November 5, 2015 – After being given the opportunity to consider lesser charges, a Fulton County jury consisting of three men and nine women deliberated for approximately four hours before returning a guilty verdict for a charge of Involuntary Manslaughter, a felony of the first degree, and Domestic Violence, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree against Romauldo M. Cordoba Jr, age 38, of Archbold, Ohio. The jury also found that Cordoba used a firearm to facilitate the commission of the offense.
The charges are in relation to the death of 27 year old Joshua McJilton in Wauseon on April 25, 2015. McJilton, a U.S. Marine from Oceanside, California had been in town visiting family in Wauseon when the incident occurred. Reports indicate that Cordoba had fired twice at McJilton after McJilton had attempted to intervene and diffuse a situation between Cordoba and his estranged wife.
Lesser charges were given as an option for consideration by the jury by Fulton County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Kennedy, who explained that lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter or reckless homicide, in that order, were available if they could not find Cordoba guilty of murder, a charge that would require the jury to determine without a reasonable doubt that Cordoba had planned the killing.
The case was prosecuted by Fulton County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul H. Kennedy. Cordoba was represented by attorney Chris Dreyer from Swanton.
Cordoba remains in custody awaiting the completion of a pre-sentence investigation and report that was ordered by the Court. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
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