Ohio Father and Son Demand To Use Bible As Defense To Alleged Serial Rape and Kidnapping Charges

Timothy Ciboro and his son, Esten Ciboro, both of Toledo, are living proof that extremism is not confined to any one religion.  The two men are accused of a horrific series of crimes that involved the confinement of a teenage girl and repeatedly raping her.  The girl, who was kept shackled in the basement  is Timothy Ciboro’s stepdaughter.  She managed to unshackle herself and flee.  With the trial about to begin, the two men have refused counsel and demanded that they be able to introduce the Bible as the only authority that they recognize.

The men told the court that they intended to defend their action according to Biblical law and that the Bible is the only law that they recognize.  Esten Ciboro said that”There’s a great deal of strategy in Scripture and I use those strategies in everything I do. It’s a vital part of everything I do.”  According to prosecutors, that includes serial rape and imprisonment.  They are charged with three counts of rape, endangering children and kidnapping. Timothy Ciboro also  faces two additional rape counts for allegedly sexually assaulting the girl’s younger sibling.

Timothy Ciboro said he and his son would “use God’s holy word to ask questions, questions that we believe are absolutely vital to our case.” While Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Linda Jennings will allow the two to bring their Bible to the trial, but she barred them from using the book to question witnesses.

They rejected counsel with Esten Ciboro noting that “Professionals built the Titanic. Amateurs built the ark.”  Perhaps if Noah were facing life imprisonment, he might have wisely gathered two lawyers among the other animals on the ark, just in case.