State v. Rife , 2012 Ohio 3264 ( 2012 )

[Cite as State v. Rife, 2012-Ohio-3264.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ROSS COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
:
Plaintiff-Appellant, : Case No. 11CA3276
:
vs. :
:
SHANE P. RIFE, : DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
Defendant-Appellee. :
: RELEASED: 07/10/12
______________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Matthew S. Schmidt, Ross County Prosecuting Attorney, and Jeffrey C. Marks, Ross
County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellant.
James T. Boulger, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellee.
______________________________________________________________________
Harsha, J.
{1} The state appeals the trial court’s suppression of evidence, which was
based on the finding that the state failed to justify its continued detention of Shane P.
Rife following a traffic stop. The state asserts suppression on that basis is erroneous
because Rife’s motion failed to raise the issue with particularity. However, Rife’s
supporting memorandum contained legal principles applicable to detentions following
traffic stops. This language sufficiently notified the state that Rife was challenging acts
beyond the initial stop. Thus, the state’s argument is meritless.
{2} The state additionally asserts that because Rife’s written motion did not
adequately advise it that he was challenging the extended detention, the court should
have granted it a continuance to present evidence of the constitutionality of that
intrusion. Because Rife’s motion provided sufficient notice to the state, the court had no
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 2
duty to continue the hearing. Accordingly, we overrule the state’s assignments of error
and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
I. FACTS
{3} The Ross County Grand Jury returned an indictment that charged Rife
with possession of marijuana, in violation of R.C. 2925.11, and trafficking in marijuana,
in violation of R.C. 2925.03. Rife entered not guilty pleas and later filed a two-page
motion to suppress. The first page of Rife’s motion states:
“The defendant * * * respectfully requests that the Court order
excluded from evidence at trial in the above styled matter all testimony
and documentary evidence pertaining to the results of analysis of items of
physical evidence, and the physical evidence obtained from the defendant
and the motor vehicle he was operating subsequent to his stop and
detention.
Additionally, the defendant requests that the Court order excluded
from evidence all testimony of law enforcement officers concerning
statements of the defendant and observations of his person subsequent to
the initial detention on the date in question.
The defendant makes this request for the reason that the stop and
initial detention, search of his person and the automobile, and his
subsequent arrest were performed in violation of rights secured to [him]
under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States
Constitution and Article One, Section Fourteen of the Constitution of Ohio.
These grounds are stated with greater particularity in the attached
Memorandum.”
Rife’s “attached Memorandum” stated:
“A police initiated stop of an automobile is a limited seizure under
the Fourth Amendment and falls within the scope and holdings in Terry v.
Ohio (1968), 392 U.S. 1, 88 S. Ct. 1868, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889; and Delaware v.
Prouse (1979), 440 U.S. 648, 99 S. Ct. 1391, 59 L. Ed. 2d 660. The scope
of a routine traffic stop must be tailored to its underlying justification and
must last no longer than is necessary to effectuate the purpose of the
stop. When a detention exceeds the duration necessary to accomplish
the purpose of the original stop, and when such continuing detention is not
based upon any articulable facts giving rise to a reasonable suspicion of
some illegal activity, the continued detention constitutes an illegal seizure
of the person.
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 3
In the present case, the evidence at hearing, which will include the
video/audio data recorded on the cruiser equipment of the detaining officer
will establish that Mr. Rife committed no traffic infraction or any other
violation of law within the presence of the Trooper who initiated the stop.
There was no reasonable suspicion to support the stop and the detention
was unlawful from its inception. The subsequent search of the vehicle
was the fruit of the initial Fourth Amendment violation.”
{4} In preparation for the hearing, the state subpoenaed the two Ohio State
Highway Patrol Troopers involved in the traffic stop and subsequent detention. The
state later requested a continuance because “Trooper Mikesh, an essential State’s
witness as she is the canine handler in this matter, is unavailable due to a scheduled
vacation.” The court granted the state’s motion to continue, and the state again
subpoenaed both Troopers Seabolt and Mikesh for the re-scheduled hearing.
{5} At the suppression hearing Trooper Seabolt was the state’s only witness.
He testified he observed Rife operating a vehicle that did not have a front license plate.
