Judge Orders Man's Mouth Taped Shut During Trial In Cleveland

CLEVELAND, OH — A Cuyahoga County judge is appearing in headlines this week after ordering a convicted robber's mouth taped shut during a sentencing hearing. Judge John Russo said the man repeatedly interrupted court proceedings with loud outbursts.

Franklyn Williams, 32, was being sentenced after a jury found him guilty of robbery charges. Between being found guilty and his sentencing, in December 2017, Williams cut off his ankle monitor and fled to Nebraska before being apprehended, Cleveland.com reported. During his sentencing, Williams reportedly refused to be silent.

“Everybody has the right to go on the record with my court reporter. But we can’t do it at the same time or yelling over each other. My intent was never to silence Mr. Williams,” Russo told Fox 8. The judge said he gave Williams more than a dozen warnings before ordering his mouth taped shut.

Russo said it is perfectly legal for a sheriff's deputy to gag a defendant, if they are in contempt of court. “I gave him an opportunity to speak at the appropriate time. More than not, he continued to speak over me and others in the courtroom,” Russo said.

Williams was eventually quieted by the tape and Russo sentenced him to 24 years in prison.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

Photo from Shutterstock