Cattle prod dad files appeal

SANDUSKY — A man accused of using a cattle prod on his children as a form of punishment filed an appeal recently. Robert M. Bores, 36, of the 11300 block of E. Ohio 113, Berlin Heights, filed an appeal because he feels his case was not properly reassigned when the first judge recused herself. Bores was indicted in May 2024 with six third-degree felonies: three counts of domestic violence and three counts of endangering children. The case was originally assigned to Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Beverly McGookey. In July 2025, McGookey realized there was a possible conflict of interest, so she recused herself from the case. She then emailed the other two general division judges: Tygh Tone and Roger Binette, asking if either of them could take the case. Binette responded that he did not have a conflict and would be willing to take the case. Tone, as the administrative judge, then reassigned Bores' case to Binette. Bores, through his attorney, Brent English, believes the reassignment violated Ohio's rules of superintendence for the courts. Bores' appeal specifically points to the rule for assignment of cases following disqualification. "Following disqualification of a judge in a multi-judge court or division of a court, the administrative judge of the court or division shall randomly assign the case among the remaining judges of the court or division who are able to hear the case." Basically, Bores believes the way in which Binette was appointed was not random, and it was, therefore, improper. This appeal does not mention the fact that Bores agreed to enter a guilty plea to two counts of domestic violence in exchange for the other four counts on the indictment being dismissed. Though Bores is attempting to withdraw that guilty plea. Bores filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea in December, and a hearing on the motion began, though it was not completed and was scheduled to continue in January. On the day of that hearing, English filed a 38-page supplement to the guilty plea withdrawal motion, a move that Binette referred to as an "ambush." Once again, the motion hearing was not completed and rescheduled to continue on Feb. 12. That hearing was then moved due to English having a medical issue. The hearing was then set to recommence on Monday, but that hearing was canceled due to the appeal filing. If Bores' guilty plea stands, he could be sentenced to up to six years in prison if he received the maximum three years per count and the judge imposes consecutive sentences.