Homeless Man Wrongfully Arrested, Held for 2 Years

Honolulu reaches $975,000 settlement after mistaken identity case

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:05am

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An extreme close-up of a handcuff chain against a pitch-black background, the metallic texture and shadows creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.The wrongful arrest and detention of a homeless man exposes systemic failures in identity verification and treatment of the vulnerable.Honolulu Today

Joshua Spriestersbach, a 54-year-old homeless man, was wrongfully arrested and forced to spend more than two years in a psychiatric hospital after being mistaken for another man wanted on drug charges. Spriestersbach, who sometimes used his grandfather's name William C. Castleberry, was arrested in 2017 without police verifying his identity, despite his protests of mistaken identity.

Why it matters

This case highlights the devastating consequences that can occur from law enforcement mistakes, especially for vulnerable populations like the homeless. It raises concerns about the need for better identity verification procedures and the treatment of individuals in psychiatric facilities who maintain their innocence.

The details

Spriestersbach was stopped by police in 2011 and gave the name William C. Castleberry, which is similar to Thomas R. Castleberry, a man wanted on drug charges. This alias clung to Spriestersbach's record until 2017 when officers arrested him without properly verifying his identity. Despite Spriestersbach's protests, he was forced to spend over two years in a psychiatric hospital, where he was given medications that made him 'catatonic'.

  • Spriestersbach was stopped by police and gave the name William C. Castleberry in 2011.
  • Spriestersbach was wrongfully arrested in 2017.

The players

Joshua Spriestersbach

A 54-year-old homeless man who was wrongfully arrested and held in a psychiatric hospital for over two years due to a case of mistaken identity.

Thomas R. Castleberry

A man wanted on drug charges, whose similar name to Spriestersbach's grandfather's name led to the mistaken identity case.

City and County of Honolulu

The local government that has agreed to pay a $975,000 settlement to Spriestersbach over the wrongful arrest and detention.

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What’s next

The state of Hawaii is also expected to pay an additional $200,000 to Spriestersbach over malpractice by the public defender's office.

The takeaway

This wrongful arrest and detention case underscores the urgent need for improved identity verification procedures by law enforcement and better treatment of individuals in psychiatric facilities who maintain their innocence, especially for vulnerable populations like the homeless.