On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, the Board of Professional Conduct of the Supreme Court of Ohio filed charges for attorney discipline against attorney Jack Allen Blakeslee alleging professional misconduct. The case is styled “Disciplinary Counsel v. Jack Allen Blakeslee” and was brought by the Board of Professional Conduct. Case #2022-046.

The charges cited rules of professional conduct Rule 8.4(h): Prof.Cond.R. 8.4(h) which state:

It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in any other conduct that adversely reflects on the lawyer’s fitness to practice law.

The rules of professional conduct can be found here.

The following are as alleged and summarized from the filing:

The charges arose in connection with the death of a four-year-old child and the abuse of a two-year-old child. Wells was living with the child ren and the children’s mother at the time of the child’s death. On June 1, 2021, Alexander Wells was indicted in the Guernsey County Common Pleas Court for Aggravated Murder, an unclassified felony, with a Victim Under Age 13 specification, which is a capital offense. Wells was also indicted for Murder, an unclassified felony; Involuntary Manslaughter, a felony of the second degree; Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the third degree; two counts of Endangering Children, felonies of the second degree; and two counts of Felonious Assault, felonies of the second degree.

The filing states:

‘On November 30, 2021, the day of Wells’s pretrial hearing, the respondent deposited his feces into an empty potato chip can before leaving his home. He did not put a lid on the can. Respondent drove with the can of feces to Cambridge, Ohio.’ On June 7, 2021, the respondent appeared at Wells’ arraignment and the court formally appointed him to represent Wells.

The filing continues:

‘Respondent slowed his vehicle down as he initially passed Haven of Hope’s parking lot. Respondent then drove further down the alley, passing by other parking lots, and turned around, allowing him to drive past Haven of Hope’s parking lot a second time. Respondent slowed again as he passed Haven of Hope’s parking lot for the second time and threw the open chip can containing his feces out of his car window and into Haven of Hope’s parking lot.’

The filing further alleges:

‘Wilkinson-Carpenter reported the incident to the Cambridge Police Department. Respondent was charged with and pled guilty to Disorderly Conduct and Littering, both minor misdemeanors. The respondent paid a fine and court costs. ‘

The filing additionally notes:

‘Respondent has engaged in similar conduct on approximately ten previous occasions, indiscriminately choosing the location where he throws the chip cans containing his
feces.’

Due to these facts and circumstances, the Relator requested that the respondent be found in violation of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and be sanctioned accordingly.

As of today, Mr. Blakeslee is listed on the website of the law firm as a practicing attorney. His info can be found on Linkedin. He attended the University of Akron Blakeslee practices in Caldwell and has been licensed there. 

A copy of the original filing can be found here.