I am stepping forward to highlight the grave issue of incompetent legal representation provided to my loved one, Juan Otero III, who is presently confined in the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center. It is an undeniable fact that each citizen holds the fundamental right to sound legal counsel. However, the attorney, Donald Butler, retained to represent Juan Otero III, has disappointed us by not fulfilling his responsibilities properly.

His inadequacy in this role is brought into sharp focus when you consider his failure to file essential motions that could substantially aid in Juan's defense. All over the United States, as many as 20% of people incarcerated have received inadequate legal representation during their trials, according to the National Registry of Exonerations (2017).

Juan Otero III's case stands as one example in the masses. But we are not writing this today for just one individual. We are writing for all those who believe in the sanctity of justice and those who feel that every individual deserves a fair trial. A faulty legal system undermines faith in the integrity of our democracy. Therefore, it is requisite for all concerned authorities to look into this issue urgently and rectify these ongoing failures in legal representation.

Lend your voice to our call for justice by signing this petition. Stand up for Juan Otero III and others who may have been deprived of their fundamental right to competent legal counsel.

JUAN OTERO WORDS

I am writing this because I am of ineffective assistant of counsel by attorney Donald Butler. My attorney Mr. Butler did not file the appropriate motion to suppress evidence in my case that was hearsay , challenge the warrant and the times he would come to Northeast Ohio Correctional Center to see me he was never prepared to go over my case.

So when i spoke up in court about not receiving a fair trail, I was talked down on by my attorney and judge because I didn't pass the bar exam nor was I a Attorney. But i do know my Constitutional rights. So during sentencing I was sentence as a career offender guidelines and received 300 months for which didn't fit my crime. I stressed to my attorney Mr. Butler and judge that I was not a career offender and my criminal history guidelines was wrong. I was told by the judge I wasn't here to challenge my points during sentencing and i could not challenge anything the probation office  filed because it was right nor did my attorney object.

After i was sentence i received all my court files in them files was an email from the prosecutor to my attorney  that he was still open to a plea, My attorney never discuss that with me.

               Juan Otero III