Charles Faggart died after an incident at the Duval County Jail. | Photo provided by family attorney
Published on October 28, 2026 at 3:08 pm
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A judge decided Wednesday that the family of Charles Faggart has waited long enough for answers about his death following an incident at the Duval County jail more than 18 months ago.
Judge Michael Sharrit ordered the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to turn over surveillance video and reports to Faggart’s family, who had filed a public records lawsuit against JSO and Sheriff T.K. Waters, trying to get the records released.
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The family initially filed a request for surveillance video, incident reports, investigative records and other evidence under Florida’s Public Records Act more than a year ago.
But JSO argued that the records should stay sealed because the FBI investigation into Faggart’s death is still active.
Faggart was taken from the jail to the hospital on April 7, 2025, and died three days later.
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The Florida Trib, a Jacksonville Today news partner, obtained medical records showing that Faggart had multiple fractures on his face and ribs, bruises throughout his body, and serious damage to his kidneys and liver, along with a barb from a stun gun in his back, details that were not disclosed by JSO.
Eight corrections officers and one sergeant involved in the incident that sent Faggart to the hospital were reassigned to positions in the courthouse, Records Unit, and Property and Evidence Unit as the investigation continues.
A check with JSO on Wednesday confirmed the officers remain reassigned without access to inmates.
In a previous hearing, Sharrit said JSO didn’t have enough information to back up its claim that the records needed to remain sealed to protect the federal investigation.
“At some point I need some guidance on that,” Sharrit said in August. “At some point, what’s the court supposed to do without that information?”
At the time, Sharrit pointed out that neither the FBI nor the U.S. Attorney’s Office was in court to explain how releasing those records could hurt the investigation.
A representative from the U.S. Attorney’s Office did appear for Wednesday’s hearing, but Sharrit decided his testimony wasn’t enough to warrant keeping the records from the family.
He ordered JSO to turn the video and reports over to the family’s attorneys for the family’s private viewing immediately.
The FBI released the following statement after the ruling:
“The FBI does not release investigative details to preserve the integrity of the investigation. Therefore, we cannot share any additional information at the time.”
Faggart’s mom vows to keep fighting
Faggart’s mother, Tracey Karpas, has been vocal about the toll the unanswered questions have taken on her.
“I’m still waiting to hear anything about my son, so we’re just praying that we get the rest of the stuff,” Karpas said in April. “I will go to my grave fighting. I will. I don’t think there’s any harder fight.”
The Faggart family said it remains committed to pursuing every legal avenue available to uncover the truth about what happened to Faggart and will continue seeking answers, transparency and accountability until justice is achieved.
“Do your job. Do your job. Tell the truth,” Karpas said. “That would be my only message: Tell the truth and do your job.”
This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.
