State v. Athon ( 2012 )

[Cite as State v. Athon, 2012-Ohio-765.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NOS. C-110236
C-110237
Plaintiff-Appellee, : C-110238
C-110239
vs. : C-110290
TRIAL NOS. 10TRC-65767B
GARY ATHON, : 10TRC-65767C
10TRC-65767D
Defendant-Appellant, : 10TRC-65767E
10TRC-65767A
:
: O P I N I O N.
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Municipal Court
Judgment Appealed From Is: Reversed and Cause Remanded
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: February 29, 2012
John R. Curp, City Solicitor, Charles Rubenstein, City Prosecutor, and Marva
Benjamin, Assistant City Prosecutor, for Plaintiff-Appellee,
Graydon Head & Ritchey, LLP, and John C. Greiner, and Steven R. Adams for
Defendant-Appellant.
Please note: This case has been removed from the accelerated calendar.
OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
SYLVIA SIEVE HENDON, Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Gary Athon appeals the trial court’s order
compelling him to take part in discovery under Crim.R. 16. For the following
reasons, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand this case for further
proceedings.
{¶2} At the outset, we note that the issue of whether the court’s discovery
order was final and appealable was disposed of on the court’s motion docket. We
adhere now to our previous ruling and find that we have jurisdiction over this matter
on the authority of R.C. 2505.02(B)(4).
Facts
{¶3} Athon was arrested by the Ohio State Highway Patrol (“OSHP”) and
charged with alcohol-related traffic violations. Shortly thereafter, attorney
Christopher Finney made a public records request of the OSHP and received
information pertaining to Athon’s arrest. Finney provided these materials to Athon’s
criminal defense attorney, Steven Adams. Athon did not request discovery from the
prosecuting attorney.
{¶4} When the state learned that Athon had received public records from
the OSHP, it moved the trial court for an order compelling Athon to take part in
discovery. The state contended that the public records request was tantamount to a
demand for discovery and that, therefore, under Crim.R. 16(H) Athon had a
reciprocal duty of disclosure. Following a hearing, the trial court granted the state’s
motion. This appeal ensued.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶5} In his sole assignment of error, Athon now contends that the trial
court erred in concluding that a public records request triggered Athon’s reciprocal
discovery duties under Crim.R. 16(H).
Standard of Review
{¶6} A trial court’s regulation of discovery matters is generally reviewed
under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Parson, 6 Ohio St.3d 442, 445, 453
N.E.2d 689 (1983). Athon’s assignment of error, however, presents a question of law
as it requires us to interpret Crim.R. 16 and R.C. 149.43, the public records law. We
therefore review Athon’s argument de novo without deference to the trial court’s
decision. State v. Futrall, 123 Ohio St.3d 498, 2009-Ohio-5590, 918 N.E.2d 497, ¶ 6;
State v. Consilio, 114 Ohio St.3d 295, 2007-Ohio-4163, 871 N.E.2d 1167, ¶ 8.
Crim.R. 16 and R.C. 149.43
{¶7} “[I]t is the duty of the courts to give a statute the interpretation its
language calls for if this can reasonably be done.* * *.” Wachendorf v. Shaver, 149
Ohio St. 231, 236, 78 N.E.2d 370 (1948). “Where the language of a statute is plain
and unambiguous and conveys a clear and definite meaning there is no occasion for
resorting to rules of statutory interpretation. An unambiguous statute is to be
applied, not interpreted.” Sears v. Weimer 143 Ohio St. 312, 55 N.E.2d 413 (1944),
paragraph five of the syllabus. The reasoning behind these holdings applies equally
to the interpretation of the criminal rules of procedure. Provided the plain language
of the rule is clear, we need not resort to the rules of construction.
{¶8} In pertinent part, Crim.R. 16(H) provides “[i]f the defendant serves a
written demand for discovery or any other pleading seeking disclosure of evidence on
the prosecuting attorney, a reciprocal duty of disclosure by the defendant arises
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
without further demand by the state.” Thus, discovery is available to the state only if
the defendant first requests it in the manner specified in Crim.R. 16(H). See also
Crim.R.16(A)(discovery is initiated by the defendant). Here, it is undisputed that
Athon never served a written demand or other pleading on the prosecuting attorney
seeking discovery. So, under Crim.R. 16, Athon had no duty to supply the state with
discovery.
{¶9} Nor did such a duty arise under R.C. 149.43. It is well-settled in Ohio
that “[a] person may inspect and copy a ‘public record,’ as defined in R.C. 149.43(A),
irrespective of his or her purpose for doing so.” State ex rel. Fant v. Enright, 66
Ohio St.3d 186, 610 N.E.2d 997 (1993), syllabus; see also R.C. 149.43(B). The only
limitation on who may access public records is contained in R.C. 149.43(B)(8). And
that code section pertains to incarcerated persons, only. The legislature has clearly
chosen not to place a public-records limitation on a defendant in a pending criminal
matter, or on one who supplies a defendant with public records pertaining to the
defendant’s case. Nor has the legislature defined such a request as tantamount to a
demand for discovery.
Steckman is Distinguishable
{¶10} The state urges us to affirm the trial court on the basis of State ex rel.
Steckman v. Jackson, 70 Ohio St.3d 420, 639 N.E.2d 83 (1994). In Steckman, the
Ohio Supreme Court held that, in a criminal proceeding, “a defendant may only use
Crim.R. 16 to obtain discovery.” Id. at paragraph two of the syllabus. Steckman,
however, addressed the types of materials discoverable under former Crim.R. 16. In
that case, the court dealt with the state’s concern that defendants were obtaining
materials through public records requests that would not otherwise have been
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
available under former Crim.R. 16(C). Id. at 428-29, 639 N.E.2d 83. Steckman did
not define how discovery was initiated or when a reciprocal duty of disclosure arose.
We therefore find it distinguishable from the present case.
Conclusion
{¶11} While we are sympathetic to the state’s position, we are bound by the
plain meaning of Crim.R. 16 and R.C. 149.43. We therefore hold that a public
records request by a criminal defendant, or on behalf of a criminal defendant,
seeking public records pertaining to his or her pending criminal case is not
tantamount to a demand for discovery. Such a request does not trigger a defendant’s
duty of disclosure under Crim.R. 16(H).
{¶12} For the foregoing reasons, Athon’s sole assignment of error is
sustained. The trial court’s judgment ordering Athon to take part in discovery is
reversed, and this cause is remanded for further proceedings.
Judgment reversed and cause remanded.
HILDEBRANDT, P.J. and SUNDERMANN J., concur.
Please note:
The court has recorded its own entry on the date of the release of this opinion.
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