Joseph J. Lonardo

Representative Cases

• Along with co-counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained not guilty verdicts for Rape, Attempted Rape and Kidnapping in State of Ohio v. Taylor, before the Honorable John P. O’Donnell, in Court of Common Pleas in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (May 2014).
• Along with co-counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained dismissal on all counts of an indictment for “pre-indictment delay” for a defendant charged with two counts of Rape, two counts of Complicity to Commit Rape and two counts of Kidnapping, in a case styled State of Ohio v. Stephen Ellerbee, in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, before the Honorable Nancy Fuerst (April 27, 2015).
• Along with co-counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained a not guilty verdict for a Defendant charged with two counts of Rape and one count of Sexual Battery in a case styled State of Ohio v. Jesus Bey, before the Honorable Robert McClelland in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (May 2015).
• Along with Attorney Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained not guilty verdict on all counts for Aggravated Menacing, Dereliction of Duty and two counts of Falsification for the former Chief of Police for Put-In-Bay in the case styled State of Ohio v. Lampela, Ottawa County, before the Honorable James Hoover, a visiting judge from Crawford County. Judge Hoover, on his own, found the former chief guilty of disorderly conduct, a minor misdemeanor, and entered a fine of $150.00 (October 2015).
• A case in which the Defendant was charged with two counts of aggravated Burglary, two counts of Robbery, five counts of Kidnapping and one count of Vandalism, obtained, along with Attorney Angelo F. Lonardo, a plea to disorderly conduct, a minor misdemeanor, and a $150 fine, in the case styled State of Ohio v. Dominic Demand, et al., before the Honorable Matthew McMonagle in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (July 7, 2016).
• In a jury trial before the Honorable Sherrie M. Miday obtained a not guilty verdict on charges of Rape and Kidnapping with Sexual Motivation Specifications, in a case styled State of Ohio v. Kyle Banks, Case CR-14-588698-A (April 21, 2017).
• Along with co- counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained a not guilty verdict on all counts for Rape, Kidnapping, Attempted Felonious Assault, Assault and Interference with Public Service in a jury trial before the Honorable Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold in a case styled State of Ohio v. Samer Abu al Dabat, Case No. CR-16-610413-A, Cuyahoga County (July 2018).
• Along with co -counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained a not guilty verdict on the charges of Murder (with gun specifications); Murder (with gun specifications); and, Felonious Assault (with gun specifications), in a jury trial before the Honorable Janet Burnside in a case styled State of Ohio v. Charles Franklin, Case No. CR-18-626203-A, Cuyahoga County (August 2018).
• Along with co -counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained a not guilty verdict on all counts for Attempted Murder, Attempted Felonious Assault, Felonious Assault and Discharging Firearm on or near Prohibited Premises in a jury trial before the Honorable Sherrie Miday in a case styled State of Ohio v. Leon Edwards, Case No. CR-17-620359-B, Cuyahoga County (August 2018).
• Along with co-counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained dismissal of a Defendant charged with Murder in a case styled State of Ohio v. Colthirst, Case No. CR-17-624158, in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, before the Honorable Dick Ambrose (September 2018).
• Along with co-counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained a “hung jury” for a Defendant charged with Murder in the Court of Common Pleas for Richland County, Ohio, before the Honorable Brent Robinson, in a case styled State of Ohio v. Dowdell, Case No. 18-CR-0782 (Feb. 2019).
• In a jury trial before the Honorable Emily Hagan obtained, with co-counsel Angelo F. Lonardo, a not guilty verdict on charges alleging Felonious Assault and Domestic Violence, with pregnancy specification, in a case styled State of Ohio v. Samer Abu Al-Dabat, Case No. CR-18-632550-A, in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Jury convicted Defendant on a lesser included and misdemeanor offense. (April 2019).
• In a jury trial before the Honorable Shannon M. Gallagher obtained a not guilty verdict on charges of Felonious Assault (3 counts), Improperly Discharging a Firearm at or into a Habitation or School and Discharge of Firearm on or near Prohibited Premises, in a case styled State of Ohio v. Jaiwon Williams, Case CR-20-649960-A (July 15, 2021).
