http://www.toledoblade.com The Latest News from Toledoblade.com (v5) Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:10:35 GMT en-us hourly 1 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2026/09/04/exton-removed-from-courtroom-disrupting-closing-arguments/stories/20260904083 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2026/09/04/exton-removed-from-courtroom-disrupting-closing-arguments/stories/20260904083#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:56:38 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2026/09/04/exton-removed-from-courtroom-disrupting-closing-arguments/stories/20260904083 A lawyer who admitted thrusting his gun toward his ex-wife in a Warehouse District restaurant last year was found guilty by a trial jury Friday of attempted murder. Defendant Matthew Exton enters the courtroom at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2026/09/03/exton-testifies-defense-attempted-murder-trial/stories/20260903111 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2026/09/03/exton-testifies-defense-attempted-murder-trial/stories/20260903111#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2026 22:33:49 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2026/09/03/exton-testifies-defense-attempted-murder-trial/stories/20260903111 Matthew Exton vehemently denied any intent to harm his ex-wife at his trial for attempted murder Thursday even as he admitted pointing his Colt handgun directly at her face. Defendant Matthew Exton speaks with his lawyer Ronnie Wingate at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/09/02/bodycam-on-scene-interview-becomes-issue-at-exton-trial/stories/20260902092 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/09/02/bodycam-on-scene-interview-becomes-issue-at-exton-trial/stories/20260902092#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2026 18:42:03 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/09/02/bodycam-on-scene-interview-becomes-issue-at-exton-trial/stories/20260902092 The parents of a woman whose ex-husband allegedly tried to kill her in a Warehouse District restaurant last year both described in court Wednesday how the man leveled his gun but then failed to fire a shot before being tackled. Defendant Matthew Exton speaks with his lawyers, Ronnie Wingate (left) and Morgan Isenberg (center), at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/09/01/waiter-describes-tackling-restaurant-gunman-as-trial-starts/stories/20260901093 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/09/01/waiter-describes-tackling-restaurant-gunman-as-trial-starts/stories/20260901093#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:50:35 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/09/01/waiter-describes-tackling-restaurant-gunman-as-trial-starts/stories/20260901093 When Kayda Valone saw her ex-husband striding for a second time into the Warehouse District restaurant where she and her parents were dining on a spring evening last year, she immediately activated her phone’s video recorder and propped it on the table. Defendant Matthew Exton enters the courtroom at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. Defendant Matthew Exton appears in court for his attempted murder trial at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. Defendant Matthew Exton speaks with his lawyer Ronnie Wingate at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. Defendant Matthew Exton speaks with his lawyer Ronnie Wingate at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. Defense attorney Ronnie Wingate makes his opening remarks for his defendant Matthew Exton at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. Defendant Matthew Exton enters the courtroom at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. Defendant Matthew Exton speaks with his lawyer Ronnie Wingate at the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo on Sept. 1. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/31/lawyer-accused-trying-shoot-wife-restaurant-goes-trial-tuesday/stories/20260831079 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/31/lawyer-accused-trying-shoot-wife-restaurant-goes-trial-tuesday/stories/20260831079#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:55:12 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/31/lawyer-accused-trying-shoot-wife-restaurant-goes-trial-tuesday/stories/20260831079 A jury of seven women and five men, plus four alternates, was seated Monday for the attempted-murder trial of a lawyer accused of trying to shoot his estranged wife in a Warehouse District restaurant last year. Matthew Exton, accused of trying to shoot his estranged wife in a downtown restaurant last year, appears in Toledo Municipal Court on April 14, 2025. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/31/man-s-6-year-term-for-knife-attack-leaves-victim-sobbing/stories/20260831076 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/31/man-s-6-year-term-for-knife-attack-leaves-victim-sobbing/stories/20260831076#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:53:37 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/31/man-s-6-year-term-for-knife-attack-leaves-victim-sobbing/stories/20260831076 Jackie Dickens had considered Nicholas Ratliff a friend since infancy, but that changed on the morning Ratliff tried to slash her throat. A gavel. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/27/belmon-ends-up-with-20-years-for-byrne-road-driver-s-fatal-shooting/stories/20260827089 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/27/belmon-ends-up-with-20-years-for-byrne-road-driver-s-fatal-shooting/stories/20260827089#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:09:39 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/27/belmon-ends-up-with-20-years-for-byrne-road-driver-s-fatal-shooting/stories/20260827089 A man whose trial conviction for murder was overturned on appeal pleaded guilty to reduced charges Thursday morning for a fatal South Toledo shooting that killed a Byrne Road motorist in 2022. Sheriff's deputies escort Cedrick Belmon, Jr., 19, out of a Lucas County Common Pleas courtroom following his sentencing Nov. 16, 2023 for the July 29, 2022 murder of Dominick Barnett, 29, the driver of a passing vehicle on Byrne Road. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/26/judge-adds-maximum-rvo-time-to-laas-murder-sentence/stories/20260826098 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/26/judge-adds-maximum-rvo-time-to-laas-murder-sentence/stories/20260826098#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:18:06 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/26/judge-adds-maximum-rvo-time-to-laas-murder-sentence/stories/20260826098 A South Toledo man who brutally stabbed and beat a 63-year-old neighbor to death in February received maximum repeat violent offender prison time Wednesday in addition to the statutory sentence for murder. Bryan Laas https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/26/man-gets-18-months-for-damaging-motorcycle-brakes/stories/20260825098 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/26/man-gets-18-months-for-damaging-motorcycle-brakes/stories/20260825098#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:20:18 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/26/man-gets-18-months-for-damaging-motorcycle-brakes/stories/20260825098 A man who cut a brake cable on a motorcycle belonging to his girlfriend’s boss received an 18-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to reduced charges. Kenneth Upchurch (left) in Lucas County Common Pleas Court with defense lawyer Phil Carlisle before sentencing on Aug. 25. