North Ridgeville teacher sentenced in case stemming from break-up, attorney clashes with judge

A North Ridgeville woman, who taught in North Ridgeville schools until she was charged last year with allegedly stalking an ex-boyfriend in Cuyahoga County, was sentenced Thursday to jail time after pleading guilty to lesser charges. Hannah Freeman, 27, of North Ridgeville, was sentenced on three misdemeanor charges of possession of criminal tools, obstructing official business and disorderly conduct in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on Thursday. Judge David Matia sentenced Freeman to seven days in jail and 18 months on community control, according to media reports. She also was ordered to wear a GPS monitor, undergo mental health treatment and avoid contact with the alleged victim. Freeman pleaded guilty to the amended charges in late June, after initially facing felony charges of aggravated theft, burglary, menacing by stalking, identity fraud and theft of drugs stemming from a stalking allegation made by the ex-boyfriend. Elyria-based attorney Mike Kinlin, who previously told The Chronicle-Telegram he expected his client to get probation, sparred with Matia following sentencing. According to video footage of the court proceedings captured by WKYC-TV, Kinlin interjected as Matia completed sentencing. "We had an agreed sentence," Kinlin told Matia. "You didn't agree with me, Mr. Kinlin, and I am charged with sentencing," Matia said. Kinlin then asked to withdraw Freeman's guilty plea and take the case to trial. "Because you don't like the sentence?" Matia asked. "No, because we don't like the way the court has interpreted the facts," Kinlin replied. The two argued back and forth for about a minute over whether Kinlin had attempted to discuss sentencing with the judge. Matia said that Kinlin made no attempt to discuss sentencing with him after Kinlin and Freeman had agreed to a plea deal with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office. Kinlin said that he and his client had reached an agreed sentence with the prosecutor, and he asked the court to follow that agreed sentence. Though sometimes bound by state law, judges have the final say when it comes to sentencing. Though they often do, they are not legally obligated to follow sentencing recommendations or agreements. "Your bad practice is not my problem," Matia told Kinlin. "I don't think it's my bad practice, Your Honor," Kinin replied. Matia ended the hearing. Freeman cried as a Cuyahoga County sheriff's deputy approached to lead her to the county jail. Kinlin on Thursday declined to comment to The Chronicle-Telegram on what happened at Freeman's sentencing. In an email, a North Ridgeville schools spokesperson said Freeman's teaching contract with the district expired on June 30, but did not call her a former teacher. "Today, North Ridgeville City Schools learned of the sentencing of Ms. Hannah Freeman, fourth-grade teacher at Ranger High-Tech Academy," the emailed statement said. "Ms. Freeman was placed on unpaid administrative leave following the incident and has not returned." According to Westlake police, the victim told them that Freeman followed him home on Nov. 6, broke into his unlocked car outside his Detroit Road apartment and stole two backpacks containing more than $1,000 worth of his personal property. The man told police he and Freeman had broken up the previous April and that she had continued to contact him at home and at Westlake Schools, where he worked. Westlake police officers found Freeman sitting in a car Nov. 7, outside Lee Burneson Middle School on Dover Center Road. They arrested her after the alleged victim reported she had showed up at his workplace uninvited. Hannah Freeman is the daughter of North Ridgeville Police Chief Michael Freeman.Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.