On Thursday, August 7, 2025, Disciplinary Counsel filed a complaint against attorney Carlos Warner with the Board of Professional Conduct of the Supreme Court of Ohio, alleging multiple violations of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Carlos Warner,” with case number 2025-012.
Warner has had an inactive license since September 8, 2023. The complaint details three counts of misconduct involving harassment, probation violations, and criminal convictions.
The first count stems from Warner’s actions toward Stephen C. Newman, the Federal Public Defender for Northern Ohio, where Warner worked as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Akron from 2005 to September 2020.
In July 2020, Newman learned of Warner’s traffic stop involving drug paraphernalia and suspended him with pay. After Warner’s inpatient mental health treatment, he resigned in September 2020. In June 2022, Warner sent Newman threatening text messages. Warner also posted on social media, accusing Newman of misconduct and referencing a “live stream of his internet death.” These actions led Newman to obtain a Civil Stalking Protection Order against Warner on July 20, 2022, effective until July 20, 2027.
Warner was later convicted of disorderly conduct with persistence on March 21, 2023, receiving a $250 fine, a suspended 30-day jail term, and 12 months of probation with conditions including no contact with Newman.
The second count addresses Warner’s probation violation. In October 2023, Warner posted on Facebook, targeting Newman with derogatory and threatening language, including racial slurs and threats of legal action. He also texted a former colleague, directing them to forward threatening messages to Newman. On December 13, 2023, Warner admitted to violating probation, resulting in an extension of his probation until March 21, 2025, with stricter no-contact orders and mental health treatment requirements.
The third count involves Warner’s interactions with an individual, T.H., whom he met through an escort service in October 2023. After a personal relationship developed, Warner sent T.H. 172 text messages on October 14, 2023, containing threats against her and her boss, including violent language and references to firearms.
T.H. reported the harassment to the Rocky River Police Department, leading to Warner’s arrest. While in custody, Warner exhibited disruptive behavior, including damaging jail property and threatening self-harm, resulting in hospitalization.
On July 9, 2024, Warner pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempted vandalism, criminal damaging, aggravated menacing, telecommunications harassment, menacing by stalking, and violating a protection order. He was sentenced to two years of community control under the supervision of the mental health unit of the adult probation department.
The complaint alleges violations of Professional Conduct Rules 8.4(b) and 8.4(h), citing illegal acts reflecting adversely on Warner’s honesty and fitness to practice law.
According to Avvo, Mr. Warner is a lawyer in Hudson, OH. He acquired his law license in Ohio in 1997.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