He further noticed that the vehicle’s rear license plate was obscured so he could not
observe the issuing state. He stated although he could see the numbers and letters, he
could not see which state had issued the license plate. Trooper Seabolt then initiated a
traffic stop due to the failure to properly display a rear license plate. Once he stopped
the vehicle, he approached the vehicle and could see a validation sticker from the state
of West Virginia on the lower right-hand corner of the rear license plate.
{6} On cross-examination, Rife’s counsel questioned the trooper’s motives in
asking Rife to exit the vehicle and placing him in the patrol cruiser. The following
colloquy ensued:
“Mr. Boulger: You asked the driver to get out of the car?
Trooper Seabolt: That’s correct.
Mr. Boulger: You placed him in your cruiser?
Trooper Seabolt: Yes.
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 4
Mr. Boulger: For the purpose of issuing a traffic citation for failure
to display?
Trooper Seabolt: Not necessarily.
Mr. Boulger: What was your purpose in asking the driver out of the
car and placing him in your cruiser?
Mr. Marks: Your Honor, I’ll object. The defendant’s motion
addresses only the sufficiency of the pullover itself. It doesn’t go into any
other issues.”
The court overruled the state’s objection. Trooper Seabolt then explained he requested
Rife to “exit the vehicle due to noticing both him and his passenger * * * were avoiding
eye contact with me. I wanted to speak with him outside of the vehicle to determine * * *
what the basis of them avoiding eye contact with me were.” At that point, defense
counsel concluded his cross-examination of the trooper.
{7} On re-direct, the prosecutor continued to inquire into the trooper’s reason
for initially stopping the vehicle. The prosecutor did not explore the trooper’s
justification for ordering Rife to exit the vehicle and for continuing to detain him.
{8} The state did not present any other witnesses, but both the state and Rife
agreed to submit an audio and video recording of the stop for the court to view. The
court then asked the prosecutor how the court was to determine what evidence to
suppress when the prosecutor did not present testimony identifying the evidence the
trooper seized as a result of the stop. The prosecutor responded: “Your Honor, the
defendant’s motion only states that there wasn’t probable cause to pull over the vehicle
and initiate the traffic stop. That’s all the further the State intends on going with this,
since that’s what was asked by the defendant.” Rife’s counsel then interjected: “Your
Honor, I believe in the first paragraph we indicate we ask for the suppression of all
testimony and documentary evidence pertaining to results of analysis of items of
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 5
physical evidence obtained from the defendant in the motor vehicle he was operating
subsequent to his stop and initial detention.”
{9} During closing arguments, the prosecutor asserted that “[i]t appears the
only question before the Court is the sufficiency of the initial traffic stop itself.” After the
prosecutor finished his argument, which centered entirely upon the alleged license plate
violation, the court questioned counsel why he stated “that the only issue is * * * whether
there was an obscurement of the plate.” The prosecutor answered that the license plate
infraction was the basis for the stop. The court stated:
“Well, the Court is left to assume from the indictment that
marihuana was seized from this vehicle. There’s been no testimony to
indicate where the marihuana was seized, when it was seized, how it was
seized, was it on the person of the defendant, was it in the vehicle, any
circumstances concerning reasonable articulable suspicion as it applies to
vehicles stopped along the road. Why haven’t I heard any evidence on
that?
Mr. Marks: Your Honor, I believe that there was testimony from my
cross-examination of the defendant that there was marihuana found in the
vehicle upon there being a search later. * * *.”
{10} The court stated that it did not have any evidence informing it why Rife
was arrested. The prosecutor again stated that Rife’s motion challenged only the initial
cause for the traffic stop. The court apparently did not agree and stated:
“The defendant’s last paragraph in his motion says that the
defendant makes this request for the reason that the stop and initial
detention, search of his person and the automobile and his subsequent
arrest were performed in violation of his rights. This was all done without
a warrant. It’s the State’s burden. He’s raised it.”
The prosecutor then requested a continuance so that he could elicit further testimony.
He explained that his “reading of the motion was that the only issue was the initial traffic
stop.” Rife’s counsel objected to a continuance and observed that the state previously
requested a continuance due to Trooper Mikesh’s (the canine handler) unavailability,
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 6
and, thus, the state knew that issues other than the initial traffic stop may be involved.