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/25/man-who-sought-hitman-against-girlfriend-sent-to-prison/stories/20260825089 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/25/man-who-sought-hitman-against-girlfriend-sent-to-prison/stories/20260825089#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2026 18:57:49 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/25/man-who-sought-hitman-against-girlfriend-sent-to-prison/stories/20260825089 A woman whose former boyfriend tried to hire someone to kill her told a Lucas County judge Tuesday morning that she is rebuilding her life after living in fear of him. Lucas County Courthouse. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/25/evidence-handoff-nears-completion-in-old-west-end-shooting/stories/20260825079 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/25/evidence-handoff-nears-completion-in-old-west-end-shooting/stories/20260825079#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:23:33 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/25/evidence-handoff-nears-completion-in-old-west-end-shooting/stories/20260825079 A large batch of Old West End Festival shooting evidence slated for delivery Friday to two defendants’ lawyers will bring such delivery close to completion, a prosecutor said in court Tuesday. Ka Nye Taylor, left and Eljay Crisp-Carr https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/24/final-defendant-fatal-gun-robbery-sent-prison/stories/20260824075 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/24/final-defendant-fatal-gun-robbery-sent-prison/stories/20260824075#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:07:10 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/24/final-defendant-fatal-gun-robbery-sent-prison/stories/20260824075 When Heather Zielinski read a statement Monday afternoon about the shooting death last year of her son, Darius Washington, the words were her grandson’s, not her own. Paul Wheatley Jr. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/21/man-who-tried-hire-hitman-kill-girlfriend-pleads-attempted-murder/stories/20260821083 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/21/man-who-tried-hire-hitman-kill-girlfriend-pleads-attempted-murder/stories/20260821083#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:56:13 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/21/man-who-tried-hire-hitman-kill-girlfriend-pleads-attempted-murder/stories/20260821083 A South Toledo man who offered another man $4,000 to kill his former girlfriend entered an Alford plea Friday afternoon to attempted murder. The Lucas County Courthouse from the corner of Erie Street and Jefferson Avenue. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/21/second-man-arrested-in-airport-highway-homicide/stories/20260821075 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/21/second-man-arrested-in-airport-highway-homicide/stories/20260821075#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2026 17:51:49 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/21/second-man-arrested-in-airport-highway-homicide/stories/20260821075 A second man has been arrested for a fatal shooting earlier this month at a South Toledo bar. Marcus Hughes https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/20/man-shot-after-stealing-vehicle-gets-probation-in-theft-case/stories/20260820106 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/20/man-shot-after-stealing-vehicle-gets-probation-in-theft-case/stories/20260820106#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:02:35 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/20/man-shot-after-stealing-vehicle-gets-probation-in-theft-case/stories/20260820106 A central Toledo man who stole a vehicle and was later shot by its owner has received suspended jail time and two years’ probation for the theft. Jamar Turner https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/20/man-40-years-child-sexual-abuse-pornography/stories/20260820107 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/20/man-40-years-child-sexual-abuse-pornography/stories/20260820107#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:54:39 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/20/man-40-years-child-sexual-abuse-pornography/stories/20260820107 A Toledo man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting two children and child-pornography charges in a case also involving a Texas couple. Chaz Jacob https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/17/summonses-for-kei-mani-latigue-jury-pool-soon-to-be-mailed/stories/20260817071 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/17/summonses-for-kei-mani-latigue-jury-pool-soon-to-be-mailed/stories/20260817071#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:06:14 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/17/summonses-for-kei-mani-latigue-jury-pool-soon-to-be-mailed/stories/20260817071 About 350 Lucas County voters will soon receive summonses as potential jurors for Darnell Jones’ upcoming capital-murder trial for the death of his daughter, Kei’mani Latigue. The memorial for Kei'mani Latigue near the derelict Miami Street house where she was found dead in East Toledo on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2026/08/15/woman-who-tortured-man-with-stabbings-hot-grease-gets-12-years/stories/20260814108 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2026/08/15/woman-who-tortured-man-with-stabbings-hot-grease-gets-12-years/stories/20260814108#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:30:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2026/08/15/woman-who-tortured-man-with-stabbings-hot-grease-gets-12-years/stories/20260814108 A Toledo woman who stabbed a man and then tried to set him on fire in late 2024 has entered Alford pleas to attempted murder and aggravated arson. Indola Marita Howell Indiola Marita Howell https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/11/county-court-cuts-costs-by-outsourcing-drug-testing-services/stories/20260811088 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/11/county-court-cuts-costs-by-outsourcing-drug-testing-services/stories/20260811088#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:42:32 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/11/county-court-cuts-costs-by-outsourcing-drug-testing-services/stories/20260811088 Lucas County’s Court of Common Pleas will begin outsourcing the work of its drug testing laboratory to reduce costs as departments across the county brace for funding cuts. Lucas County Courthouse. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/11/toledo-bank-tops-list-of-lourdes-major-unsecured-creditors/stories/20260811086 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/11/toledo-bank-tops-list-of-lourdes-major-unsecured-creditors/stories/20260811086#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:58:56 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2026/08/11/toledo-bank-tops-list-of-lourdes-major-unsecured-creditors/stories/20260811086 Twin bankruptcy filings by Lourdes University and an affiliate on Monday started a process that is virtually certain to take many months to resolve. A person walks around campus May 1 at Lourdes University in Sylvania.