On Friday, August 22, 2025, Ronald W. Hesseling II filed a complaint for a writ of mandamus in the Supreme Court of Ohio, seeking to compel the Allen County Court of Common Pleas to suspend court costs in his criminal case.

Hesseling, an inmate at Marion Correctional Institution, is acting pro se in the matter, representing himself without legal counsel. The case stems from his conviction in Allen County case number CR 2021-0343.

Hesseling requested that Judge Terri L. Kohlrieser of the Allen County Court of Common Pleas suspend $5,369.33 in court costs for five years, citing his indigent status. He earns $18 per month in prison wages, which he stated is subject to deductions for medical co-payments, miscellaneous medical expenses, utility charges, clothing, hygiene products, and other prison-related costs. Hesseling argued that his limited income makes it impossible to pay the court costs at this time.

The filing references prior denials by the Allen County Court of Common Pleas of similar requests to suspend costs. Hesseling claimed the court failed to consider his ability to pay, as required under Ohio Revised Code 2947.23(C), despite having previously declared him indigent. The court appointed defense counsel for him before his conviction due to his financial status. Hesseling was convicted on multiple drug-related charges following a grand jury indictment and sentenced to a lengthy prison term.

In support of his writ, Hesseling cited two Ohio appellate court cases: State v. Clevenger (2006) and State v. Drake (2012). In Clevenger, the court reversed a trial court’s ruling but noted that court costs could be suspended for indigent defendants. In Drake, the court upheld a decision to stay cost collection until the defendant’s release from prison. Hesseling argued that these precedents support his request for a suspension of costs until his financial situation improves.

Hesseling’s filing includes a memorandum asserting that his indigency persisted before, during, and after his conviction, including at the Correctional Reception Center and Richland Correctional Institution. He requested the Supreme Court of Ohio to reverse the lower court’s judgments and direct the Allen County Court to suspend the costs for five years.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.