Ohio

Juvenile judge facing felony case goes off on special prosecutor, says she cannot get a fair trial

A lawyer representing suspended Ohio juvenile court Judge Tracie Hunter tried to stop her, as did the presiding judge in the felony case in which Hunter is being prosecuted. But, apparently angered by an in-court claim by a special prosecutor that she has “a history of trying to game and…

Aug 14, 2014 10:25 PM CDT

Jailed judge posts $6K bond in domestic case, is at ‘low risk’ of harming others, psychologist says

An Ohio common pleas judge jailed over the weekend after a dispute that put his wife in the hospital has now posted bond. Judge Lance Mason was released Wednesday after putting up 10 percent of his $65,000 bail, the Northeast Ohio Media Group reports in an article published by the…

Aug 6, 2014 10:25 PM CDT

Judge is charged with felonious assault, accused of punching, choking and biting his wife

Updated: An Ohio common pleas court judge was arrested Saturday in a domestic violence case after he allegedly punched, choked and bit his wife. Judge Lance Mason, 46, who sits in Cuyahoga County, was not on the bench Monday. Instead, he appeared in Shaker Heights municipal court today as a…

Aug 4, 2014 4:35 PM CDT

Inmate who walked out of jail before court hearing is captured; security now under review

An Ohio inmate who walked out of prison last week after assuming another inmate’s identity and even putting on his clothes is back behind bars, authorities say, and he and those who are accused of helping him in the escape are facing charges. Christopher Bowden was already serving a 10-year…

Jul 9, 2014 5:25 PM CDT

Prof who claimed ‘unnerving and creepy’ party behavior by law dean settles retaliation suit

A Case Western Reserve law professor has settled a suit claiming the school retaliated against him after reporting possible sexual harassment by then-law dean Lawrence Mitchell. Terms of the settlement between the professor, Raymond Ku, and the school were confidential. However, a joint statement says Ku will become director of…

Jul 9, 2014 3:35 PM CDT

Ohio lawyer is convicted of rape; defense sees ‘a miscarriage of justice in every way’

A Columbus, Ohio, criminal defense lawyer was convicted of rape and other sex crimes on Monday based on alleged conduct with two clients and a client’s mother. Javier Armengau, 52, was convicted of rape, kidnapping, public indecency, four counts of sexual battery, and two counts of gross sexual imposition, the…

Jul 8, 2014 2:18 PM CDT

Ohio lawyer charged with sexually assaulting five women testifies that accusers are lying

A Columbus, Ohio, lawyer on trial on charges he sexually assaulted five women says his accusers are lying. Javier Armengau, who took the witness stand in his own defense Monday, said he’s the victim of a “trumped up conspiracy” by police, prosecutors, the state Attorney General’s Office and the women…

Jul 1, 2014 9:50 PM CDT

Toledo mayor is planning to ban hiring of smokers

Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins plans to stop hiring tobacco and nicotine users as city workers, making it the largest city in Ohio to do so, the Toledo Blade reports. “This is good public policy, and it’s not driven by anything political,” Mayor Collins says. He says an administrative policy…

Jul 1, 2014 6:32 PM CDT

Wife of judge admits she poisoned him with antifreeze, gets 2 years in plea deal

Originally charged with attempted murder, the wife of a longtime Ohio judge pleaded guilty on Wednesday to felonious assault for poisoning him with antifreeze. Officials said Carla Hague, 71, put the antifreeze in a glass of wine and she apologized in court after admitting she had poisoned Ashtabula County Common…

Jun 19, 2014 7:15 PM CDT

Top state court says minor doesn’t have right to attend her parents’ child-custody case

A juvenile court did not abuse its discretion when it decided that a teenager identified as “A.G.” could not be present during arguments in her parents’ contentious child-custody case, a divided Ohio Supreme Court ruled Thursday. Although the juvenile court had granted the teen’s motion to be treated as a…

Jun 19, 2014 5:20 PM CDT

Fourth accuser testifies in lawyer’s rape trial; another alleges sex-with-judge offer

A fourth accuser testified on Tuesday in the sexual assault trial of a Columbus, Ohio, lawyer accused of preying on clients and their relatives. The woman told jurors that lawyer Javier Armengau fondled her breasts, exposed himself and masturbated when she came to his office to discuss her criminal case,…

Jun 18, 2014 6:26 PM CDT

6th Circuit reverses $338K libel verdict for ex-Bengals cheerleader against website

A federal appeals court has reversed a $338,000 libel verdict awarded to a former Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader. Allegations made on TheDirty.com about Sarah Jones were indeed defamatory, the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in its Monday opinion (PDF). However, the company that operates the gossip site and…

Jun 16, 2014 10:05 PM CDT

Ohio’s law banning political lies may be challenged before enforcement, SCOTUS says

Two conservative political groups have standing to challenge an Ohio law banning political lies, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the unanimous opinion (PDF) finding that the Susan B. Anthony List and COAST had alleged a credible threat that Ohio would seek to enforce its law…

Jun 16, 2014 3:13 PM CDT

Lawyer’s sexual-assault trial begins; he continued to try cases after indictment

Jury selection begins today in the trial of a Columbus, Ohio, criminal defense lawyer accused of sexually assaulting five women. The lawyer, Javier Armengau, continued to try cases after his May 2013 indictment, the Columbus Dispatch reports. He represented four murder defendants and an accused drug trafficker, all of whom…

Jun 10, 2014 2:41 PM CDT

Does Ohio get a do-over execution attempt? State’s high court to decide

The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether the state may try once again to kill Romell Broom, whose first execution was called off after executioners couldn’t find a suitable vein. The court accepted the case this week, report Mother Jones, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.…

Jun 6, 2014 12:55 PM CDT