From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
JEFFERSON COUNTY — A man charged with capital murder and attempted murder, stemming from a shooting on Service Road, will not go to trial until November.
Walter Edward Juskiewicz, 32, is suspected of shooting and killing 39-year-old Arnulfo Ortega. Ortega was killed on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. Juskiewicz faces the death penalty.
Juskiewicz’s trial was scheduled to begin this week, but the judge in the case approved a motion to continue the case for 90 days after defense attorneys claimed a mitigation specialist working to help their client hadn’t received information requested. That information included educational, treatment, medical and social records.
The case has been resent to Nov. 1, 2021.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Ortega was going to buy a car from Juskiewicz, a co-worker, on the night of the shooting. Juskiewicz showed up and began shooting at the victims, according to investigators.
Ortega was struck, but a second victim was able to escape.
Juskiewicz’s trial was originally set for a bench trial on March 8, 2021, but Judge Michael Streety’s office said that has been changed to a jury trial on Aug. 23, 2021.
Juskiewicz is being held at the Jefferson County Jail without bond on the capital murder charge. In late 2020, an officer inside the jail said Juskiewicz was hoarding medication he had a prescription for, in order to sell them. The pills were found inside his cell in October. He is now charged with promoting prison contraband.
In 2013, Juskiewicz was charged with first-degree sodomy and sexual abuse of a child less than 12-years-old.
Court records show Juskiewicz pleaded guilty to both charges in December of 2015. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with two years to serve. Eight years of the sentence were suspended if he completed five years of probation. He received credit for 324 days served at the time of his sentencing. Juskiewicz was also told to register as a sex offender.
