State v. Dees , 2016 Ohio 2772 ( 2016 )

[Cite as State v. Dees, 2016-Ohio-2772.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
BUTLER COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
CASE NO. CA2015-09-166
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
OPINION
: 5/2/2016
- vs -
:
JASON M. DEES, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
APPEAL FROM HAMILTON MUNICIPAL COURT
Case No. 15CRB02805
Neal D. Schuett, 345 High Street, 2nd Floor, Hamilton, Ohio 45011, for plaintiff-appellee
Fred Miller, Baden & Jones Building, 246 High Street, Hamilton, Ohio 45011, for defendant-
appellant
M. POWELL, P.J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Jason Dees, appeals his conviction in the Hamilton
Municipal Court for domestic violence.
{¶ 2} On September 1, 2015, a complaint was filed in the municipal court charging
Dees with misdemeanor domestic violence in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A). On August 31,
2015, following a bench trial, the municipal court found Dees guilty of domestic violence.
Dees was sentenced to 90 days in jail with 80 days suspended, and ordered to pay $1,376 in
Butler CA2015-09-166
fines and court costs.
{¶ 3} Dees appeals his conviction, raising two assignments of error.
{¶ 4} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 5} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF DEFENDANT-
APPELLANT WHEN IT PROCEEDED TO CONDUCT A TRIAL WHEN THERE WAS NO
VALID COMPLAINT OR OTHER CHARGING INSTRUMENT.
{¶ 6} Dees argues, and the state concedes, that the municipal court lacked subject-
matter jurisdiction to convict him because the complaint was neither signed nor made under
oath, and was thus invalid under Crim.R. 3.
{¶ 7} Subject-matter jurisdiction involves a court's power to hear a case. State v.
Mbodji, 129 Ohio St. 3d 325, 2011-Ohio-2880, ¶ 10. As a result, "the issue can never be
waived or forfeited and may be raised at any time." Id. The filing of a valid complaint is a
necessary prerequisite to a municipal court's acquisition of subject-matter jurisdiction. Id. at ¶
12; State v. Elliot, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-12-43, 2013-Ohio-2386, ¶ 11.
{¶ 8} Crim.R. 3 defines what constitutes a valid complaint. Mbodji at ¶ 12. Crim.R. 3
requires a complaint to contain "a written statement of the essential facts constituting the
offense charged," "state the numerical designation of the applicable statute or ordinance,"
and "be made upon oath before any person authorized by law to administer oaths."
{¶ 9} In the case at bar, the complaint was neither signed by the charging officer nor
made under oath, and was therefore not a valid complaint under Crim.R. 3. State v. Miller,
47 Ohio App. 3d 113 (1st Dist.1988) (municipal court lacked jurisdiction where the complaint
was not signed); State v. Bess, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-110700, 2012-Ohio-3333 (municipal
court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction where the charging officer signed the complaint but
failed to execute the jurat section); and State v. Green, 48 Ohio App. 3d 121 (11th Dist.1988)
(the complaint was invalid under Crim.R. 3 where the charging officer signed the complaint
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Butler CA2015-09-166
but did not sign the jurat). Consequently, in the absence of a valid charging instrument, the
municipal court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to convict Dees of domestic violence.
{¶ 10} Appellant's first assignment of error is accordingly sustained.
{¶ 11} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 12} APPELLANT'S CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF
THE EVIDENCE.
{¶ 13} Given our resolution of the first assignment of error, appellant's second
assignment of error is moot. See App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).
{¶ 14} The judgment of the municipal court is reversed and Dees is hereby
discharged.
{¶ 15} Judgment reversed and Dees discharged.
S. POWELL and RINGLAND, JJ., concur.
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