Story perspectives

Man Misidentified for Three Years to Receive $200K Settlement

2/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Joshua Spriestersbach, a man with mental illness, was held in the O‘ahu jail and Hawai‘i State Hospital for nearly three years after being misidentified as Thomas R. Castleberry.
He was arrested on May 11, 2017, and was not released until January 17, 2020.
A proposed settlement of $200,000 would resolve lawsuits against the public defender's office for alleged incompetence.
The state Attorney General said that settlement agreements do not imply liability.

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Story summary

Joshua Spriestersbach, a man with mental illness, was held in the O‘ahu jail and Hawai‘i State Hospital for nearly three years after being misidentified as Thomas R. Castleberry.
He was arrested on May 11, 2017, and was not released until January 17, 2020.
A proposed settlement of $200,000 would resolve lawsuits against the public defender's office for alleged incompetence.
The state Attorney General said that settlement agreements do not imply liability.