Amherst Township woman granted protection order against Lorain City Council candidate Aaron Knapp

An Amherst Township woman has been granted a temporary protection order against a Lorain City Council candidate after he allegedly threatened to kill her, a charge the man denies. Lorain County Common Pleas Magistrate Laura Dezort on April 15 issued a temporary protection order against Aaron Knapp on behalf of Tia Hilton, 39, her husband and son at least until April 28, when another hearing will be held on the matter. The protection order forbids Knapp, 51, of Lorain, from having contact with the Hiltons, their residence, schools, places of business and requires him to stay 500 feet away from them at all times, according to a copy of the order reviewed by The Chronicle-Telegram. Knapp also is forbidden from making contact with the family by phone, email or any electronic communication — though Hilton alleged Monday that he had already violated the protection by doing so. Hilton said Monday she's afraid for her life. "I'm going to end up dead," she said. Knapp provided The Chronicle with a motion he filed with the court seeking to vacate Hilton's protection order. "I have no further comment other than this is harassment," he wrote in an email, saying he was representing himself in the legal matter. A further hearing on the protection order is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Lorain County Justice Center in Elyria. Knapp is the Republican candidate for Lorain City Council's Ward 6 in November. He will square off against former councilman and Democrat, Angel Arroyo, whom City Council appointed Feb. 16 to the unexpired term of former councilman Antonio Baez. Arroyo and Knapp both are unopposed in their primaries in May. Hilton account Hilton said she first learned of the alleged death threat on April 12 when a local journalist messaged her about it. The Lorain County Sheriff's Office then sent deputies to her home when it learned of the alleged threat. "On 4/13/25 I received a call from both (a Lorain Morning) Journal reporter and (Lorain) chief of police (James McCann) asking me if I was safe because Aaron Knapp made a death threat against me. Chief said he called LoCo (the Lorain County Sheriff's Office) and dispatch called at that time as well," Hilton wrote in her protection order application. "Saying Aaron Knapp told several people he wanted me dead and 'he wanted the f***ing bitch dead.' Will explain rest. He has made over 100 videos on YouTube as well," Hilton wrote. McCann told The Chronicle said he had no role in the matter, other than doing his "civic duty" by passing information on to the Sheriff's Office. Hilton said she made multiple reports to prosecutors in Oberlin Municipal Court seeking charges against Knapp for allegedly violating the protection order. That statement could not immediately be confirmed Monday evening. "What is the law even here for?" Hilton said. "Any other city you go to, you violate and go to jail." Hilton said her "one and only agenda has and always will be the citizens' tax dollars." "I run my mouth in politics, but there's limits you don't cross. It should be community over chaos," she said. Jon Paul Morrow, a Republican activist and candidate for Sheffield Lake City Council who spoke to police about the alleged threat, said he was concerned for Knapp's health after an incident at the MAHD House Bar in Elyria Township on April 5 where Knapp was involved in a fight.The incident didn't result in any criminal charges, but Morrow said he was concerned because Knapp was mocked about it online. Morrow confirmed he gave a statement to the Sheriff's Office, but denied hearing Knapp threaten Hilton's life and said he never spoke directly to McCann or anyone else who allegedly reported any threats. Morrow told a reporter he heard Knapp say: "'I'd like to see that bitch dead,'" meaning Hilton, but not that he was going to kill her. Knapp denied saying that, and said he had transcripts of his conversations with Morrow to prove it. "The statement Jon Paul Morrow attributed to me — 'I'd like to see that bitch dead' — is absolutely false. I never said that," Knapp wrote in an email. "I categorically deny ever making such a statement about Tia Hilton or anyone else. It is completely out of line with my values and record of conduct. All human life is valued, and anyone who knows me or has worked alongside me in public service, social work, or advocacy can attest to that." Knapp responds In a nine-page counterfiling Knapp, who is not an attorney but is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio, asked Dezort to vacate the order which "was granted based on a hearsay affidavit lacking specific allegations of conduct and is contradicted by verifiable evidence." That evidence, he wrote, includes a Sheriff's Office report, medical documents and his home surveillance system. The Chronicle requested reports on the matter from the Sheriff's Office but had not received them by its deadline Monday. Knapp asked Dezort to vacate the order; schedule a full hearing to evaluate Hilton's claims; consider his request for protection orders against Hilton, McCann and Morrow; refer the matter for possible criminal investigation; and remove herself from the case or change the venue. Knapp wrote that Dezort granted Hilton's request for a protection order without hearing from him, though that's the very definition of an "ex parte" order: One requested by a party without the knowledge or presence of the other party involved. He alleged Hilton provided "no factual allegations of actual conduct" and "only secondhand hearsay and vague inferences." Furthermore, Knapp wrote that on April 15 he had filed a report with the Sheriff's Office about his involvement in the incident at the MAHD House Bar 10 days earlier. Knapp wrote that he provided documentation of a concussion and that his home surveillance system will prove he was at home at the time. Knapp and Hilton have never met in person, Knapp said, but Hilton has made more than 40 "documented public posts" on social media "mocking or belittling" Knapp, he wrote, "including statements accusing him of being gay, threatening to 'steal your husbands' and falsely alleging in March 2025 that he was sending people to her home — despite never having met him and while being blocked." It's all hearsay, retaliation and "colored by overt political motives" because of Knapp's candidacy for Lorain City Council, he wrote. He said Oberlin Municipal Court prosecutors and the Sheriff's Office have declined to pursue any charges against him and "that speaks volumes." "Let me be clear: This is a coordinated smear campaign. I won't be intimidated, and I won't stop telling the truth," Knapp said. Reporter Carissa Woytach contributed to this story. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com .