The court denied the state’s request for a continuance.
{11} After Rife’s counsel’s argument, the court asked defense counsel whether
he agreed with the prosecutor that “Terry v. Ohio[, 392 U.S. 1 (1968),is] not an issue in
this case[.]” Rife’s counsel stated:
“Your Honor, I believe that the on-going detention of the defendant
would raise significant issues. He’s pulled over apparently for what is * * *
a minor misdemeanor violation of the display requirement. No citation is
issued. No citation, there isn’t any evidence, was even attempted. We
have an immediate refocusing for reasons that have remained obscure
except that, the officer said the passenger and driver didn’t make eye
contact. So that seems to be the sole basis for an on-going detention in
this case. Now, we believe that that, that is insufficient to justify what has
been recalled as a twenty to thirty minute detention without any attempt to
issue a traffic citation or compose one.”
{12} The court determined that the trooper had probable cause to stop the
vehicle. However, the court concluded that the ensuing detention was unlawful. The
court explained:
“There has been no evidence presented in any way, shape or form
as to why Trooper Seabolt went beyond stopping this vehicle and citing
this vehicle for a minor traffic violation. There has been no evidence
presented concerning the basis for the extension or continuance of this
stop other than Trooper Seabolt’s testimony that he asked the defendant
and the other occupant to get out because they weren’t making eye
contact. Eye contact may be a minor factor to consider among other
factors in determining whether there is a reasonable and articulable
suspicion that the driver or the occupant of a vehicle may be committing a
criminal violation, but it is not in and of itself alone a valid justification from
stopping a * * * citizen on the highway and extending that stop so that a
search of his person and his vehicle can be conducted. This Court would
have considered other evidence regarding a Terry stop which might have
constituted justification for the continuation of the stop, but no such
evidence has been presented. This was raised in the defendant’s motion
to suppress. He specifically challenged the search of his person and his
automobile and his subsequent arrest. The State has the burden of going
forward in a warrantless search, and proving in a warrantless search.
Therefore, the motion to suppress is sustained, because although there
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 7
was a valid stop there’s been no evidence presented that the stop should
have been expended or continued beyond a citation for the infraction of
obstructing the license plate.”
{13} The court thus granted Rife’s motion to suppress.
II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{14} The State raises four assignments of error:
First Assignment of Error:
“The trial court erred in allowing the defendant to argue issues for
suppression which were not contained in the defendant’s own motion to
suppress.”
Second Assignment of Error:
“The trial court erred in expanding the scope of the motion to suppress
filed by the defendant in this matter, without giving notice to the State of
Ohio.”
Third Assignment of Error:
“The trial court erred in granting the defendant’s motion to suppress by
considering evidence and issues which were not raised by the defendant’s
motion to suppress.”
Fourth Assignment of Error:
“The trial court erred in not granting the State’s motion to continue the
hearing on the motion to suppress in order for the state to present
evidence on issues not sufficiently contained in the defendant’s original
motion to suppress.”
III. ANALYSIS
A. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH APP.R. 16(A)(7)
{15} The state combined its first three assignments of error. App.R. 16(A)(7)
requires separate arguments for each assignment of error. “While appellate courts may
jointly consider two or more assignments of error, the parties do not have the same
option in presenting their arguments.” Keffer v. Cent. Mut. Ins. Co., 4th Dist. No.
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 8
06CA652, 2007-Ohio-3984, 2007 WL 2231015, at ¶8, fn.2. Thus, we would be within
our discretion to simply disregard the state’s first three assignments of error. App.R.
12(A)(2); Keffer at ¶8, fn. 2. Accord State v. Shepherd, 4th Dist. No. 10CA3374, 2011–
Ohio–2192, at ¶15, fn. 1. Nonetheless, we will review them.
