Judge Is Acquitted in Nose-Biting Case

A former judge who jumped from the bench, ripped off his robe and bit a defendant on the nose was acquitted in Clarksburg of violating the man’s civil rights. Joseph Troisi, who was a circuit court judge for four years, was accused of confronting Bill Witten after Witten repeatedly cursed at him while being led from the courtroom. Troisi could have been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison on the federal charge. He has already pleaded no contest to state charges and served five days in jail for assaulting Witten. Troisi said he was caught up in “waves of feeling” and not thinking when he exchanged words with Witten.