State v. Hess , 2013 Ohio 4268 ( 2013 )

[Cite as State v. Hess, 2013-Ohio-4268.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF WAYNE )
STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 12CA0064
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
PAUL HESS WAYNE COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT
COUNTY OF WAYNE, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. TRC 12-04-03423
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: September 30, 2013
CARR, Judge.
{¶1} Appellant, Paul Hess, appeals the judgment of the Wayne County Municipal
Court. This Court affirms.
I.
{¶2} This case arises out of a traffic accident that occurred in Wooster, Ohio, on April
16, 2012. Paul Hess was charged with three counts of driving while under the influence of
alcohol, and one count of failure to control. Hess initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. The
matter proceeded to a bench trial. At the conclusion of the State’s case-in-chief, the defense
moved for a judgment of acquittal on two of the three OVI charges. The State did not contest the
motion, and it was subsequently granted by the trial court. After closing arguments, the trial
court found Hess guilty of one count of driving while under the influence of alcohol in violation
of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a), and one count of failure to control. Hess was assessed a $750 fine,
and given 30-day jail sentence. Six days of the jail sentence were ordered to be served in the
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Wayne County Jail, and the remaining days could be served on house arrest. Hess was also
placed on probation for 18 months.
{¶3} Hess filed a timely notice of appeal. On appeal, he raises two assignments of
error.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE EVIDENCE
PRESENTED BY THE STATE WAS SUFFICIENT AS A MATTER OF LAW
TO PROVE THE DEFENDANT GUILTY BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT OF VIOLATING R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a).
{¶4} In his first assignment of error, Hess argues that the State failed to present
sufficient evidence to convict him of violating R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a). This Court disagrees.
{¶5} Hess challenges his conviction pursuant to R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a), which states,
“No person shall operate any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley within this state, if, at the time
of the operation, * * * [t]he person is under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a
combination of them.”
{¶6} In support of his assignment of error, Hess argues that the evidence presented at
trial did not rise to the level needed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Hess argues that
Officer Kenneth Saal did not testify about Hess having glossy eyes and slurred speech until he
was specifically asked about those conditions by the prosecutor. Hess also argues that, while
Officer Saal did testify that he smelled the odor of alcohol when Hess exited the vehicle, Officer
Saal did not specifically testify that the odor came from Hess’ breath, nor did he comment on the
strength of the odor. Hess further asserts that while Officer Saal testified that Hess was unsteady
when he emerged from the van, he made no mention of unsteadiness in his police report, and that
Hess’ “slow” movements could have been a result of the accident itself, and not a sign of
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intoxication. Hess concludes that the evidence presented at trial did not demonstrate that his
driving skills were impaired.
{¶7} “Raising the question of whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support the
jury verdict as a matter of law invokes a due process concern.” State v. Diar, 120 Ohio St.3d
460, 2008-Ohio-6266, ¶ 113, citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386 (1997). In
reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, “the relevant inquiry is whether, after
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact
could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” Diar
at ¶ 113, quoting State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus,
following Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979).
{¶8} This Court has previously addressed the type of evidence necessary to support a
conviction pursuant to R.C. 4511.19(A)(1), stating:
In [OVI] prosecutions, the state is not required to establish that a defendant was
actually impaired while driving, but rather, need only show impaired driving
ability. State v. Zentner, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 02CA0040, 2003-Ohio-2352, ¶ 19,
citing State v. Holland, 11th Dist. Portage No. 98-P-0066 (Dec. 17, 1999). “To
prove impaired driving ability, the state can rely on physiological factors (e.g.,
odor of alcohol, glossy or bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, confused appearance) to
demonstrate that a person’s physical and mental ability to drive was impaired.”
Holland, [supra], citing State v. Richards, 11th Dist. Portage No. 98-P-0069 (Oct.
15, 1999). Furthermore, “[v]irtually any lay witness, without special
qualifications, may testify as to whether or not an individual is intoxicated.”
Zentner at ¶ 19, quoting State v. DeLong, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 02CA35, 2002-
Ohio-5289, ¶ 60.” State v. Slone, 9th Dist. Medina No. 04CA0103-M, 2005-Ohio-
3325, ¶ 9; see, also, State v. Standen, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 05CA008813, 2006-
Ohio-3344, ¶ 18.
State v. Peters, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 08CA0009, 2008-Ohio-6940, ¶ 5.
