A judge in Ohio ordered deputies to tape a defendant’s mouth shut during sentencing on July 31.
Franklyn Williams, 32, was standing trial in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court when the judge lost patience with his interruptions.
Six deputies stood around Williams as one applied the tape, then another piece as Williams continued trying to talk.
Ultimately, Williams was sentenced to 24 years in prison, after being convicted late last year of aggravated robbery, kidnapping, theft, misuse of credit cards, and having weapons under a disability.
“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.”
Williams cut his ankle bracelet and fled to Nebraska before the trial, claiming he was hit over the head and lost his memory. But prosecutors played audio recordings of Williams on the phone with family members that showed he didn’t lose his memory.
An appeals court sided with him and threw out the sentence, ordering a second trial.