Criminal Defense

Attorney Joseph Patituce and Attorney Megan Patituce filed a series of pre-trial motions on December 6, 2019, on behalf of Tevin Biles-Thomas, the brother of U.S. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. In the court filings, our legal team claimed that our client was charged without evidence after being improperly questioned by police and prosecutors. At his police interrogation in February, our 25-year-old client asked to speak with a lawyer—not once, but three times—before Cleveland homicide detective…

Animal Cruelty Laws Ohio According to Ohio law, it is a crime to abuse or neglect pets. Common forms of abuse or neglect include intentionally: First-Degree Animal Cruelty Sentence in OH A first-offense for intentionally assaulting an animal is a first-degree misdemeanor, which is punishable by a jail sentence of up to 180 days and/or a maximum $1,000 fine. A second or subsequent offense is a fifth-degree felony, which carries a maximum 12-month prison sentence…

Solicitation is a serious offense that can have life-altering consequences for your life, career, and family.  These charges can pack some very serious penalties and collateral consequences as they are in Chapter 2907 of the Ohio Revised Code – the same code section as other sex offenses such as Rape, Sexual Battery, and Gross Sexual Imposition.   Penalties for Solicitation in Ohio Up to six months in jail per incident (i.e. every visit the massage parlor…

In the end of April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled that using chalk to mark your tires violates the Fourth Amendment, which protects us from illegal searches and seizures. The decision affects Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Michigan resident Alison Taylor went after the city of Saginaw—and specifically parking enforcement officer Tabitha Hoskins—after she received her 15th parking ticket within a span of a few years. In each instance, Hoskins…