{¶9} The only witness that testified at trial was Officer Kenneth Saal of the Wooster
Police Department. On April 16, 2012, Officer Saal was working a 12-hour shift that began at
6:00 p.m. While on patrol, at 9:35 p.m., Officer Saal received a call about an accident on South
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Bever Street in Wooster, near the railroad bridge. Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Saal
noticed that a panel van had tipped on its right side, and that the van’s trailer had also tipped on
its right side. The trailer had become detached from the van. Officer Saal testified that South
Bever Street is a two-lane road with traffic traveling both northbound and southbound, and that
the only lane dividers are the pillars that hold up the railroad bridge that runs atop the road.
Officer Saal further testified that he found the van and the trailer underneath the bridge, and it
appeared that the van had hit the pillar in the middle of the roadway. While Officer Saal did not
observe any significant damage to the pillars, he did see the marks left by the collision.
{¶10} When Officer Saal arrived at the scene, it was dark and he used his flashlight to
look under the bridge. Officer Saal testified, “I was approached by several people and they were
saying there was a male inside and he was attempting to get out. And that’s when I went up to
the van and the back door was open and there was somebody there standing, opening the back
door * * *. [I] [l]ooked inside and noticed the defendant standing up towards the front of the
van, attempting to come to the back to get out.” Officer Saal noticed that the man was bleeding
from his head and his right ankle, and that he was very unsteady. When the man made it to the
back of the van, Officer Saal asked him to sit on the curb so they could talk. The man appeared
“pretty well beat up from the accident with his ankle.” As the man stepped out of the van,
Officer Saal noticed that the man was “unsteady on his feet, pretty wobbly, * * * [and] slow in
his actions.” Officer Saal further testified that he “could smell alcohol at that time.”
{¶11} When Officer Saal asked the man what happened, the man stated that he had hit
the bridge. Officer Saal testified, “I then asked him how much he had to drink, he said one beer.
I then asked him where he was coming from, [] at that point after I asked him how much he had
to drink, he didn’t really want to talk to me that much, he didn’t say anything.” Officer Saal
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continued, “[O]nce I asked him how much he had to drink he clammed up, didn’t say anything
else. * * * [A]nything I asked him was medical[ly] related after that and [I] just told him the
squad was on its way to take him to the hospital.” When asked if he had the opportunity to look
Hess in the eyes, Officer Saal responded, “Yes, I did notice they were red, bloodshot and
glassy.” Officer Saal further testified that Hess’ speech was “extremely slurred,” and that “his
movements were very slow, an indication of being intoxicated.”
{¶12} After Hess was transported to the hospital, Officer Saal read Hess the 2255 form
and asked if he would submit to a blood test. When Hess responded in the negative, Officer Saal
filled out an affidavit and faxed it to a judge in order to obtain a search warrant to draw Hess’
blood. After obtaining the warrant, Officer Saal contacted a lab technician who was able to
obtain a blood sample from Hess. Officer Saal observed the blood draw and then transported the
sample to the police station where it was stored in a secured refrigerator. The sample was
subsequently sent to a toxicology lab in Columbus. While the State attempted to have the results
of the blood test introduced at trial, the trial court sustained Hess’ objection to the admission of
the results on the basis that the State had not properly authenticated the document.
{¶13} On cross-examination, Officer Saal was asked if he had any evidence regarding
why the van may have gone left of center and hit the bridge pillars. In response, Officer Saal
stated, “The only thing I could say would be his alcohol level, his alcohol involvement is the
only thing I can think of.” Officer Saal clarified that, because Hess declined to answer any
additional questions after indicating that he had consumed a beer, Officer Saal did not ask Hess
when he had consumed that beer. Officer Saal also testified on cross-examination that because
of the injuries Hess sustained during the accident, he did not ask Hess to perform the walk and
turn test, the one foot test, and the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. Due to the extent of Hess’
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injuries, he was transported to Wooster Community Hospital, and then to Akron General
Hospital, and Officer Saal did not take Hess into custody.
{¶14} On re-direct examination, Officer Saal testified that while the strength of the odor
of alcohol can be affected by the point in time at which the alcohol was actually consumed, it can
also be affected by the amount of alcohol consumed. Officer Saal further testified that in his
experience, drivers are often dishonest about the amount of alcohol they consumed, stating,
“Generally when you ask people how much they’ve had to drink, they will either tell you one or
two beers. * * * [I]t’s always one or two, nine times out of ten. Unless you get someone who is
extremely honest and say[s] I’ve had ten beers or whatever, but, [] for the most part people
always tell you one or two beers.”
{¶15} The evidence presented at trial was sufficient to convict Hess of violating R.C.