{16} The state summarizes its first three assignments of error “as whether or
not the defendant’s motion to suppress in this case adequately put the State on notice
of the specific issues [he] based [his] motion on, and subsequently, whether the Court
abused its discretion in sustaining the motion on grounds which were not raised in the
motion.” The state argues that Rife’s motion did not particularize the issues and did not
adequately inform the state of the basis of his challenge. The state claims that Rife’s
assertion that “all evidence” be suppressed is not sufficiently particularized. It further
contends that Rife’s argument that the evidence should be suppressed due to the
unlawfulness of the stop and initial detention, the search of the person and automobile,
and the subsequent arrest “particularizes nothing, and basically lists every reason which
could present itself during a warrantless traffic stop.” The state asserts that Rife’s
motion “put [it] on notice that all of its evidence is subject to being suppressed because
of any reason which may arise during a traffic stop. This is not sufficient notice.” In
short, the state claims that the lawfulness of the initial stop is the only issue Rife
specified with particularity so as to provide the state with sufficient notice.
B. MOTION TO SUPPRESS NOTICE REQUIREMENTS
{17} Crim.R. 47 requires a motion to suppress to “state with particularity the
grounds upon which it is made and [to] set forth the relief or order sought.” The Ohio
Supreme Court has interpreted this rule to mean that “the defendant must (1)
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 9
demonstrate the lack of a warrant, and (2) raise the grounds upon which the validity of
the search or seizure is challenged in such a manner as to give the prosecutor notice of
the basis for the challenge.” Xenia v. Wallace, 37 Ohio St. 3d 216, 524 N.E.2d 889
(1988), paragraph one of the syllabus. Accord State v. Peagler, 76 Ohio St. 3d 496, 500,
668 N.E.2d 489 (1996); State v. Shindler, 70 Ohio St. 3d 54, 636 N.E.2d 319 (1994),
syllabus. These requirements exist because “the prosecutor cannot be expected to
anticipate the specific legal and factual grounds upon which the defendant challenges
the legality of a warrantless search.” Wallace, 27 Ohio St. 3d at 218. Instead,
“[t]he prosecutor must know the grounds of the challenge in order to
prepare his case, and the court must know the grounds of the challenge in
order to rule on evidentiary issues at the hearing and properly dispose of
the merits. Therefore, the defendant must make clear the grounds upon
which he challenges the submission of evidence pursuant to a warrantless
search or seizure.”
Id. at 218-219 (citations omitted). Once the defendant demonstrates that a warrantless
search or seizure occurred and provides the state with sufficient notice of the basis for
his challenge to the search or seizure, the state bears the burden to establish that the
search or seizure fell within an exception to the warrant requirement. Wallace,
paragraph two of the syllabus. Accord Peagler, 76 Ohio St. 3d at 500.
{18} The defendant need not particularize the legal and factual bases for his
challenge in excruciating detail. See State v. Horner, 4th Dist. No. 01CA6 (Dec. 6, 2001)
(stating that “although motions to suppress evidence need not specifically allege every
underlying fact involved in a suppression issue, the motion must sufficiently put the
prosecution on notice that a certain issue will be contested”). Rather, a suppression
motion provides the prosecution with sufficient notice when it “state[s] with particularity
the statutes, regulations and constitutional amendments [the defendant] allege[s] were
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 10
violated, [and] set[s] forth some underlying factual basis * * * .” Shindler, 70 Ohio St. 3d
at 58.
{19} In Shindler, the court determined that Shindler’s motion to suppress
provided the state with sufficient notice of the legal and factual grounds upon which she
challenged the warrantless search and seizure when her motion stated, in part, that
“[t]here was no lawful cause to stop the defendant, detain the defendant, and/or
probable cause to arrest the defendant without a warrant.” Id. at 54. In a memorandum
in support of her motion, Shindler further alleged that she initially was stopped “because
of a speed violation, (Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.21), a minor misdemeanor. This
is an insufficient legal basis for a Driving Under the Influence stop.” Id. at 55.
{20} Without conducting a hearing, the trial court overruled Shindler’s motion
after it determined that her “’shotgun,’ ‘boilerplate’ motion failed to set forth a factual
basis to justify an evidentiary hearing.” Id. at 55. The court subsequently found
Shindler guilty, and she appealed. The appellate court reversed Shindler’s conviction.
