JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Arthur Picklo walked out of the Duval County jail just before noon Friday -- a free man for the first time since his arrest for attempted murder 1½ years ago.
The former state Department of Insurance investigator and Columbia County sheriff's deputy was found not guilty by a Duval County jury after a three-day trial this week.
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It took only three hours for the jury to acquit Picklo of attempted murder and armed robbery charges resulting from the shooting of Guadalupe Frausto in Riverside during an undercover investigation. Frausto was shot twice in the head and robbed of more than $30,000 in September 2000.
Picklo, 40, choked back tears of joy when the jury announced the verdict Thursday evening. Friends in court hugged each other in celebration.
"We're very happy with the verdict," public defender Waffa Hanania said. "I think there were some issues we raised that the state couldn't explain, and I think the jury made the appropriate verdict based on the evidence they heard."
Channel 4 reporter Brad Puffer reported that the prosecution team appeared stunned after the verdict. Assistant State Attorney Laura Starrett broke into tears in the hall, then left without comment.
"We are very disappointed," State Attorney Harry Shorstein said. "We considered it a very serious case and thought the evidence was substantial."
That evidence included the victim taking the stand and identifying Picklo as the man who shot him in the face.
Frausto did not comment, but his family was angry, insisting the state left out evidence, including recordings with another inmate saying that Picklo offered him $7,500 to "finish the job."
"He's already tried to kill him, and he's already tried to put a hit on him and he's out on the street now," Guadalupe Frausto's sister, Susan Frausto, said.
But the defense successfully poked holes in the state's case, saying Picklo did not have time to commit the crime, that he lacked motive, and that the state lacked physical evidence.
After the verdict, Picklo remained in jail overnight on a misdemeanor charge.
Puffer spoke with Picklo as he left jail this morning and will have those comments and more developments in the case this afternoon on Eyewitness News beginning at 5 p.m.
Previous Stories:
- March 7, 2002: Both Sides Rest In Attempted Murder Trial
- March 5, 2002: Former Insurance Investigator On Trial For Shooting, Theft
- February 21, 2002: Investigator Will Stand Trial For Attempted Murder
- October 19, 2000: Co-Workers Shocked By Investigator's Charges
- October 19, 2000: Family Relieved Suspect Is In Custody
- October 18, 2000: Insurance Investigator Charged With Attempted Murder