4511.19(A)(1)(a). As noted above, during a prosecution for violating R.C. 4511.19(A)(1), the
State may rely on physiological factors such as the odor of alcohol, glossy or bloodshot eyes,
slurred speech, and confused appearance to demonstrate that a defendant’s physical and mental
ability to drive was impaired. Peters at ¶ 5. The testimony at trial demonstrated that when
Officer Saal observed Hess on the night of the accident, Hess was “unsteady on his feet” and
“slow in his actions.” Officer Saal noticed that Hess’ speech was “extremely slurred” and that
his eyes were “red, bloodshot and glassy.” Officer Saal further testified that he could smell
alcohol at the time Hess stepped out of the van. Officer Saal indicated that Hess admitted to
having a beer, as well as hitting the bridge columns with his vehicle. This evidence, when
construed in the light most favorable to the State, was sufficient to demonstrate that Hess was
under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
{¶16} The first assignment of error is overruled.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR AND VIOLATED
DEFENDANT’S RIGHTS UNDER THE 14TH AND 5TH AMENDMENTS TO
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
STATE OF OHIO BY ALLOWING THE STATE TO PRESENT TESTIMONY
REGARDING DEFENDANT’S PRE ARREST, PRE-MIRANDA SILENCE
DURING ITS CASE IN CHIEF.
{¶17} In his second assignment of error, Hess argues that the trial court committed plain
error by allowing the State to present testimony regarding his unwillingness to discuss the
incident at the scene of the accident. This Court disagrees.
{¶18} Hess concedes that the testimony in question was offered without objection, and
he is limited to arguing plain error on appeal. Pursuant to Crim.R. 52(B), “[p]lain errors or
defects affecting substantial rights may be noticed although they were not brought to the
attention of the court.” To constitute plain error, the error must be obvious and have a
substantial adverse impact on both the integrity of, and the public’s confidence in, the judicial
proceedings. State v. Tichon, 102 Ohio App.3d 758, 767 (9th Dist.1995). A reviewing court
must take notice of plain error only with the utmost caution, and only then to prevent a manifest
miscarriage of justice. State v. Bray, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 03CA008241, 2004-Ohio-1067, ¶12.
“Plain error exists only where it is clear that the verdict would have been otherwise but for the
error.” State v. Skatzes, 104 Ohio St.3d 195, 2004-Ohio-6391, ¶ 52, quoting State v. Long, 53
Ohio St.2d 91, 97 (1978).
{¶19} As noted above, Officer Saal was asked on direct examination what happened
after Hess exited the vehicle and sat down. Officer Saal replied, “I then asked him how much he
had to drink, and he said one beer. I then asked him where he was coming from, [] at that point
after I asked him how much he had to drink, he didn’t really want to talk to me that much, he
didn’t say anything.” When asked to clarify, Officer Saal testified that after he asked Hess how
8
much he had to drink, Hess declined to answer any other questions. Hess now argues that
because he had not received his Miranda warnings, Officer Saal should not have been permitted
to testify about his unwillingness to answer questions. Hess highlights that the trial court
commented on the statement during the pronouncement of judgment, stating, “You told [Officer
Saal] you hit the bridge. You were injured; however, you were able to get out of the van without
assistance. You were able to respond to questions. Once the officer hit upon the topic of
consumption of alcohol you admitted to having consumed alcohol and then you basically quit
talking after you said that you consumed a beer.” Hess concludes that if it were not for the
aforementioned testimony, the trial court would not have found him guilty as evidenced by the
fact that the trial court specifically referred to his silence after admitting to drinking a beer. In
response, the State contends that when the statements are read in context, it is apparent that the
trial court was not using the defendant’s silence as substantive evidence of guilt, but instead was
disputing Hess’s position that all of his physiological symptoms were caused by the accident
itself. We find the State’s argument persuasive.
{¶20} A review of the trial judge’s remarks in context demonstrates that the trial court
did not view Hess’ pre-Miranda silence as substantive evidence of guilt. In a bench trial, the
trial judge acts as the trier-of-fact, and a reviewing court should presume that the trial court acted
impartially and considered only properly admitted evidence. Columbus v. Guthmann, 175 Ohio
St. 282 (1963), paragraph three of the syllabus; see also State v. Post, 32 Ohio St.3d 380, 384
(1987). Here, the trial judge’s comment was made in direct response to Hess’s assertion that his
disoriented state was a direct result the accident itself. The comment was made as the trial court
was in the midst of making a factual finding that despite the injuries Hess suffered during the
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accident, he was fully capable to getting out of the van and responding to Officer Saal’s
questions.