It concluded that the trial court should have held a hearing regarding her suppression
motion because her “motion gave the prosecutor and the court sufficient notice of the
basis of her challenge [when her] motion specifically cited the statutes, regulations and
constitutional rights she alleged were violated.” Id. at 56. The appellate court then
certified its decision as being in conflict with another appellate district. The Ohio
Supreme Court framed the issue as “to what extent a motion to suppress evidence must
set forth its legal and factual bases in order to require a hearing.” Id. at 56. The court
concluded that Shindler’s motion “sufficiently put[] the prosecution on notice of the basis
of the challenge to the stop and arrest.” Id. at 57. The court explained that her motion
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 11
“cited legal authority and set forth a factual basis for challenging the investigative stop
and the arrest. Specifically, [Shindler] claimed that the trooper based his arrest on
Shindler’s minor speeding violation and her moderate odor of alcohol.” Id. at 57. This
satisfied Crim.R.47.
{21} In applying Crim.R. 47’s particularity requirement, appellate courts have
routinely approved of suppression motions that can fairly be characterized as far more
“bare bones” than Rife’s. In State v. Hill, 8th Dist. Nos. 83762 and 83775, 2005-Ohio-
3155, the court determined that Hill’s suppression motion provided the state with
sufficient notice that Hill was challenging the validity of a stop when his motion stated, in
its entirety:
“Now comes the Defendant, Michael Patrick Hill, by and through his
undersigned counsel of record, and hereby moves this Honorable Court to
Suppress any and all evidence as fruit of the poisonous tree from the
illegal stop and detention of Defendant Michael Patrick Hill. Defendant
requests that hearing on this motion be set forthwith accordingly.”
Id. at ¶14. The court determined that the defendant’s use of the phrase “illegal stop and
detention” “put the prosecutor on sufficient notice that the legal basis of the stop was at
issue.” Id. at ¶19.
{22} In State v. Mook, 11th Dist. Nos. 2001-T-0057 and 2001-T-0058 (Dec. 6,
2002), the court held that the following motion to suppress provided the state with
sufficient notice of the basis of Mook’s challenge: “Now comes the defendant and
moves the Court to suppress all evidence in this case subsequent to the traffic stop of
the defendant for speeding. In support of this motion, defendant says that the arresting
officer did not have probable cause to stop the defendant for speeding.” Id. at ¶4-5.
The court explained:
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 12
“While [the defendant’s] motion was exceedingly short, it gave the
prosecutor and the court notice of the issues to be decided. The
prosecution and the court were both put on notice that the basis of the
motion was the lack of probable cause for the stop. The prosecution was
also able to present all available evidence with regard to Officer
Sheridan’s probable cause for the stop. In addition, because the issue did
not require any specific authority beyond the general authority used in
every probable cause determination, the state was not prejudiced by the
failure to cite legal authority in the motion.”
Id. at ¶19.
{23} In State v. Burnette, 7th Dist. No. 09CA44, 2011-Ohio-6400, the defendant
appealed his conviction following a no contest plea. One argument he raised on appeal
was that the trial court should have suppressed evidence obtained as a result of a traffic
stop when the state failed to demonstrate at the suppression hearing that the law
enforcement officer possessed reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle. On appeal,
the court agreed with Burnette that the state did not present sufficient evidence at the
suppression hearing to uphold the traffic stop. The court then examined whether
Burnette’s suppression motion sufficiently advised the state that the lawfulness of the
traffic stop was at issue. It determined that Burnette’s motion “was sufficient to invoke
the state’s burden to present evidence on the reason for the initial stop at the
suppression hearing.” Id. at ¶27. Burnette’s motion requested the trial court to
suppress “any physical evidence seized as a result of an illegal search and seizure and
of any other items obtained during or following the unlawful arrest, search, seizure, and
investigation of appellant.” Id. at ¶26. The motion additionally contained a
memorandum in support that contained legal principles regarding investigative stops
and reasonable suspicion. It further discussed the legal principles regarding the
continuation of an otherwise valid detention. The court determined that because
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 13
Burnette’s motion sufficiently raised the lawfulness of the initial stop, he did not waive
the issue for appeal purposes and it could therefore reverse the trial court’s judgment on
that basis.
{24} In State v. Krasne, 2nd Dist. No. 13421 (April 23, 1993), the court
determined that “a simple allegation that there was insufficient probable cause to make
an initial stop, without more, was sufficient to support a motion to suppress based upon
that ground.” State v. Palmer, 2nd Dist. App. No. 3085 (Mar. 8, 1995), explaining
Krasne. The Krasne court explained:
“[O]nce the defendant has indicated that his attack is based upon
lack of probable cause to make the initial stop, there is nothing else for
him to say. From the defendant’s point of view, he was driving along,
minding his own business, when the police unaccountably stopped him.