• In a jury trial before the Honorable Dick Ambrose obtained a not guilty verdict on charges of Aggravated Murder, Murder, and Felonious Assault (4 counts), in a case styled State of Ohio v. Billy Tinker, Case CR-19-637310-A (August 19, 2021).
• In a case brought in Lake County, Ohio, our client, age 24, was charged in a double homicide with related charges for Aggravated Robbery and Theft. Along with co-counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, client asserted the affirmative defense of self-defense. Client testified at trial. After two days of deliberation, a verdict was returned. Before the verdict was read, client committed suicide, with one shot to the head, outside the courthouse. Client suffered from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) an incurable disease characterized by constant excruciating pain and rapid weight gain, as the disease strangles the metabolism. Client had gained 150 pounds in a three month period and had ballooned up to nearly 500 pounds. Case was tried before a jury. Judge Patrick Condon found “no purpose would be served by reading the verdict” and placed the verdict under seal. Case was subsequently dismissed. State of Ohio v. Blake Sargi, Lake County, Ohio (October 2021).
• In a jury trial before the Honorable Shannon M. Gallagher obtained a not guilty verdict on charges of Attempted Murder, Felonious Assault (5 counts), Discharging a Firearm on or near Prohibited Premises (2 counts), and Improperly Handling a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle (2 counts), in a case styled State of Ohio v. Jaiwon Williams, Case CR-20-650054-A (December 1, 2021).
• Along with co-counsel, Angelo F. Lonardo, obtained a dismissal of all criminal charges, of Rape (3 counts), Kidnapping (3 counts) and Gross Sexual Imposition (1 count) in a case styled State of Ohio v. T.J. Sloan, Case No. CR-20-651453-A, before the Honorable Shirley Strickland Saffold (August 2022).
• In a jury trial before the Honorable Steven E. Gall obtained a not guilty verdict on a charge of Felonious Assault, in a case styled State of Ohio v. Antonio Williams, Case CR-21-665552-A (April 19, 2023).
• Obtained a dismissal of all charges of Attempted Rape, Aggravated Burglary (5 counts), Kidnapping (2 counts), Aggravated Robbery, and Complicity in a case styled State of Ohio v. Robert Howard, Case CR-22-668871-A, before the Honorable Brendan J. Sheehan (May 2, 2023).
• In a jury trial before the Honorable Richard A. Bell obtained a not guilty verdict on all charges of Aggravated Murder, Murder (2 counts), Attempted Murder, Discharge of Firearm on or Near Prohibited Premises (2 counts), and Felonious Assault (4 counts), in a case styled State of Ohio vs. Thomas Smith, Case No. CR-23-679264-B (December 15, 2023).
• Obtained a dismissal of all charges of Murder (2 counts), Felonious Assault (4 counts), and Having Weapons While Under Disability (1 count), in a case styled State of Ohio v. Marlon Benn, Case No. CR-24-688055-A, before the Honorable Maureen Clancy (April 18, 2024).
• Obtained a dismissal of all charges of Felonious Assault (2 counts), Discharge of Firearm on or Near Prohibited Premises (1 count), Having Weapons While Under Disability (2 counts), Improperly Handling Firearms in a Motor Vehicle (1 count), in a case styled State of Ohio v. Marlon Benn, Case No. CR-23-681502-A, before the Honorable Maureen Clancy (June 25, 2024).
• In a jury trial before the Honorable Maureen Clancy obtained a not guilty verdict on all charges of Felonious Assault (2 counts), Discharge of Firearm on or Near Prohibited Premises (1 count) and Having Weapons While Under Disability (1 count), in a case styled State of Ohio v. Marlon Benn, Case No.CR-24-688054-A, (July 3, 2024).
• In a bench trial along with co-counsel Christopher Maher and James Kenney-Prentiss, before the Honorable Jeffrey P. Saffold, obtained a not guilty verdict on all charges of Aggravated Murder (2 counts), Murder (3 counts), Felonious Assault (2 counts), Aggravated Robbery (2 counts), and Robbery (2 counts), in a case styled State of Ohio v. Jamere Clement, Case No. CR-23-681466-A, (August 9, 2024).