If Jeffery Conrad had remained in court for his trial, he would have had a stun device on his leg in case he got out of line. Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Paul Gallagher had approved Summit County sheriff’s deputies putting this device, never before used in Summit County Common Pleas Court, on Conrad’s leg during the trial. Deputies had requested this extra safety precaution for Conrad, who in the past has threatened both deputies and his first attorney.
Job Perry, Conrad’s current attorney, objected to the use of this device, saying it amounted to “cruel and unusual punishment.” Because it hasn’t been used before, Perry said it wasn’t possible to say how it would work or how Conrad would react if it was deployed.
“It takes away his right to a fair trial,” Perry argued.
Conrad, however, ultimately told Gallagher he didn’t want to be in court for his trial, so he never donned the stun device.
Bill Holland, a spokesman for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, said the leg device has been used in other large counties, but not in Summit.
“It is something we are going to implement,” he said. “We have a policy written on it.”
Holland said deputies have previously used stun cuffs during transport to the courthouse on inmates with a history of violent behavior.
— Stephanie Warsmith
