STOCKTON - The criminal trial of a Central Valley chiropractor ended Friday with a hung jury, putting Wilmer Origel's fate back in the hands of prosecutors, who now have to decide if they will try him again or drop the charges.

Origel, 48, of Modesto stood trial on 11 felony counts of performing illegal procedures, over-billing insurance companies and money laundering. He operated Med-1 Medical Centers in the Central Valley, including one on Stockton's Wilson Way.

Arrested in 2005, Origel sat in trial before a jury for more than two months. On Friday, San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Michael Garrigan declared a mistrial because jurors deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquitting Origel.

"We'll be looking at the case carefully and decide if it's the type of case we should retry and can retry," said Robert Himelblau, a spokesman for the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office.

Origel's case was described, upon his arrest, as the biggest medical billing insurance fraud case in Northern California. He was charged with more than two dozen crimes alleging more than $20 million in fraudulent claims.

Since, the case has been modified downward. Among the charges, he was accused of overbilling insurance companies by more than $1 million.

The case was carefully watched by chiropractors and prosecutors across the state, because Origel, who faces prison time if convicted, was charged with performing a controversial procedure called manipulation under anesthetics.

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