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COLUMBUS, Ohio - Deputies inside a courtroom on Tuesday used a Taser to subdue a man accused of holding churchgoers at gunpoint during a robbery.
Wendall Hollingsworth kicked defense attorney Scott Weisman moments after deputies pushed his wheelchair into a Franklin County courtroom, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.
During the struggle to restrain him, a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy was inadvertently shocked by his partner's Taser.
Hollingsworth was immediately removed from the courtroom, but returned short time later, heavily restrained and wearing a spit guard.
Weisman and Judge Julie Lynch attempted to continue with the proceedings, but Hollingsworth interrupted and demanded to be taken back to his cell.
"Take me back to my cell," Hollingsworth said. "I don't want to be part of this farce. This is a farce. Why won't they let me fire you?"
Hollingsworth continued with an obscenity-laced rant against his attorney and the judge, 10TV News reported.
At one point, an attorney said the maximum sentence Hollingsworth could receive is 104 years.
"Give it to me now. Give me 250 years right now," Hollingsworth yelled. "It's unfair. How the (expletive) are you going to treat me fair? Aren't you a catholic? I'm charged with robbing a Catholic church."
Weisman eventually requested that his client be taken to a separate location so that the proceedings could continue.
"I would ask that he be kept in a holding cell," Weisman said. "If issues come up I can address them with him."
Hollingsworth chose not to be present as jury selection continued and opening statements got underway, McEntryre reported.
His attorney said he expects the trial to finish by the end of the week.