City of Cleveland v. Anderson

James D. Sweeney, Judge.

On July 17, 1990, the defendants-appellants, twenty-six abortion protestors, pled no contest to a single charge of disorderly conduct, a minor misdemeanor under Cleveland Municipal Ordinance 605.03. Appellants were sentenced by the trial court to the maximum allowable fine of $100 plus costs, with costs suspended.

After hearing the sentence of the court, the appellants informed the court that although they had the ability to pay the fine they would not pay the fine because of religious and philosophical beliefs. They further requested that they be sent to the county…