Portsmouth attorney and former city councilman Michael Mearan has obtained new counsel in the case accusing him of sex trafficking and promoting prostitution, according to Scioto County court records.
Michael Siewert of Siewert & Gjostein Co. LPA in Columbus is now on the case, and Mearan is no longer listed as his own counsel as of Tuesday afternoon.
Mearan, 75, is charged with nine counts of promoting prostitution, five counts of compelling prostitution, three counts of human trafficking and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. He has consistently denied the allegations, which were first reported in March 2019 by The Enquirer.
Documents filed in January confirmed much of The Enquirer's investigation and outlined how Mearan allegedly made women "crawl like dogs," demeaned them, verbally abused them and pocketed the money they earned in sex-for-hire appointments he arranged.
Mearan has fought to represent himself since early December when he began filing as his own counsel and later told The Enquirer his intention to represent himself in the case. Richard Nash, who represented Mearan at his October arraignment, has since confirmed he is no longer associated with the case.
More: 'Incredibly terrifying.' Portsmouth attorney Michael Mearan now representing himself, documents say
More: Prosecutors ask judge to revoke Michael Mearan's bond in Portsmouth sex trafficking case
Siewert has been practicing law for 35 years, according to his website. His practice areas range from OVI cases to rape and kidnapping cases. He received an undergraduate degree at Miami University of Ohio in 1981 and graduated from Case Western University Law School in 1984.
As his own attorney, Mearan would be in a position to cross-examine his alleged victims at trial. State prosecutors filed an objection to Mearan's ability to defend himself, stating Mearan's request to do so is a "further attempt to manipulate and intimidate" his alleged victims. Judge Patricia Cosgrove was scheduled to rule on Mearan's request during a Thursday court hearing before Mearan obtained Siewert as counsel.
The hearing has since been rescheduled to Friday afternoon, according to court records. State prosecutors say Mearan violated his bond conditions by taking on new clients at his law practice after his arraignment. Cosgrove is scheduled to rule on that alleged violation Friday.
Siewert could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday afternoon. The Attorney General's office declined to comment.
If you or someone you know needs help
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
Drug Helpline: 1-888-633-3239
If you know more about these allegations, please reach out to The Enquirer at [email protected].
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