Ohio judge silences defendant with duct tape

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio judge unhappy with repeated interruptions from a robbery suspect ordered a deputy to put duct tape over the defendant’s mouth.

Judge Stephen Belden of Canton Municipal Court says the taping last Thursday was the best way to restore order at a hearing for 51-year-old Harry Brown of Canton.

Brown complained that his court-appointed attorney wasn’t prepared and angered the judge with interruptions. After a warning, the judge ordered Brown’s mouth taped shut.

When the tape was removed, the defendant said the judge wasn’t being respectful. The judge ended the hearing and sent the case to a grand jury.