Any further explanation that the defendant might give, such as why the
police stopped him, is apt to be against his interest. To require a
defendant to say more than that he was stopped without probable cause is
to require him to speculate as to the reasons that the stopping officer
might articulate for the stop. We conclude that a defendant cannot be
required to do so.”
Furthermore, as the Palmer court later recognized, “the proof to which the State needs
to resort in order to support a stop and detention is usually not technical or complex,
and ordinarily requires only the testimony of the arresting officer.”
{25} And in State v. Gullett, 78 Ohio App. 3d 138, 143 (1992), we approved a
motion that was “lacking in specific detail” on the basis that memorandum in support
cited sufficient legal authority to raise the issue of investigative stops and/or traditional
probable cause intrusions.
{26} Here, Rife’s motion sufficiently advised the court and the state of the basis
of his motion. It states with particularity the constitutional amendment he claims the
trooper violated, i.e., the Fourth Amendment, and sets forth some underlying factual
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 14
basis. Rife’s motion asserted that “the stop and initial detention, search of his person
and the automobile, and his subsequent arrest were performed in violation of” the
Fourth Amendment and requested the court to suppress all of the evidence obtained as
a result of the traffic stop, detention, and subsequent search.
{27} In his memorandum in support, Rife set forth the legal principle that an
automobile stop constitutes a seizure and that this seizure “must be tailored to its
underlying justification and must last no longer than is necessary to effectuate the
purpose of the stop.” This language raised an issue regarding the validity of Rife’s
continued detention following the traffic stop, i.e, whether it lasted longer than
necessary to effectuate the purpose of the stop. See Burnette (concluding defendant’s
motion sufficiently raised lawfulness of traffic stop when memorandum in support
contained the applicable legal principles). Moreover, Rife explained the black-letter law
regarding continued detentions: “When a detention exceeds the duration necessary to
accomplish the purpose of the original stop, and when such continuing detention is not
based upon any articulable facts giving rise to a reasonable suspicion of some illegal
activity, the continued detention constitutes an illegal seizure.” Again, this language
plainly identifies continued detention as an issue. By citing this legal principle, Rife
provided notice to the state that part of the legal basis for his challenge was whether the
trooper based Rife’s continued detention upon articulable facts giving rise to reasonable
suspicion of illegal activity.
{28} Furthermore, Rife’s motion set forth some underlying factual basis to
support his motion. Rife stated that he intended to rely upon the audio and video
recording of the traffic stop, which contained not only the initial traffic stop but also the
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 15
continued detention and the ensuing search. He stated that he did not violate any law
within the trooper’s presence and that he intended to rely upon the facts documented in
the audio and video recording of the traffic stop. Because Rife’s motion indicated that
he challenged whether the trooper possessed any lawful reason to continue the
detention, it did not need to set forth specific facts that would explain why the trooper
continued to do so. Krasne. From Rife’s standpoint, he was sitting in the car when the
trooper “unaccountably” asked him to exit the vehicle. Id. Any further explanation that
Rife might provide, such as why the trooper asked him to exit the vehicle, “is apt to be
against his interest.” Id. To require Rife to set forth facts that might explain why the
trooper did or did not have a lawful basis to continue the detention would be inviting
speculation as to the trooper’s motives. Id.
{29} As Shindler demonstrates, a defendant need not set forth the basis for
suppression in excruciating detail. Instead, the question is whether the language used
provides sufficient—not the best—notice to the state. After all, “[t]he motion to suppress
is merely a procedural vehicle to ‘put the ball into play’ and serve notice that the
defendant intends to have the state meet its * * * burden of demonstrating compliance
with any and all challenged regulations and requirements.” Weiler & Weiler, Baldwins
Ohio Driving Under the Influence Law (2011-2012 ed.), Section 9:13, at 247. Here,
Rife’s motion meets this minimal standard. To the extent the state is uncertain about
the exact scope of the defendant’s challenge, informal pretrial discovery and/or a motion
for more particularized information can clarify the issues while conserving time and
effort for the parties and the trial court. In our view, if the state deems the motion to be
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 16
too generic, nothing is gained by waiting until the hearing to question the particularity of
the motion and the nature of the corresponding burden of proof placed upon the state.
