Gilb appointed McKenna after determining Laghaoui could not afford to hire his own attorney. Gilb also ordered Laghaoui to remain in jail on $2 million bond, undergo a psychiatric evaluation and surrender his passport.
McKenna, based in Cincinnati, is also the lawyer handling the death penalty appeal of Austin Myers. Myers, who lived in Clayton in Montgomery County, was 19 in 2014 when he was sentenced to death for the murder of Justin Back, 18, at his home outside Waynesville.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Laghaoui indicated he was represented by a lawyer appointed to represent him during hearings in Mason Municipal Court. Gilb explained that unless Laghaoui could afford to hire a lawyer, another one would be appointed for proceedings in Warren County Common Pleas Court in Lebanon.
If convicted, Laghaoui faces up to 68 years in prison.
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