FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Two former North Texas jailers have each gotten a year’s probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanors in the 2015 death of a restrained inmate.
Steven Schmidt and Pedro Medina were sentenced Tuesday in Fort Worth a day after their pleas.
Schmidt, who’s 58, and Medina, who’s 34, both worked at the Arlington City Jail when 42-year-old Jonathan Ryan Paul was jailed. Records show Paul struggled after his March 2015 domestic disturbance arrest at his apartment complex. An autopsy found jail restraints, pepper spray and acute psychosis contributed to his death.
Schmidt and Medina were initially charged with criminally negligent homicide. Schmidt, who retired, pleaded guilty to official oppression. Medina, who was fired, pleaded guilty to assault with bodily injury.
Last year, Arlington reached a $1.25 million settlement with Paul’s relatives.
