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Judge gives teen 6 months for contempt, orders cellphone destroyed due to courthouse photos

An Ohio judge on Monday gave an 18-year-old court attendee six months for contempt and ordered his smartphone destroyed because the teen had taken prohibited photos in a Hamilton County courthouse hallway.

Daymar Whitehead admitted that he had taken photos, and attempted to apologize, but argued to no avail that he hadn’t seen signs banning photographs because he wasn’t wearing his glasses, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer.

“I am not putting up with this,” said Common Pleas Judge Robert Ruehlman.

Whitehead took the photos as his friend, Maliek Smith, was being led away by a bailiff after Ruehlman refused to reduce his bond on robbery and heroin possession charges, the newspaper reports.

Witnesses said Whitehead also shouted “Free Maliek!” when he was in the courthouse hallway, according to the Enquirer.

Security at the courthouse was enhanced last year, the newspaper notes, after the brother of a murder-trial witness was fatally shot on the same day the witness testified.

The judge said he also sentenced another man to six months for contempt earlier this month, after a city attorney accused Charles Harrell of taking photos in the courthouse of police officers and posting at least one on Facebook. However, the 29-year-old soon paid $500 bond, the newspaper notes. An earlier Cincinnati Enquirer story provides details.

At last report, Whitehead was still behind bars.

See also:

Cincinnati Enquirer: “What happened after testimony proved deadly”