{¶21} Furthermore, given the independent evidence presented by the State that
demonstrated Hess was under the influence, we cannot say that the admission of the improper
testimony resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice. Even if Officer Saal had not testified that
Hess admitted to drinking alcohol and then refused to answer any other questions, the court still
would have considered Officer Saal’s testimony that he smelled alcohol at the time Hess exited
the vehicle. Additionally, Officer Saal observed that Hess’ eyes were red, bloodshot, and glassy,
and that Hess was unsteady on his feet and moving very slowly. Officer Saal also testified that
Hess admitted to hitting the bridge columns, and that Hess’ speech was “extremely slurred.” All
of these factors were relevant in determining whether Hess’ ability to drive was impaired. Peters
at ¶ 5. Thus, in light of the remaining evidence which indicated that Hess was under the
influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, we cannot conclude that the verdict would have
been otherwise but for the alleged error.
{¶22} The second assignment of error is overruled.
III.
{¶23} Hess’ assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Wayne County
Municipal Court is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
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We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Wayne County
Municipal Court, County of Wayne, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A
certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the
period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is
instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the
mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to Appellant.
DONNA J. CARR
FOR THE COURT
WHITMORE, J.
CONCURS.
BELFANCE, P. J.
CONCURRING IN JUDGMENT ONLY.
{¶24} I concur in the majority’s judgment. The issue raised by Mr. Hess is whether
there was sufficient evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he was driving under
the influence of alcohol. This Court often refers to State v. Zentner, 9th Dist. Wayne No.
02CA0040, 2003-Ohio-2352, ¶ 19, in which this Court stated that, in an OVI prosecution, “the
state does not have to prove actual impaired driving; rather, it need only show an impaired
driving ability.” This statement, when considered outside of the context of that case, may appear
somewhat confusing. However, Zentner merely clarified that, in considering whether the
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evidence is sufficient to establish that a person was “driving under the influence,” actual
observation of impaired or erratic driving is not necessary for proving this element. See id.Instead, the “under the influence” element is proven through presenting evidence, whether direct
or circumstantial, of impaired driving ability due to the consumption of alcohol (or a drug of
abuse or a combination of them). See id. Notably, our sister courts have described “under the
influence” as “the condition in which a person finds himself after having consumed some
intoxicating beverage in such quantity that its effect on him adversely affects his actions,
reactions, conduct, movement or mental processes or impairs his reactions to an appreciable
degree, thereby lessening his ability to operate a motor vehicle.” (Internal quotations and
citations omitted.) See, e.g., State v. Rolf, 5th Dist. Licking No. 02-CA-00116, 2003-Ohio-2513,
¶ 12.
{¶25} Often in OVI prosecutions under R.C. 4511.19(A), the state relies on
circumstantial evidence to prove the “under the influence” element. In such cases, we have
stated that physiological factors are permissible forms of circumstantial evidence to establish that
a person was driving under the influence. See State v. Standen, 9th Dist. Lorain No.
05CA008813, 2006-Ohio-3344, ¶ 18. In addition, we have applied Ohio Supreme Court
precedent holding that lay person opinion testimony as to intoxication is permissible. See
Zentner at ¶ 19, quoting State v. DeLong, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 02 CA 35, 2002-Ohio-5289, ¶
60, citing Columbus v. Mullins, 162 Ohio St. 419, 421 (1954).
{¶26} In this case, Mr. Hess essentially challenges the sufficiency of the circumstantial
evidence given the absence of the blood alcohol test results at trial. Although he suggests that
there may be other reasons for his red, bloodshot eyes and his unsteady movement, he is in
essence arguing that there could be a theory of innocence consistent with the circumstantial
12
evidence. However, the Ohio Supreme Court in State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259 (1991),
syllabus, concluded that “[c]ircumstantial evidence and direct evidence inherently possess the
same probative value and therefore should be subjected to the same standard of proof.”
{¶27} The circumstantial evidence that Mr. Hess was driving under the influence of
alcohol included that he drove his vehicle off of the road, that the officer smelled an odor of
alcohol when Mr. Hess exited the vehicle, that Mr. Hess admitted he had consumed alcohol, and
that Mr. Hess had bloodshot eyes and an unsteady gait. Thus, when viewing all of the
circumstantial evidence in the light most favorable to the State, the trial court, as the trier of fact,
could have reasonably concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Hess was driving under the
influence of alcohol.
APPEARANCES:
DOUGLAS C. BOND, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
DEAN L. GRASE, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
DANIEL R. LUTZ, Prosecuting Attorney, and NATHAN R. SHAKER, Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, for Appellee.