All charges have been dismissed against Walter Small, 43, a former health-care worker charged with three counts of lying to police in connection with the Nov. 6, 2007, death of Robbie Young. Small cared for Young, a 31-year-old cerebral palsy patient at the Healthcare Center at Standifer Place.Two charges of lying to police against a 43-year-old man were dismissed by prosecutors in a case that was declared a mistrial in June.
Hamilton County Executive Assistant District Attorney Neal Pinkston said that, after the trial resulted in an 11-1 jury vote for acquittal, prosecutors reviewed the case against Walter Small and decided to drop the charges on Dec. 6.
“There was no new evidence that was brought forward by law enforcement that would aid in prosecution,” Pinkston said.
Small, a former health care worker, had been charged with three counts of lying to police in connection with the Nov. 6, 2007, death of Robbie Young. Small cared for Young, a 31-year-old cerebral palsy patient at the Healthcare Center at Standifer Place.
Small could not be reached for comment.
Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern dismissed one of the three counts during the June trial for lack of evidence. She then declared a mistrial when the jury could not reach a verdict.
Assistant District Public Defender Steve Brown said dismissing the charges was “the only appropriate thing” to do.
The trial was necessary to determine how a jury would interpret the facts, he said.
“This was a situation where it had to go to trial; that was the only way it could be resolved,” Brown said.