Charges have been reduced against three people who are facing trial in connection with the death of a man while admitted to a psychiatric hospital

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Second-degree murder charges against two sheriff’s deputies and a hospital worker have been reduced to manslaughter in the death of a Virginia man who was pinned to the floor for about 11 minutes while admitted to a state mental hospital.

The reduced charges in the 2023 death of Irvo Otieno come just weeks after prosecutors dropped charges against five other sheriff’s deputies, a move criticized by Otieno’s family.

Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man, died in March 2023 after he was restrained by Henrico County sheriff’s deputies and hospital staff during his admission to Central State Hospital. Prosecutors initially charged 10 people with second-degree murder, but dropped charges against a total of seven people, leaving only three people charged.

An amended indictment was filed Wednesday, downgrading the charge to manslaughter against two sheriff’s deputies, Brandon Rodgers and Kaiyell Sanders, and hospital worker Wavi Jones, according to online court records.

Featured Stories

Amanda Mann, Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney, didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Doug Ramseur, Jones’ lawyer, and Linwood Wells, Sanders’ lawyer, declined to comment. Attorney Michael W. Lee, who represents Rodgers, didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Otieno was arrested in suburban Richmond due to a mental health crisis. He was initially transported to a private hospital, but was later jailed when law enforcement officers found he had develop into violent. He was then transferred to Central State Hospital, where he was immobilized during his admission.

His death was captured on video, sparking outrage and calls for mental health and law enforcement reforms. The state health worker’s office ruled Otieno’s death a homicide, saying he died of “positional and mechanical asphyxiation with restraint.”

Mark Krudys, a lawyer representing the Otieno family, didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.