TOLEDO, Ohio (Court TV) — An attorney convicted of attempted murder and three counts of felonious assault tried to delay his sentencing by firing his lawyer.
Matthew Exton, 43, informed the court on Monday that he had fired his defense attorney, Ronnie Wingate, and asked for a continuance while he sought new representation. Judge Gary Cook denied Exton’s motion and told him his sentencing would take place as scheduled.
Exton claimed his constitutional rights were violated and that his attorney’s “neglect” should not be held against him. He repeatedly ignored the judge’s request not to interrupt him, causing Cook to tell Exton, “You’re doing it again.” Exton cited several issues that occurred after the incident for which he was convicted, all of which Cook told Exton he would have to bring up with the Sixth District Court of Appeals.
Matthew Exton leaves court after his sentencing (Court TV).
When Cook asked Exton whether he wanted to dismiss Wingate and represent himself, the defendant never gave a definitive answer and instead responded with long-winded answers the judge called “nonsense.” Exton claimed he was depressed and “confused” and unable to provide an answer. Cook reassured Exton that no matter what he said, he would be sentenced during this hearing, telling him, “At some point, you’ll exhaust all your arguments and I will proceed.”
Among his grievances, Exton called himself a victim because of the head injury he sustained during the “incident” and said he had rights as a victim and wanted to speak to the detective at the scene. He complained that he was depressed and homeless at the time of the incident and randomly came upon his ex-wife and her parents on the night he attempted to execute all three of them at a restaurant. He said he just happened to have his gun on him. Exton then brought up the “polarizing” issue of gun control in the United States.
The prosecution asked for consecutive sentences on multiple charges, calling Exton “dangerous, psychotic,” and a narcissist. Exton repeatedly called the prosecutor a “liar” while he spoke, earning himself another admonishment from the judge.
The judge played the videos showing Exton walking into the restaurant where his ex-wife and her parents were dining, pointing a gun at his ex-wife, and becoming “flummoxed” when the safety on the gun prevented him from following through with the murder. Cook called the moment “chilling,” and said if not for the safety, Exton could have faced capital murder charges.
Exton was sentenced to 20 to 24½ years in prison.
