MEDINA, Ohio -- Court TV is accessible through local cable access, but it's reality TV in which your neighbor could be the dubious star of the show, NewsChannel5's Paul Kiska reported.

A growing number of cities are putting local court cases on local cable access, and it's a blockbuster hit in many cities.

Medina is one of those cities.

During a recent court case, a local man, who is a self-proclaimed mountain man, told the court he didn't have running water.

Kiska reported he lives in the woods in Medina County.

The mountain man said, "I get water from a stream and keep it in 55-gallon drums."

Judge James Kimbler sees it all in his courtroom. It now seems that people are glued to the local cable access station night and day watching local court cases, Kiska reported.

Drug Case

In another case, a man is sentenced for drug possession.

"Not very many people want to live with me," the man said. "I eat the animals, except possums and muskrats. I don't eat those."

The stuff that happens in the court leaves even veteran judges speechless, Kiska reported. One such case involved a yearning to steal.

Defendant: "I'm thinking about stealing stuff. Judge: "Why? Defendant: "It makes me happy." Judge: "OK."

18-Year-Old Felon

Across the hall in Judge Christopher Collier's courtroom, a teen was arrested the day after his 18th birthday.

"Happy Birthday," Collier said. "You're a felon."

Video

Local Cases Make Reality Show

The teen has a long history of arrests and always begs for another chance, Kiska reported.

"I'm trying to stay as far away from trouble as possible," he said.

Collier: "You are trouble. You're trouble. People should stay away from you."

Kiska said the 18-year-old got six months in prison.

Teen: "Can you give me another chance your honor, please? "

Collier: "You've said that to every judge you've been in front of for the last five years. You've run out of chances. Good luck."

Historically

Years ago, watching court cases unfold was a form of entertainment.

"Before there was TV, before there was radio, people's form of entertainment was to show up in courthouses and watch the proceedings of the day," said Jarrod Fry, general manager of Medina Cable Access.

He added that it is a fascinating learning experience for viewers.

"You'll see people come to me and go, 'I had no idea we had this drug problem going on or this theft ring in our neighborhood or that there was such a harsh sentence for marijuana possession.' It is an eye opener.

Fry added, "I think people like stories that deal with drama, and the law does deal with drama."

Kimbler added that court cases are simply stories with lessons.

He said it allows people to see judges in action and hold them accountable for the job they do in the courtroom, because judges are elected in Ohio.

"If people see us on TV then they have a method to measure our performance by," he said. "If they see what we do as we do it, then they can point to it and say, "This is why this person should not be re-elected or if they like our job, then why we should be re-elected."

Other communities, with Brunswick being the latest, are beginning to hold mayor's courts as well, Kiska reported.