REVOKE BOND FOR ACCUSED MURDERER DONALD SCHLARMAN IMMEDIATELY

The Issue

On Monday, March 7, 2011, at the VIP Lounge in Hilliard, Ohio, Donald Schlarman stabbed to death Jeff Fijolek and Tyler Bronson and stabbed two other men who attempted to come to their aid: another patron and the singer from a local acoustic band performing there that evening, causing them serious injury as well. This occurred in the presence of a room packed with witnesses. This was NOT a 'drunken barroom brawl' but rather an unexpected attack in which the first victim was stabbed multiple times (fourteen, to be exact) in a matter of seconds and died within moments. All of the victims were unarmed; Schlarman had carried an illegal, concealed knife into the establishment. Schlarman was arrested and charged with 4 counts of Murder and 4 counts of Felonious Assault and his bond set in the amount of $500,000. On April 14, 2011, this bond was posted by Schlarman's mother, and he was released on house arrest. Almost five months later, on August 9, 2011, the State of Ohio filed a Motion For Bond Reconsideration, in which is stated: "The following is a timeline of offenses, primarily acts of violence, that the State believes the Defendant has committed....This information was not known to the State at the time of the last bond hearing in this matter". What follows is the timeline of offenses, for which there are police reports, outlining Donald Schlarman's penchant for violent behavior: JUNE 2002- "Defendant pushed his wife out the front door and locked her out. Police were called when he then assaulted a person named Tyler Richards. Defendant allegedly assaulted a responding officer. Tyler required surgery on his arm but declined to press charges". No further information is available regarding the alleged assault on the officer. SUMMER 2003- "Defendant assaulted an individual named Ben Kerins, who suffered a concussion. Kerins agreed not to press charges if Defendant paid all his medical bills". SUMMER 2003- "Defendant damaged a neighbor's car in a fit of rage. Defendant paid for damages". 2003/2004- 'Multiple reports made of Domestic Violence toward wife, along with repeated incidents of him vandalizing her car". JUNE 11, 2004- "Police responded to a domestic dispute between Defendant and his wife in which Defendant threw a glass and stereo equipment at a wall". Wife stated she feared for the safety of herself and her 2 children and left the apartment with them. JANUARY 28, 2007- More vandalism reports. JULY 27, 2008- "Defendant threatened to kill the boyfriend of (his now estranged) wife, Jason McDonald. She (the estranged wife) was able to hear the Defendant opening his digital gun safe as he yelled at her. Defendant's father later called and informed her that he had taken a gun away from his son". SEPTEMBER 2008- On the first day of their divorce hearing (September 21 or 22), Defendant again vandalized his estranged wife's car, breaking out all the windows and slashing the tires." The matter was set for hearing on August 18, 2011, and in response to this Motion, the Court raised Schlarman's bond by another $200,000, which his mother also paid on August 19, 2011. He was allowed to remain free on house arrest. What followed was a total of three continuances in this matter , the latest being until March 12, 2012. This permits this man to remain at home with his family and friends for quite an extended period of time, including throughout the holiday season, when he has deprived two other men of being able to do the same. Further, given this man's history of violent behavior and fits of rage, there is a very real concern within the community and extended areas that this man poses a great threat to the public, as well as to the victims, witnesses, and potential witnesses in the upcoming criminal case against him. We feel that there is absolutely no protection afforded by the fact that he is on house arrest, as this will not in any way prevent further acts of violence from this individual should he be so inclined, as he has so often been in the past. We are therefore requesting that the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Judge John P. Bessey, revoke Donald Schlarman's bond in the matter of case #11CR001461 IMMEDIATELY, and place him in custody to await trial, for the safety of all parties involved and the public at large, as well as to represent a standard of justice important to all citizens everywhere. ***ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AND IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT fcdcfcjs.co.franklin.oh.us/caseinformationonline/, LAST NAME: Schlarman, FIRST NAME: Donald, Case No. 11CR001461, WITH TIMELINE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INFORMATION BEING AVAILABLE IN PDF IMAGE A10***

