A Franklin County court hearing turned ugly on April 27 when a 30-year-old defendant smeared human waste across the defense table, abruptly stopping the proceedings and sending him straight back to the county jail. Deputies quickly pulled him from the courtroom, courthouse facilities staff scrubbed and sanitized the table, and the judge pushed the case to early June while ordering a psychological evaluation. The outburst left attorneys and courthouse workers scrambling to secure the room and figure out how the case would move forward.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, the defendant, who is facing charges of drug possession, failure to comply with the order of a police officer, and escape, smeared feces on the defense counsel's table during a scheduled hearing. Sheriff's deputies subdued him and escorted him back to the Franklin County jail, while courthouse staff removed and sanitized the fecal matter. The incident unfolded after his handcuffs had been briefly removed as potential jurors were expected to enter. Judge Carl Aveni denied the man's request to fire his court-appointed attorney and represent himself.
Possible charges under state law
Ohio law has specific provisions for this kind of behavior. The statute that addresses causing another person to come into contact with blood, urine, feces, or a similar bodily substance is found in Ohio Revised Code §2921.38, which generally treats such conduct as a fifth-degree felony. A separate obstruction statute, which can apply when someone intentionally delays or interferes with a public official's duties, appears at ORC 2921.31 and is typically charged as a misdemeanor unless there is a risk of physical harm.
Prosecutor response and court scheduling
The Columbus Dispatch reports that the Franklin County prosecutor's office is now weighing whether to add counts such as obstruction or harassment with a bodily substance in light of the courtroom incident. Judge Aveni again rejected the defendant's request to represent himself and reset the trial date for early June, according to court records and media coverage. For the moment, the case stays on the docket while officials review what happened and wait for the results of the court-ordered psychological evaluation.
Competency rules and next steps
Psychological evaluations in Ohio courts follow a set statutory process. Judges can order evaluations, treatment, and competency-restoration measures when there are questions about a defendant's mental state. The primary competence statute, Ohio Revised Code §2945.38, outlines options that range from outpatient treatment to inpatient placement, along with the timelines courts must observe. If an evaluator concludes that a defendant is not competent to stand trial, the court can direct treatment aimed at restoring competency or, in some situations, pursue civil commitment while considering public safety.
Legal implications
If prosecutors decide to pursue harassment-with-a-bodily-substance charges, those counts are typically fifth-degree felonies and carry the standard penalties attached to that level of offense. Obstruction charges can run from a misdemeanor to a low-level felony, depending on whether the conduct created a risk of physical harm. Any new charges would be handled alongside the defendant's existing counts in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
The case remains pending in Judge Aveni's courtroom at the Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse, 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus. The court directory lists Judge Aveni's courtroom as 6A, per the Franklin County Courts site. For now, prosecutors and court staff are left to decide whether the outburst results in new criminal filings before jurors are called in June.
