An armed robber had his mouth taped shut in court after refusing to stop talking while the judge was sentencing him.
Franklyn Williams, 32, repeatedly interrupted Judge John Russo during the hearing in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and was given repeated warnings to keep quiet
Judge Russo, who was sentencing Williams over charges including aggravated robbery, kidnap and theft, eventually lost his patience with the defendant and ordered officers to gag him.
He told Williams: “I’m gonna tape it and then I’ll unzip it when I want you to talk.”
As officers surrounded him, the judge also warned: “Spit on, and attempt to bite, or injure any of my deputies and you’re gonna have a bad day.”
But, the tape did not stop Williams who continued to protest with his voice still audible despite being gagged.
The incident, on Tuesday, prompted outrage from the Ohio branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Staff attorney Elizabeth Bonham said: “We cannot regard this as normal. It is humiliating.
“It doesn't just deprive this person of the opportunity to speak before his life is taken away, it steals his dignity.
“Everything about this is wrong.”
Williams was eventually sentenced to 24 years in prison for a series of offences including aggravated robbery, kidnapping and theft.