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The Issue

On Monday, March 7, 2011, at the VIP Lounge in Hilliard, Ohio, Donald Schlarman stabbed to death Jeff Fijolek and Tyler Bronson and stabbed two other men who attempted to come to their aid: another patron and the singer from a local acoustic band performing there that evening, causing them serious injury as well. This occurred in the presence of a room packed with witnesses. This was NOT a 'drunken barroom brawl' but rather an unexpected attack in which the first victim was stabbed multiple times (fourteen, to be exact) in a matter of seconds and died within moments. All of the victims were unarmed; Schlarman had carried an illegal, concealed knife into the establishment. Schlarman was arrested and charged with 4 counts of Murder and 4 counts of Felonious Assault and his bond set in the amount of $500,000. On April 14, 2011, this bond was posted by Schlarman's mother, and he was released on house arrest. Almost five months later, on August 9, 2011, the State of Ohio filed a Motion For Bond Reconsideration, in which is stated: "The following is a timeline of offenses, primarily acts of violence, that the State believes the Defendant has committed....This information was not known to the State at the time of the last bond hearing in this matter". What follows is the timeline of offenses, for which there are police reports, outlining Donald Schlarman's penchant for violent behavior: JUNE 2002- "Defendant pushed his wife out the front door and locked her out. Police were called when he then assaulted a person named Tyler Richards. Defendant allegedly assaulted a responding officer. Tyler required surgery on his arm but declined to press charges". No further information is available regarding the alleged assault on the officer. SUMMER 2003- "Defendant assaulted an individual named Ben Kerins, who suffered a concussion. Kerins agreed not to press charges if Defendant paid all his medical bills". SUMMER 2003- "Defendant damaged a neighbor's car in a fit of rage. Defendant paid for damages". 2003/2004- 'Multiple reports made of Domestic Violence toward wife, along with repeated incidents of him vandalizing her car". JUNE 11, 2004- "Police responded to a domestic dispute between Defendant and his wife in which Defendant threw a glass and stereo equipment at a wall". Wife stated she feared for the safety of herself and her 2 children and left the apartment with them. JANUARY 28, 2007- More vandalism reports. JULY 27, 2008- "Defendant threatened to kill the boyfriend of (his now estranged) wife, Jason McDonald. She (the estranged wife) was able to hear the Defendant opening his digital gun safe as he yelled at her. Defendant's father later called and informed her that he had taken a gun away from his son". SEPTEMBER 2008- On the first day of their divorce hearing (September 21 or 22), Defendant again vandalized his estranged wife's car, breaking out all the windows and slashing the tires." The matter was set for hearing on August 18, 2011, and in response to this Motion, the Court raised Schlarman's bond by another $200,000, which his mother also paid on August 19, 2011. He was allowed to remain free on house arrest. What followed was a total of three continuances in this matter , the latest being until March 12, 2012. This permits this man to remain at home with his family and friends for quite an extended period of time, including throughout the holiday season, when he has deprived two other men of being able to do the same. Further, given this man's history of violent behavior and fits of rage, there is a very real concern within the community and extended areas that this man poses a great threat to the public, as well as to the victims, witnesses, and potential witnesses in the upcoming criminal case against him. We feel that there is absolutely no protection afforded by the fact that he is on house arrest, as this will not in any way prevent further acts of violence from this individual should he be so inclined, as he has so often been in the past. We are therefore requesting that the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Judge John P. Bessey, revoke Donald Schlarman's bond in the matter of case #11CR001461 IMMEDIATELY, and place him in custody to await trial, for the safety of all parties involved and the public at large, as well as to represent a standard of justice important to all citizens everywhere. ***ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AND IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT fcdcfcjs.co.franklin.oh.us/caseinformationonline/, LAST NAME: Schlarman, FIRST NAME: Donald, Case No. 11CR001461, WITH TIMELINE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INFORMATION BEING AVAILABLE IN PDF IMAGE A10***

The Decision Makers

JUDGE JOHN P. BESSEY AND FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
JUDGE JOHN P. BESSEY AND FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

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