Wayne County commissioners rehired a corrections sergeant who was fired from the Wayne County Prison in 2010 after accusations he assaulted an inmate.
Michael E. Aspinall of White Mills and Raymond Price of Carbondale lost their jobs at the county jail in the spring of 2010 after two other corrections officers reported witnessing them assaulting and taunting an inmate, David Adsit.
Wayne County Commissioner Wendell Kay said the decision to fire both men came after an independent, internal investigation by prison authorities that determined they had violated workplace policy.
A jury found both men not guilty of official oppression after a trial in March 2011. Mr. Aspinall said after the verdict that he wanted his job back.
Earlier this year a private arbitrator ruled in favor of the two men after they appealed their terminations based on a failure of authorities to properly notify them of the violations for which they were terminated, Mr. Kay said Wednesday.
Mr. Aspinall earned a yearly salary of $36,920 at the time of his termination in 2010. He now earns $39,166.40 per year in accordance with the language of his contract regarding annual pay increases, officials said. Mr. Kay said back pay was not awarded.
Mr. Price remains terminated despite his successful appeal while his attorney discusses its outcome with county authorities, Mr. Kay said.
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