A 57-year-old Mt. Vernon man was found guilty of three of four charges brought against him in connection with an October 2021 struggle and gunfire during a failed attempt to escape during an earlier trial.
The Jefferson County Jury deliberated about six hours before finding Frederick Goss of Mt. Vernon guilty of a Class X aggravated discharge of a firearm, and other felony counts of disarming a correctional institution employee and attempted escape. Goss was found NOT guilty of a fourth charge of attempted first-degree murder.
Sentencing is set for November 3rd.
Goss has already been sentenced to 40 years in prison on armed robbery and aggravated discharge of a firearm charges that he was on trial when he attempted to escape during a lunch break in the sally port of the courthouse. Goss reportedly grabbed the correctional officer’s gun and during a struggle for the gun a round discharged.
The three-day trial started on Tuesday with jury selection, with testimony following on Wednesday and Thursday morning before the case went to the jury around 11 Thursday morning. The verdict was announced at around five on Thursday afternoon. Assistant State’s Attorney Julie Kozuszek prosecuted the case.
