonious assault and one count of attempted murder on July 6 for shooting a man in the face on Nov. 27 in Newtown.
“Our procedure is to transport a prisoner back to the county jail after a sentencing hearing. When the deputy took Mr. Binkiewicz out of the courtroom and was walking to the elevator, the prisoner took off running toward the stairwell and then hurled himself over the banister,” Prosecutor Jane Hanlin said during an afternoon press conference.
“I don’t think anyone thought this would happen. There have been times during a sentencing hearing when a prisoner will get angry at the victim or a court officer, but never anything like this. This has been heartbreaking for everyone. I am very thankful the deputy was not injured and no one else in the courthouse was injured,” Hanlin said.
The Jefferson County commissioners closed the courthouse Friday afternoon, but Commissioner Tom Gentile said the building will be open for business Monday.
“We will offer counseling services to everyone in the courthouse, including anyone who witnessed this horrific event,” said Commissioner Thomas Graham.
“The attorney general’s office and City Police will handle the case and the investigation. I have watched the security video and it scares me how close Deputy Robert “Duke” Price came to going over the banister with the prisoner. Deputy Price was able to briefly grab the inmate’s jumpsuit but he then lost his grip on the clothing when Binkiewicz began to fall,” Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla told reporters.
Abdalla said Binkiewicz had his hands cuffed in front of him but was not wearing ankle shackles in the courtroom. The sheriff noted Binkiewicz fell approximately 40 feet.
“He had complained in the past about his swollen ankles so we didn’t put the ankle bracelets on him,” noted Abdalla.
“Everyone, including Judge Miller, is heartbroken by this incident. This isn’t something you expect to happen. We will look at everything we can to make sure nothing like this happens again. We certainly had no idea this would happen today,” Hanlin remarked.
Miller declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
“Everyone is shook up. This has been a tough day for everyone,” added Hanlin.
She noted members of the Binkiewicz family were notified of the incident. No family members were in the courtroom during the hearing.
A Jefferson County Common Pleas Court jury deliberated only 30 minutes on July 6 before finding Binkiewicz guilty.
The victim, Ronald Horton of Canton, was living at a house with his girlfriend at 104 Mount Pleasant Township Road 1102.
Horton said Binkiewicz came to the house on Nov. 27 and he could tell Binkiewicz was intoxicated. He said Binkiewicz, for no reason, pulled out a handgun and fired a shot.
“It happened so fast it is hard to explain,” he said.
Horton said the bullet entered his jaw below his lower lip.
The bullet fractured his jaw and broke teeth. He said the bullet is lodged close to his spine and can’t be removed because of the risk of paralysis.
(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)
COMMENTS