# 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.
- Title: Ohio blogger convicted of harassment for Shrek nude | Shortify
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: dj byrnes, jerry cirino, the rooster, ohio, telecommunications harassment, shrek, technology, culture, blogger, convicted, harassment, nude
- Source: The Verge — https://theverge.com/policy/1008991/ohio-blogger-harassment-shrek-nude
- Author: Emma Roth
- Published: 2026-10-09T19:41:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dj byrnes, jerry cirino, the rooster, ohio, telecommunications harassment, shrek, technology, culture
## 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.
## Key takeaway

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.