Former Ohio lawyer sentenced to 24½ years for threatening ex-wife with gun

A former Ohio attorney was sentenced Monday to a maximum of 24½ years in prison after he stormed into a Cleveland restaurant in April and pointed a handgun at his ex‑wife. The sentencing follows a trial that found him guilty of aggravated assault, unlawful use of a weapon and violating a protective order.

The attack occurred on April 10 at a popular downtown eatery where the woman, a former colleague, was meeting a friend for lunch. The man, who had been disbarred earlier this year for unrelated misconduct, entered the restaurant, shouted at his ex‑wife and brandished a loaded pistol before being subdued by staff and patrons. Police later recovered the firearm, which was later linked to a string of illegal sales in the area. The case drew attention because it combined domestic violence with illegal gun possession, two issues that have surged in Ohio courts since the state loosened its concealed‑carry regulations in 2022. The victim had previously obtained a restraining order after a series of threatening messages and a brief physical altercation, but the order had not been enforced until the restaurant incident prompted a rapid police response.

Prosecutors called the sentence “a clear message that gun‑point threats in domestic disputes will not be tolerated.” The victim’s sister, who testified, said the incident left her family living in fear and forced them to relocate. The defense argued for a reduced term, citing the defendant’s mental health struggles and lack of prior violent convictions, but the judge rejected those arguments, noting the premeditated nature of the attack and the defendant’s prior professional misconduct. The sentencing guidelines for the charges allowed a range of 10 to 24½ years, and the judge opted for the maximum to reflect the seriousness of the crime.

The defendant’s legal team has indicated they will file an appeal on the grounds of alleged procedural errors and the length of the sentence. He will be transferred to a state correctional facility next week, where he will serve at least 85 percent of his term before becoming eligible for parole, according to Ohio law. Advocates for domestic‑violence victims say the case underscores the need for stricter enforcement of protective orders and tighter controls on firearms for individuals with a history of intimidation or threats. The sentencing may also influence future prosecutions of similar cases across the state, where courts are under pressure to curb a rising tide of gun‑related domestic incidents.