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NEWS June 2, 2009 ADD A COMMENT

Judge Michael Cicconetti actually has

'empathy' for the victims
Ohio Judge Michael A. Cicconetti has gained a reputation for
being tough, as well as a host of admirers for the unique
sentences he hands down to criminals in his Painesville
Municipal Courtroom.
In November 2005, Judge Cicconetti sentenced 30 year-old
Michelle Murray to spend the night before Thanksgiving alone in
a local park. Murray was caught abandoning dozens of helpless
kittens in two separate Lake Metroparks. Several of the kittens
died before animal control officers and volunteers could rescue

Judge Michael A. Cicconetti

them.
Judge Cicconetti informed Murray: "You can listen to the coyotes, hear the raccoons in the dark of
night," and added that Murray would "suffer the same circumstances as those kittens."
Judge Cicconetti told reporters: You dont do that. You dont leave these poor little animals out and,
yes, I wanted to set an example for her future conduct or anybody else who was contemplating doing
such a thing.
Murray spent the night in a remote area of the park, where she had no food, nor shelter, not even a
blanket. She was not allowed to carry a cell phone, only a walkie-talkie on which she could contact the
park rangers in the event of an emergency.
Murray entered the park at dusk on November 23rd, and upon Judge Cicconettis instructions--could
not leave the park until "the light of dawn on November 24th."
In addition to spending the night in the cold, Murray was taken to jail the following morning, to spend
the next 14 days. She was also ordered to pay $3,200 to the Lake County Humane Society, who took
care of the surviving kittens.
Judge Cicconetti definitely has a soft spot in his heart for abused animals. On one occasion, he
sentenced a man convicted of shooting a dog to donate 40 lbs of dog food on every holiday to a local
animal shelter.
The following is a short list of some of the more interesting and fitting sentences handed down by
Judge Cicconetti in recent years:
-In 2008, a woman convicted of stealing from a church was ordered to spell out the sentence "I stole
coins from this church and apologize to each worshipper as they enter the church." in coins. She had
to stand in front of the church on Sunday as the parishioners walked past her.

-In 2008, a man who stole a Salvation Army collection kettle with about $250 was sentenced to spend
24 hours on the streets in January.
-In 2007, three men caught soliciting sex were sentenced to wear chicken suits, while holding signs
that read: "No Chicken Ranch in Painesville.
-In 2003, two teenagers who spray painted 666 on a nativity figure of the baby Jesus were sentenced
to lead a donkey through the streets, with a sign reading: "Sorry for the jackass offense.
Judge Cicconetti is devoted to his community, so much so that during particularly heavy snowstorms,
defendants are often ordered to shovel snow at a local retirement home.
Because of his compassion for crime victims and his desire to make certain that criminals experience
real shame for their actions, Judge Cicconetti is currently serving his third six-year term as an elected
judge.
As we hear our current President talk about empathy being an important component in considering
a judge, as it applies to criminal defendants, it is refreshing to see true empathy imposed upon those
who have no respect for neither the law nor for the law abiding.
Judge Cicconettis courtroom in Painesville, OH is apparently one place where justice still matters.

Dave Gibson, Norfolk Crime Examiner

Dave Gibson has worked in the security industry for many years and brings a law-andorder perspective to current events. His work has appeared in many publications
including The Washington Times, and he is a frequent contributor on the Talk Back
with Chuck Wilder Show heard on CRN Digital talk...