ELYRIA — An accused killer on trial for a 2023 homicide in Lorain said Wednesday that he is sticking with his defense attorney, despite having asked a Lorain County Common Pleas judge to fire him less than two weeks ago.
Nathan Patfield informed Judge Christopher Rothgery on Wednesday, less than two weeks before his trial in the July 2023 shooting death of a Norwalk man, that he will retain defense attorney Steve Albenze.
“I’m gonna give him a shot,” Patfield, 47, of Elyria, told the judge as the trial date approached on August 18.
The trial date may change depending on Rothgery’s decision on several motions filed by the defense.
According to the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, Patfield shot and killed Norwalk resident Andy Case Jr., 71, on July 23, 2023.
Patfield faces three counts of aggravated murder, five counts of murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of felonious assault, and one count each of tampering with evidence, having weapons under disability, possessing a fentanyl-related compound, and possessing drugs. All are felonies, and many have similar specifications.
Even if there is only one victim, multiple murder charges can be filed in the same case. Each charge may allege that a killing occurred through a different course of conduct or under a different section of the law.
Patfield has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held at the Lorain County Jail on a $257,500 bond.
Albenze stated in court that he intends to file motions to suppress evidence against his client, for a competency evaluation, and to continue the trial date of August 18.
Rothgery responded that Albenze would need to file a “motion for leave” — essentially a document requesting Rothgery’s permission to file his other proposed motions. He told Albenze to be specific with his requests.
“I need something to tell me why I’m considering a motion to suppress in a case this old two weeks before the trial,” Rothgery told reporters.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Pierre expressed concern about Patfield’s pattern of writing to the court and requesting a new attorney, noting that his request to remove Albenze was the second time he had done so since then. According to court rules, defendants who are already represented by legal counsel are typically not permitted to make court requests “pro se,” or without counsel.
Pierre stated that he did not want anyone to waste the time of the court, the eventual jury, the police, or the witnesses, but Rothgery stated that Patfield had already withdrawn his motion for a new attorney, and that was the end of the discussion.
Patfield has also pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated burglary, robbery, and cocaine possession in two other cases heard by Rothgery, according to court records.
Pierre said Case’s body was discovered near East 30th Street and Omaha Avenue. Case had been shot four times, he stated. The Lorain Police Department investigated.
According to Pierre, the alleged motive for the killing was robbery. Patfield allegedly stole Case’s car and was later discovered inside with a 14-year-old girl by Lorain police.
When Case was killed in 2023, Lorain police did not notify the media, nor did they announce any arrests in the case. The Chronicle-Telegram requested records from the department on Wednesday.
