Last Man Accused in Brecksville Bomb Plot to Represent Himself in Court

The fifth suspect in a botched plan to blow up a bridge on State Route 82 has decided to act as his own attorney when his trial begins next month.

Joshua Stafford, 23, of Cleveland, recently rejected an unspecified plea bargain offered by federal prosecutors, according to the Plain Dealer.

While the first four suspects have all been found guilty and sentenced, the Stafford case has been held up because of "psychiatric" issues.

After Stafford made the decision to fire his public defenders, US District Judge David Dowd Jr. ordered federal public defender Timothy Ivey to serve as “advisory counsel” for Stafford, according to the Plain Dealer story.

Brandon L. Baxter, of Lakewood; Connor C. Stevens, of Berea; and Douglas L. Wright, of Indianapolis; and Anthony Hayne of Cleveland; all pleaded guilty last year.

They were all sentenced to federal prison.

Stafford’s trial is slated to begin in Akron on June 10.

This won't be his first time in a courtroom.

With a listed address of Lorain Avenue in Cleveland — and arrested in that city — he's also previously faced charges in Lakewood.

In August 2010, he pleaded guilty in Lakewood Municipal Court to charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor; giving false information to a police officer; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In Lorain County, he also was charged by the Avon Lake Police on four separate occasions, with charges that include criminal trespassing; theft and receiving stolen property; and attempted breaking and entering.