Murder trial in rental cabin stabbing case set to start Monday

LOGAN — With his trial on murder and other felony charges set to begin Monday, a Fairfield County man has gotten permission from a judge to come to court wearing civilian clothes instead of a jail uniform, and with no visible restraints.

Isaac Pence, 21, is facing charges of murder, felonious assault, obstructing justice and tampering with evidence. He is alleged to have fatally stabbed a 22-year-old Lancaster man, Charles D. Starner, during a fight in the aftermath of a party at a Hocking County rental cabin in April 2023. Pence has indicated in court filings that he acted in self-defense.

A week has been set aside for his trial, scheduled to start Monday morning in Hocking County Common Pleas Court.

On Thursday Pence’s defense attorney, Robert F. Krapenc, filed a motion asking Judge Jason Despetorich to allow Pence to attend his trial without physical restraints such as shackles or handcuffs. This is a not uncommon request made by the defense in criminal trials and has support in case law, such as a 1970 U.S. Supreme Court ruling cited by Krapenc that says no defendant should be tried while shackled and gagged because this might affect the jury’s feelings about the defendant.

“Shackles, like prison clothes, are a constant reminder of the defendant’s condition which may affect a juror’s judgment,” Krapenc argues in his motion.

On the same day the motion was filed, Despetorich filed a judgment entry allowing Pence to attend his trial wearing an electronic restraint device that is not visible, and in civilian clothes. On Tuesday Krapenc had filed a motion asking the judge to order the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, where Pence is being held, to accept civilian clothes for him.

Email at jphillips@logandaily.com