Ohio Man Accused of Assaulting Church Volunteer Sparks Chaotic Court Hearing, Demands to Defend Himself

OHIO – Court Hearing Erupts After Defendant Rejects Lawyer and Declares Himself Innocent, A routine court appearance in Belmont County turned into a disorderly scene this week after 33-year-old Zachary Heckathorn loudly rejected legal representation and insisted he would defend himself against multiple charges tied to an alleged assault at a church-run free store in Martins Ferry, Ohio.

Heckathorn faces charges of assault, criminal trespass, and aggravated menacing, according to the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and Martins Ferry Police Department. The accusations follow a violent incident on Nov. 14 at Rethreads, a community free store operated by Grace Presbyterian Church.

Volunteer Punched 10–15 Times After Removing Suspect From Store

Police say the disturbance began when Heckathorn was asked to leave the store after allegedly causing a disruption. A volunteer escorted him out without further issue — but the situation escalated an hour later.

According to authorities, Heckathorn returned shortly after 10 a.m. and punched the volunteer 10 to 15 times, striking the victim in the face and body before fleeing down an alley. Officers located Heckathorn two blocks away based on witness descriptions and took him into custody.

He has been held in the Belmont County Jail since his arrest.

Court Outburst as Defendant Rejects Attorney and Insists Trial Begin Immediately

During his scheduled hearing — held by video feed due to his incarceration — attorneys for both sides requested a continuance. That request sparked a heated reaction from Heckathorn, who accused his own defense counsel of incompetence and insisted he be allowed to represent himself.

“I do not wish to have a lawyer to represent me. I can represent myself,” he declared. “A pretrial is still trial. I am being denied my right to a fair and speedy trial.”

Heckathorn continued, arguing that the case lacked evidence.

“There is no evidence against me. A statement that somebody’s saying something is not evidence, it’s hearsay,” he said. “I am going to be declared innocent because I am innocent.”

Despite warnings from the judge, Heckathorn continued interrupting proceedings, leading to a chaotic exchange documented by local news outlet WTRF.

Next Court Date Set for December 12

Following the disruptions, the judge maintained the scheduled timeline. Heckathorn is set to return to court on Dec. 12 for trial.

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