On Friday, October 3, 2025, the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct recommended that Richard Steven Skelton, Attorney Reg. No. 0040694, face a one-year suspension from practicing law, stayed in its entirety, provided he commits no further misconduct. This recommendation stems from findings that Skelton, a former judge in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, violated multiple rules of judicial and professional conduct.
The board’s decision, detailed in a report filed with the Supreme Court of Ohio, concludes that Skelton violated Jud.Cond.R. 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.9(C), 2.11(A) and Prof.Cond. R. 8.3(b) and 8.4(d). The charges arose from Skelton’s interactions and actions related to the case of Aaron Cox, who was convicted of aggravated robbery, felonious assault, escape, and possession of a fentanyl-related compound.
The investigation revealed that Skelton engaged in multiple ex parte communications with Cox’s mother, Shelly Overton, starting in September 2020. Overton, an employee at a medical practice where Skelton was a patient, communicated with the then-judge via email, phone, and text messages regarding her son’s case and the possibility of his early release from prison.
Evidence presented showed that Skelton discussed transferring Cox’s case to his docket with the original trial judge, Michael W. Krumholtz, before Krumholtz’s retirement. After Krumholtz retired and a visiting judge denied Cox’s motion for judicial release, Skelton received the case. He then proceeded to communicate further with Overton, including arranging a meeting to discuss the case.
The board found that Skelton abused the prestige of his judicial office by facilitating Cox’s early release. He met with Cox ex parte, without the presence of prosecutors or defense counsel, and informed him of his impending release. Despite objections from the prosecution, Skelton granted Cox judicial release on June 10, 2022, without conducting a proper hearing or making the required findings of fact.
Following Cox’s release, Skelton continued to communicate with Overton, exchanging family photos and discussing Cox’s adjustment to life outside prison. The state appealed the judicial release order, and Cox was later found to have violated his probation, resulting in his reimprisonment.
Judges Timothy O’Connell and Mary Wiseman confronted Skelton about their concerns regarding the circumstances of Cox’s case transfer and encouraged him to self-report his misconduct. Skelton refused, leading to the filing of a grievance against him.
The Board of Professional Conduct cited two aggravating factors in its recommendation: a pattern of misconduct and multiple offenses. Mitigating factors included the absence of a prior disciplinary record, the absence of dishonest or selfish motive, full and free disclosure to the board or cooperative attitude toward the proceedings, and evidence of good character or reputation.
The board’s recommendation now goes to the Supreme Court of Ohio for final action.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
