Headlines 9 September 2025

Bellevue man sentenced to 10 years for threatening to kill lawyers, judge

PORT CLINTON — A Bellevue man who threatened to kill his lawyer, prosecutors, and the judge handling his criminal case has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced this week.

“You can’t threaten lawyers and judges and not expect there to be consequences,” Yost said. “A decade behind bars will give this defendant ample time to think before he speaks.”

Eric Braun, 49, of Bellevue, was initially charged for a road rage incident, which occurred in February 2023. Braun was charged in Ottawa County with improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony and aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor.

During the criminal proceedings, Braun threatened to kill his attorney, the judge, the assigned prosecutor and the elected prosecuting attorney. For these threats, Braun was charged with four counts of intimidation against an attorney, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of aggravated menacing.

A jury found Braun guilty on all counts on June 13, and on Sept. 5 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The original criminal matter was investigated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the threats against law enforcement were investigated by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.  

The case was prosecuted by Yost’s Special Prosecutions Section.

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