From The Verge · Emma Roth · · 1m 10s
Ohio blogger convicted of harassment for Shrek nude
DJ Byrnes sent an explicit image of the character to state senator Jerry Cirino and was ordered to pay two hundred dollars.
In brief
DJ Byrnes sent an explicit image of the character to state senator Jerry Cirino and was ordered to pay two hundred dollars. An Ohio political blogger was found guilty of telecommunications harassment for sending an explicit Shrek image to a Republican state senator and ordered to pay a two hundred dollar fine…
Blogger convicted of harassment
A jury found Ohio political blogger DJ Byrnes, owner of The Rooster, guilty of telecommunications harassment after sending an explicit Shrek image to Republican state senator Jerry Cirino.
The message and arrest
In May, Byrnes texted Cirino a nude Shrek image with the message: "Good to see you finally made your humiliation public, Young Mussolini!THE PATRIOTS CAUCUS sends its regards!!!!!!!!!!"Cirino filed a police report.
“Good to see you finally made your humiliation public, Young Mussolini! THE PATRIOTS CAUCUS sends its regards!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Byrnes claimed free speech
Byrnes pleaded not guilty to telecommunications harassment, claiming the text was protected free speech. He was reportedly held in jail overnight even though he posted bail.
Judge orders two hundred dollar fine
On Friday, a judge ordered Byrnes to pay a two hundred dollar fine. Cirino said afterward: "This wasn't a free speech issue; this was a harassment statute that I believed he was in violation of."
“This wasn't a free speech issue; this was a harassment statute that I believed he was in violation of.”
What matters most
An Ohio political blogger was found guilty of telecommunications harassment for sending an explicit Shrek image to a Republican state senator and ordered to pay a two hundred dollar fine.
