State v. Moore ( 2011 )

[Cite as State v. Moore, 2011-Ohio-6611.]
COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
: JUDGES:
STATE OF OHIO : W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
: Julie A. Edwards, J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Patricia A. Delaney, J.
:
-vs- : Case No. 2011CA00058
:
:
MICHAEL ANTHONY MOORE : OPINION
Defendant-Appellant
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal Appeal from Stark County
Court of Common Pleas Case No.
2010-CR-1438
JUDGMENT: Reversed and Remanded
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: December 19, 2011
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
JOHN D. FERRERO FRANK L. BEANE
Prosecuting Attorney 217 Second Street, N.W.
Stark County, Ohio Suite 610 – Bliss Tower
Canton, Ohio 44702
BY: KATHLEEN O. TATARSKY
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Appellate Section
110 Central Plaza, South, Ste. 510
Canton, Ohio 44702-1413
[Cite as State v. Moore, 2011-Ohio-6611.]
Edwards, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Michael Anthony Moore, appeals a judgment of the Stark
County Common Pleas Court overruling his motion to seal his arrest record. Appellee is
the State of Ohio.
STATEMENT OF FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} On October 15, 2010, appellant was indicted by the Stark County Grand
Jury on one count of rape (R.C. 2907.02(A)(2)). The bill of particulars alleged that
appellant raped his wife by holding her down and having vaginal intercourse with her
after she told him no.
{¶3} The case proceeded to jury trial. Appellant was found not guilty by the
jury.
{¶4} On December 7, 2010, appellant filed a motion to seal all official records
pursuant to R.C. 2953.52. The court overruled the motion without a hearing. Appellant
assigns a single error:
{¶5} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT
DENIED APPELLANT’S APPLICATION TO SEAL HIS RECORD OF ARREST FOR
RAPE, WITHOUT FIRST HAVING A HEARING, AFTER A JURY FOUND HIM NOT
GUILTY OF THE CHARGE OF RAPE.”
{¶6} The State concedes that the court erred in overruling the motion without a
hearing and requests that this case be remanded to the trial court.
{¶7} R.C. 2953.52 sets forth the procedure for sealing criminal files:
{¶8} “(A)(1) Any person, who is found not guilty of an offense by a jury or a
court or who is the defendant named in a dismissed complaint, indictment, or
Stark County App. Case No. 2011CA00058 3
information, may apply to the court for an order to seal his official records in the case.
Except as provided in section 2953.61 of the Revised Code, the application may be filed
at any time after the finding of not guilty or the dismissal of the complaint, indictment, or
information is entered upon the minutes of the court or the journal, whichever entry
occurs first. . . .
{¶9} “(B)(1) Upon the filing of an application pursuant to division (A) of this
section, the court shall set a date for a hearing and shall notify the prosecutor in the
case of the hearing on the application. The prosecutor may object to the granting of the
application by filing an objection with the court prior to the date set for the hearing. The
prosecutor shall specify in the objection the reasons he believes justify a denial of the
application.
{¶10} “(2) The court shall do each of the following:
{¶11} “(a) Determine whether the person was found not guilty in the case, or the
complaint, indictment, or information in the case was dismissed, or a no bill was
returned in the case and a period of two years or a longer period as required by section
2953.61 of the Revised Code has expired from the date of the report to the court of that
no bill by the foreman or deputy foreman of the grand jury;
{¶12} “(b) Determine whether criminal proceedings are pending against the
person;
{¶13} “(c) If the prosecutor has filed an objection in accordance with division
(B)(1) of this section, consider the reasons against granting the application specified by
the prosecutor in the objection;
Stark County App. Case No. 2011CA00058 4
{¶14} “(d) Weigh the interests of the person in having the official records
pertaining to the case sealed against the legitimate needs, if any, of the government to
maintain those records.
{¶15} “(3) If the court determines, after complying with division (B)(2) of this
section, that the person was found not guilty in the case, that the complaint, indictment,
or information in the case was dismissed, or that a no bill was returned in the case and
that the appropriate period of time has expired from the date of the report to the court of
the no bill by the foreman or deputy foreman of the grand jury; that no criminal
proceedings are pending against the person; and the interests of the person in having
the records pertaining to the case sealed are not outweighed by any legitimate
governmental needs to maintain such records, or if division (E)(2)(b) of section 4301.69
of the Revised Code applies, the court shall issue an order directing that all official
records pertaining to the case be sealed and that, except as provided in section
2953.53 of the Revised Code, the proceedings in the case be deemed not to have
occurred.”
{¶16} An application to seal records cannot be summarily denied. State v.
Davis, 175 Ohio App. 3d 318, 2008-Ohio-753, 886 N.E.2d 916, ¶18. In the instant case,
appellant’s application was summarily denied in a one sentence judgment by the trial
court. The trial court erred in failing to comply with the requirements of R.C. 2953.52(B)
in considering appellant’s application.
{¶17} The assignment of error is sustained.
Stark County App. Case No. 2011CA00058 5
{¶18} The judgment of the Stark County Common Pleas Court is reversed. This
cause is remanded to that court with instructions to consider appellant’s application to
seal the record in accordance with the procedure set forth by R.C. 2953.52.
By: Edwards, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Delaney, J. concur
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
JUDGES
[Cite as State v. Moore, 2011-Ohio-6611.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
MICHAEL ANTHONY MOORE :
:
Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 2011CA00058
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion on file, the
judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas is reversed and remanded to the
trial court for further proceedings. Costs assessed to appellee.
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JUDGES