Defense wants case against former deputy Jason Meade to be heard in federal court

Attorneys for a former Franklin County sheriff's deputy charged with murder in the shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. want the case to be tried in federal court.

The question is whether Jason Meade was still working as part of a federal task force when he shot Goodson in 2020, or whether he was acting under his authority as a sheriff's deputy.

U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. said after a hearing Friday he would decide whether the matter falls under his purview in about a week.

Meade is charged in Franklin County Common Pleas Court with murder and reckless homicide in the death of Goodson, 23.

If Meade were tried in federal court, the jury could potentially be residents who live outside Franklin County. A federal murder charge exists, but it involves crimes that violate federal law or meet other criteria, such as a crime on federal land or a crime involving a victim who is a federal official. Meade could be tried in federal court on serious civil rights violations.

Defense attorneys argue that Meade, who is white, was acting in his capacity as a member of the U.S. Marshal's Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team when he shot Goodson on Dec. 4, 2020 outside his home on the Northeast Side.

"We believe that it's difficult for an agency to say, 'OK, for this five minutes you're a deputy task force member and the next minute you're not,'" said Mark Collins, one of three attorneys representing Meade.

Elizabeth Ellis, part of a team of attorneys prosecuting the case, contended Meade confused his authority as a task force member with that of a deputy sheriff.

Charles Sanso is a supervisor for the task force that is led and operated by the U.S. Marshal Service and comprised of law enforcement from several agencies. The strike teams in Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati and their sole function is to apprehend fugitives wanted on outstanding warrants.

Sole function of SOFAST strike teams is to apprehend fugitives, supervisor says

Sanso, who's been with the U.S. Marshals Service since 2011, testified that he was in Dayton when he received a call about the shooting.

Sanso said Meade was considered a special deputy U.S. Marshal and was limited in what he was allowed to do as a member of a federal task force. Unlike a U.S. Marshal, he did not have the authority to transport witnesses, guard courthouses or serve subpoenas.

Columbus police officer was with Meade on SOFAST mission before Goodson shooting

Columbus police officer Ryan Rosser, who served on the task force with Meade that day, testified Friday that members of the team "geared down" following an unsuccessful search for a fugitive, meaning they had taken off their bulletproof vests.

Meade said he had seen someone waving a gun, and the team suited back up and pursued a vehicle that Meade had pointed out, Rosser testified.

Rosser said he saw a man, later identified as Goodson, standing outside a vehicle and he did not see anything in Goodson's hands. He said he heard Meade, who he estimated was 20 yards closer to Goodson, saying: "Show me your hands."

An autopsy revealed Meade shot Goodson six times, five of them in the back.

Collins, Meade's attorney, has said Goodson pointed a gun at the deputy before Meade opened fire and that a gun was recovered under Goodson at the scene of the shooting.

Columbus police are investigating the shooting with help from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Goodson family attorney calls effort to move Meade case to federal court a 'Hail Mary'

Sean Walton, a local civil rights attorney who is representing members of Goodson's family, called the effort by Meade's attorneys to have him tried in federal court a "Hail Mary."

"It is something that is meant to confuse the issues, and it’s clear what happened," Walton said outside the federal courthouse after Friday's hearing. "Casey was murdered. This case should be in state court and every minute that goes by without any clarification on what court it’s going to be in is an injustice."

"Our hope is that the judge rules, remands this to state court, and that we’re finally able to move forward with uncovering the truth of what happened to Casey.”

Members of Goodson's family, including his mother, Tamala Payne, attended the hearing. Many of Goodson's relatives were wearing face masks or other clothing with pictures of Goodson on them.

Goodson's family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Meade and Franklin County.

Payne left the courtroom a couple of times during testimony.

“It’s hard. It’s hard to sit there and listen to lies. It’s hard to sit there and face the man who murdered your son in cold blood," Payne said outside the courthouse after the hearing.

Dispatch reporter Bethany Bruner contributed to this report.

Monroe Trombly covers trending and breaking news.

mtrombly@dispatch.com

@monroetrombly

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former deputy Jason Meade's defense wants him tried in federal court