Five Misdemeanors

Five separate criminal convictions have led to charges brought by the Ohio Disciplinary Counsel against a domestic relations attorney.

Respondent has been suspended since November 1, 2021 based on a showing of a substantial threat of serious public harm.

One conviction for assault was committed against a client’s mother.

It is alleged that Respondent visited her at home, where she refused to have sex with him. He “kicked her bedroom door and hit [her] in the face with a closed fist.”

The police were called and she initially declined to pursue charges. She sought and obtained a protection order for herself and her 13-year old daughter.

He was convicted by a jury of misdemeanor assault. The conviction was affirmed on appeal.

An unrelated matter involved a divorce client who Respondent then married. 

They had an argument in their home

Respondent grabbed [her], threw her down and stepped on her neck with his foot.

Their divorce is pending.

Respondent was charged with one count of domestic violence and pled no contest to an amended charge of misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Respondent has two daughters with another former wife.

He was charged with domestic violence against a daughter that took place in his law office by grabbing her and squeezing her neck so that she could not breath.

An order of protection was entered and he was charged with domestic violence and child endangerment.

A jury acquitted him of domestic violence and assault but hung on the child endangerment charge, which was later dismissed.

He then pled to the charge of disorderly conduct.

He has a Facebook account with over 500 friends. He made a series of post concerning the divorce client he had married that are recited in the complaint but omitted here.

Respondent included hashtags with her maiden, married and current names and stated that he had a video of her having sex which he threatened to release.

Criminally charged, he pled no contest to misdemeanor telephone harassment and the remaining charges were dismissed.

Respondent made threats on Facebook to the attorney for the mother of his two daughters that led to a misdemeanor menacing conviction. (Mike Frisch)