{30} We agree with the trial court that the state should not have been surprised
to hear Rife challenge the trooper’s reasons for ordering him out of the car after the
traffic stop. Consequently, the state’s arguments that Rife’s motion failed to provide it
with sufficient notice that he was challenging the continued detention—and not just the
basis for the traffic stop—are meritless.
{31} Accordingly, we overrule the state’s first three assignments of error.
C. STATE’S MOTION TO CONTINUE
{32} In its fourth assignment of error, the state argues that because Rife’s
motion did not adequately advise it that he was challenging the continued detention, the
trial court should have continued the hearing to allow the state to gather additional
evidence to rebut Rife’s claim that the trooper did not have a lawful basis for continuing
the detention.
{33} When conducting a suppression hearing, a trial court has discretion to
allow a defendant to add issues that the defendant did not raise with particularity in the
written motion. State v. Wells, 11 Ohio App. 3d 217, 219–20, 464 N.E.2d 596 (1983);
State v. Darst, 4th Dist. No. 97CA15 (Sept. 2, 1997). In Wells, the court explained:
“[T]he trial court, in its discretion, may permit defense counsel to
supplement orally a previously filed motion to suppress if the issues raised
by that motion, and those sought to be raised during the hearing, stem
from the same (or common) facts that are so interrelated that disposition
of those issues together would be reasonable and the prosecution would
not be prejudiced thereby. Even if the court finds the prosecution would
not be prejudiced by a decision to hear and decide the supplemental
issue, the court, if requested to do so, may grant a reasonable
continuance to enable the prosecution to prepare and file a responsive
memorandum addressing the supplemental issue.”
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 17
However, the court may allow the additional issues only if it does not prejudice the
prosecution. State v. Mixner, 12th Dist. No. CA2001-07-074 (Jan. 22, 2002). “If the
prosecution is prejudiced in that it is not prepared to address the additional issue, or if
the prosecution requests a continuance, the trial court should grant a continuance to
enable the prosecution to prepare to meet its burden of proof on the issue.” Id.
{34} Here, we determined that Rife’s motion gave the state sufficient notice.
Thus, the trial court did not add any issues at the suppression hearing, and it therefore
had absolutely no duty to continue the hearing to allow the state additional time to
gather evidence to rebut Rife’s challenge.
{35} Moreover, we fail to see what possible prejudice the state could have
suffered as a result of the trial court’s denial of its request for a continuance. The only
possible witness who could have provided testimony regarding the circumstances of the
continued detention, Trooper Seabolt, was available at the suppression hearing. The
state has not explained what precluded it from questioning the trooper in more detail
regarding his reasons for continuing the detention. Our review of the transcripts shows
that it had an opportunity to do so. On cross-examination, defense counsel asked the
trooper why he ordered Rife out of the vehicle. The state then conducted a re-direct
examination but chose not to inquire further about his justification for asking Rife to exit
the vehicle. Such a line of questioning certainly would not be overly complex or require
significant preparation. Rather, it would have been a simple matter for the state to have
asked the trooper why he continued to detain Rife. As it stands, the trooper’s testimony
was that he did so because Rife and his passenger avoided eye contact. He did not
offer any other factors that caused him to continue the detention. Thus, we fail to see
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 18
how the denial of a continuance prevented the state from obtaining other testimony from
the trooper to support the continued intrusion. To get the trooper’s justification before
the court would not require any technical analysis and in-depth investigation. Palmer,
supra. All the state had to do was ask. It chose not to and must now live with the
testimony he provided.
{36} Accordingly, we overrule the state’s fourth assignment of error and affirm
the trial court’s judgment.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Ross App. No. 11CA3276 19
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and that Appellant shall pay the
costs.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Ross
County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS
BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is
temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days upon the bail previously
posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme
Court of Ohio an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court.
If a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the
sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the
Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of
the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court
of Ohio dismisses the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as
of the date of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Exceptions.
Kline, J. & McFarland, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court
BY: ________________________
William H. Harsha, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment
entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing
with the clerk.