A harassment case over a Shrek penis photo texted to a state senator appears to be headed for trial in municipal court.
Political blogger D.J. Byrnes, who posts on Substack as The Rooster, said he rejected two plea deals that would’ve required him admit guilt but avoid jail time.
State troopers arrested Byrnes at the Ohio Statehouse on June 1 on a warrant for telecommunications harassment.
The warrant was signed by Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Marisa L. Cornachio, who is running for an appeals court seat and has been endorsed by State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland.
After receiving the lewd Shrek photo via text, a man identified as J.C. in police records made a complaint directly to the Kirtland Police chief, asking for an investigation and criminal charges.
“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 said in an email to Kirtland Police Chief Jamey Fisher.
Cirino has declined to comment on the case.
The case is now scheduled for a jury trial on Oct. 8 in Willoughby Municipal Court. Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy appointed Michael Cicconetti, a retired Painesville Municipal Court judge, to hear the case.
After his arrest, Byrne spent a night in a Franklin County jail. Once released, he started selling t-shirts with his mugshot and a caption that said “never surrender.”
State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com and @lbischoff on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio political blogger ‘The Rooster’ rejects plea deals, trial date set
Reporting by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
