MILAN, Ohio – Richland County Health Commissioner Martin Tremmel was found not guilty of domestic violence against his wife, Joyce Tremmel.
After 45 minutes of deliberation, a jury of four men and four women delivered their unanimous verdict to Judge John Ridge in Erie County Municipal Court on Monday.
The reading of “not guilty” was followed by audible sighs of relief and sobs from Martin Tremmel’s mother and wife Joyce, both sitting in the gallery.
“Martin is very relieved and happy,” said his attorney Troy Wisehart, who advised Martin Tremmel would not be making a statement. “He maintained his innocence from the get-go and he loves his wife. Hopefully they can put this behind them and move forward.”
Prosecutor Michael Kaufman stated the case was very difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
“But we did what we had to do,” he said.
Wisehart stated Martin Tremmel was “drained and hurt” by the entire situation. He noted today was also the first time Martin and Joyce Tremmel had spoken to each other since July 13, per instruction from Judge Paul Lux.
On Monday night, Tremmel was retained and reinstated as Health Commissioner by the Richland Public Health board. In addition, the board also thanked Dr. Daniel Burwell for his leadership as Acting Health Commissioner maintaining the day-to-day operations of the department.
Tremmel will take a few days vacation before his return to work, noted a statement from Richland Public Health. He was placed on administrative leave on July 16. He was charged with domestic violence against his wife Joyce Tremmel in the wake of a July 11 incident at their Kelleys Island home.
Wisehart stated in his closing arguments to the jury on Monday afternoon that a three-day trial for a misdemeanor was “unusual.” He reminded the jury that Kaufman and the state was required to prove Martin Tremmel’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
“Chief (Shawn) Craig shed the most light on this situation when he said it was possible (Joyce Tremmel) was lying,” said Wisehart. “Possible equals reasonable doubt.”
Due to conflicting testimonies about whether Joyce Tremmel was intoxicated the night of the incident, Judge Ridge permitted Kaufman to play portions of the bodycam video recorded by Chief Craig that had previously been excluded as evidence.
Joyce Tremmel is seen in the video crying, saying that Martin Tremmel “put his foot on my neck until I apologized.” Once she learned from Chief Craig that charges would be pressed against her husband, Joyce Tremmel asked to retract her statement.
“I made every word up … I exaggerated the whole situation,” Joyce Tremmel is heard saying on the video.
Wisehart admitted there was a physical altercation on the night in question, but maintained that Martin Tremmel acted in self defense.
“What Martin did is what any one of us would do,” said Wisehart.
Martin Tremmel testified on Friday, continuing into Monday, that he walked into his home on Kellys Island to find his wife pointing a shotgun directly at him. He became emotional after testifying to this story on Friday to the point where a recess of court was called.
“I felt empty … like my life was over and I was going to die any second,” said Martin Tremmel on Monday.
Martin Tremmel testified that he did push Joyce Tremmel to the floor and restrain her with his foot. He also stated she was screaming and yelling.
“She was out of her mind,” said Martin Tremmel. “She was completely out of character; she has never acted that way.”
Martin Tremmel testified his wife was heavily impaired the evening of July 10 to the point of stumbling when she walked and slurring her speech. Joyce Tremmel was described in a similar state by three other witnesses present that evening – Drs. John and Kelly Ramey and Tom Gimperling, who testified in court on Monday.
John Ramey and his wife Kelley Ramey both testified that Joyce Tremmel impaired to the point that they could not understand her. John Ramey testified that he even had to steady Joyce Tremmel as they walked from one downtown bar to another.
“It was almost like her thoughts were disjointed, following her conversation was difficult,” said John Ramey.
“Her speech was slurred, her thoughts were trailing off,” said Kelly Ramey.
In regards to her state of intoxication, Kaufman pointed out in his closing statement that Joyce Tremmel was “speaking crystal clear” on the bodycam video.
“She was standing like a statue when the police officers were talking to her,” said Kaufman. “She wasn’t swaying. And she walked straight … she wasn’t bouncing off the walls.”
Kaufman stated in his closing statement that Joyce Tremmel’s testimony was “all over the place” and that she could not remember conveniently.
“Anything that benefited Mr. Tremmel she was crystal clear on,” said Kaufman.
The jury also heard from Joyce Tremmel’s two older brothers, Richard and Robert Wensink, who both testified on Martin Tremmel’s behalf. Both men referred to Martin Tremmel as a type B personality, and testified they never observed Martin Tremmel act aggressively towards Joyce Tremmel, nor did they ever observe Joyce Tremmel acting afraid of her husband.
“I can honestly say, under oath, I’ve never seen Marty and Joy even argue,” said Robert Wensink.
