Ohio Blogger Rejects Plea Deal in Harassment Case
Ohio political blogger accused of telecommunications harassment has rejected two plea offers, setting the stage for a jury trial later this year.
D.J. Byrnes, who publishes political commentary on Substack under the name The Rooster, said he declined plea agreements that would have required him to admit guilt in exchange for avoiding jail time.
Arrest Stemmed From Text Message Complaint
Byrnes was arrested June 1 at the Ohio Statehouse by the Ohio State Highway Patrol on a warrant charging him with telecommunications harassment.
The warrant was issued by Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Marisa L. Cornachio, who is currently seeking a seat on an Ohio appeals court and has received an endorsement from State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland.
The charge stems from a complaint involving a text message containing a sexually explicit image of the animated character Shrek that was sent to a state senator.
According to police records, the recipient, identified only as J.C., contacted Kirtland Police Chief Jamey Fisher and requested a criminal investigation.
“Not only is the message harassing but the disgusting picture is pornographic in nature and not something I want to see on any of my devices,” the complainant wrote in an email to police.
State Sen. Jerry Cirino has declined to comment publicly on the case.
The case is scheduled for a jury trial on Oct. 8 in Willoughby Municipal Court.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy has appointed retired Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael Cicconetti to preside over the proceedings.
Following his arrest, Byrnes spent one night in the Franklin County jail before being released. Since then, he has begun selling T-shirts featuring his booking photo alongside the phrase “Never Surrender.”