Marcus A. Ross

I am a former Assistant City Prosecutor for the Columbus, Ohio City Attorney's office and have been handling criminal, traffic and DUI felony and misdemeanor classification offenses for 20 years. I have handled cases throughout Franklin County, Delaware County, and throughout the state of Ohio. I have handled numerous suppression and evidentiary/oral hearings, jury trials and bench trials during my years of practice. I have also served as General Counsel for a small minority owned construction firm prior to starting my practice and joining the law firm of Walton & Brown, LLP as Of Counsel. In addition to my core competency of criminal and traffic defense, I have practiced in the areas of labor & employment, personal injury, landlord tenant, and have handled collection actions for judgment debtors and creditors as well as general civil and business litigation. I am certified as a Minority Business Enterprise with the City of Columbus, Ohio, and the State of Ohio through the Dept. of Administrative Services MBE/EDGE certification program.

Capital University Law School

J.D. (1995) | ABA Accredited Law School Curriculum

1992 - 1995

Ohio State University - Columbus

M.A. (1992) | African and African American Studies

1991 - 1992

Hampton University

B.S. (1989) | Finance

1986 - 1989

Of Counsel, OVI/DUI, traffic and criminal defense

Walton & Brown, LLP

2017 - Current

Handle criminal, traffic and OVI/DUI misdemeanor and felony referrals for firm throughout the state of Ohio.

Associate

Skinner & Associates,LLC

2016 - 2017

Associate Attorney where I handled criminal, traffic, DUI matters for the firm in Franklin County in addition to court appointed criminal referrals from Licking and Delaware Counties on misdemeanor and felony criminal matters.

General Counsel

IAP Government Services Group

2006 - 2016

Served as General Counsel for Innovative Architectural Planners Government Services Group, a construction management firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. My responsibilities included but were not limited to: negotiating commercial lease agreements, working in a coordinated effort with human resources to resolve labor and employment disputes with employees and ensure compliance with employment handbook by employees, reviewing subcontractor agreements on individual projects managed by the company, as well as settling disputes with judgment creditors on behalf of company.

Assistant City Prosecutor

Columbus,Ohio City Attorney’s Office

1997 - 2001

I previously served as an Assistant City Prosecutor for the Columbus,Ohio City Attorney’s Office where I handled numerous jury trials and bench trials for misdemeanor criminal and traffic offenses. Cases ranged from minor misdemeanor traffic violations to OVI/DUI to simple assault and domestic violence and a penalty range of a monetary fine of $150 fine to six(6) months in jail. My experience included handling numerous motion/suppression hearings on 4th and 5th amendment issues on search and seizure and Miranda as well as administrative license issues where procedural due process is at issue.

DBE

Ohio Department of Transportation

2019

MBE/EDGE

State of Ohio Department of Administrative Services

2010

Ohio State Bar Association

Member

Current

Columbus Bar Association

Member

Current

Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

Current

Ohio

6th Circuit

Since 2015

Federal Circuit

Since 2006

Federal Circuit

Since 2004

• Free Consultation
  The initial 30 minute consultation is free. After the initial consultation the prospective client will be charged $25 per every 15 minutes in addition to the 30 minute consultation.

Q. I live in ohio and the graffiti charge online says it’s a felony. some say it’s a misdemeanor, Let’s say someone was

March 17, 2024

A: In Ohio statutorily vandalism is a felony of the 5th degree and criminal damaging is a 2nd degree misdemeanor. Based on the facts and circumstances of the alleged conduct the charge may be classified as a felony or misdemeanor in terms of the degree of the offense.

Q. Can they impose jail time on a probation violation if the new charge for the violation does not carry any jail time?

March 16, 2024

A: Yes. The judge who is presiding over the case can impose jail time on the suspended sentence of the original/underlying conviction. In Franklin County one of the terms and conditions of probation typically requires a defendant to obey the laws of the state of Ohio and/or not pick up any new criminal offenses/charges. The degree of the offense is something the Judge can take into consideration but doesn’t have to. For example, if you are on probation for a simple Assault conviction which is a 1st degree misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine in Ohio if you are charged with a minor misdemeanor disorderly conduct offense which carries a fine only of up to $150 in Ohio the Judge can revoke your probation and impose a jail sentence/sanction on the Assault charge. ... Read More

Q. Who do I contact or what can I do about a Used Auto Dealership, trying to fraud me?

February 29, 2024

A: You can contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office Consumer Fraud Division which deals with fraud and deceptive trade and sales practices by businesses like automobile dealerships and report tge fraudulent behavior. You also obviously have the option of filing a civil action against the finance company and/or the dealership based on the egregious conduct.