State v. Myrick , 2020 Ohio 974 ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. Myrick, 2020-Ohio-974.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
UNION COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, CASE NO. 14-19-27
v.
ANDREW R. MYRICK, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.
Appeal from Marysville Municipal Court
Trial Court No. 19 CRB 194
Judgment Reversed and Cause Remanded
Date of Decision: March 16, 2020
APPEARANCES:
Rick Rodger for Appellant
Blaise Katter for Appellee
Case No. 14-19-27
ZIMMERMAN, J.
{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, the State of Ohio, appeals the September 18, 2019
judgment entry of the Marysville Municipal Court dismissing its criminal complaint
against defendant-appellee, Andrew R. Myrick (“Myrick”). For the reasons that
follow, we reverse.
{¶2} This case stems from a March 4, 2019 incident in which it was alleged
that Myrick caused or attempted to cause his minor child, A.H., physical harm. (See
Doc. No. 49). Shortly thereafter, the Union County Department of Job and Family
Services filed a complaint in the Union County Juvenile Court alleging A.H. to be
an abused, neglected, or dependent child under R.C. Chapter 2151. (See Doc. Nos.
49, 65).
{¶3} As a result of the incident, a criminal complaint was filed in the
Marysville Municipal Court on March 6, 2019 charging Myrick with domestic
violence in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A), a first-degree misdemeanor. (Doc. No.
1). Myrick entered a written plea of not guilty on March 12, 2019. (Doc. No. 15).
The parties exchanged discovery and filed pleadings in preparation for trial. (See,
e.g., Doc. Nos. 18, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 39, 40, 41, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 58, 63,
64, 65, 66). On September 18, 2019, the trial court sua sponte dismissed the criminal
charge without a hearing. (Doc. No. 69).
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{¶4} The State filed its notice of appeal on September 19, 2019. (Doc. No.
75). It raises one assignment of error for our review.
Assignment of Error
The Trial Court Erred When it Dismissed the Complaint
Previously Filed.
{¶5} In its assignment of error, the State argues that the trial court abused its
discretion by sua sponte dismissing the criminal complaint charging Myrick with
one count of domestic violence without a hearing. Specifically, the State argues
that the trial court abused its discretion by dismissing the case without a hearing
because it was not “given the opportunity to object to the dismissal.” (Appellant’s
Brief at 6).
Standard of Review
{¶6} This court reviews a trial court’s dismissal of a criminal charge under
Crim.R. 48(B) for an abuse of discretion. State v. Heard, 12th Dist. No. CA2016-
03-008, 2017-Ohio-4, ¶ 10, citing State v. Murray, 12th Dist. Clermont No.
CA2016-01-005, 2016-Ohio-7364, ¶ 9, citing State v. Busch, 76 Ohio St.3d 613,
616 (1996). See also State v. Elqatto, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP-914, 2012-
Ohio-4303, ¶ 17. An abuse of discretion suggests that a decision is unreasonable,
arbitrary, or unconscionable. State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157-158 (1980).
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Analysis
{¶7} Criminal Rule 48 governs the dismissal of an indictment, information,
or complaint by the trial court and provides, in its relevant part, that “[i]f the court
over objection of the state dismisses an indictment, information, or complaint, it
shall state on the record its findings of fact and reasons for the dismissal.”
(Emphasis added.) Crim.R. 48(B). That rule, “incorporates language clearly
envisioning the awareness and participation of the state in the dismissal process.”
Huron v. Slauterbeck, 6th Dist. No. E-15-026, 2015-Ohio-5022, ¶ 8. Indeed, our
sister appellate district noted that Ohio jurisprudence addressing Crim.R. 48(B)
reflects that “a hearing must be conducted which enables the state to have an
opportunity to make an objection on the record in anticipation of potential
subsequent appellate review” “for a trial court’s Crim.R. 48 discretionary dismissal
power to be properly exercised.” Id. at ¶ 10. That is,
“Crim.R. 48(B) authorizes the court to dismiss an indictment, but
provides that if the court does so over the state’s objection the court
shall state on the record its findings of fact and reasons for the
dismissal. That requirement contemplates an evidentiary hearing
from which findings of fact may be made, and which is necessary for
subsequent appellate review of any error assigned by the state
regarding an objection by the state that the court overruled.”
Id. at ¶ 11, quoting State v. Montiel, 185 Ohio App.3d 362, 2009-Ohio-6589, ¶ 22
(2d Dist.) (Grady, J., concurring). See also State v. Sanders, 7th Dist. No. 12 CO
35, 2013-Ohio-5220, ¶ 21, quoting Montiel at ¶ 22. But see State v. Carabello, 8th
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Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105021, 2017-Ohio-4449, ¶ 11 (concluding that the trial court’s
dismissal of the indictment without a hearing did not constitute reversible error
because “Crim.R. 48(B) does not require the trial court to hold a hearing when it
dismisses a case over the state’s objection—the rule only requires the court to state
its findings of fact and reasons for the dismissal on the record”).
{¶8} Based on the specific facts and circumstances of this case, we conclude
that the trial court’s dismissal of the criminal charge against Myrick without a
hearing—during which the State would have been afforded the opportunity to
object—constitutes reversible error. Compare Slauterbeck at ¶ 13 (concluding that
“the trial court’s failure to notify [the State] that a dismissal of the criminal traffic
complaint filed by [the State] was being contemplated * * * without affording [the
State] the opportunity to be present * * * and determine whether or not to object to
dismissal” constituted reversible error). However, and to be clear, we are not
declaring that a dismissal hearing must occur in all cases; rather, because Crim.R.
48(B) and its corresponding jurisprudence contemplate an opportunity for the State
to voice its objection (if any), the State must be afforded an occasion to voice its
opposition to a dismissal and preserve its argument for appeal. Here, the trial
court—on its own motion and without notice to the parties—dismissed the
domestic-violence charge against Myrick. Although the trial court articulated its
findings of fact and reasons for its dismissal, the State was not provided an
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opportunity to object to the dismissal or provide an argument in opposition to
dismissal.1
{¶9} Therefore, based on our review of the record before us, because the
State was not afforded the opportunity to voice its opposition to dismissing the
criminal charge against Myrick, we conclude that the trial court acted unreasonably,
arbitrarily, or unconscionably. Thus, the trial court abused its discretion by
dismissing the criminal charges against Myrick.
{¶10} Thus, the State’s assignment of error is sustained.
{¶11} Having found error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the particulars
assigned and argued, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for
further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Judgment Reversed and
Cause Remanded
PRESTON and WILLAMOWSKI, J.J., concur.
/jlr
1
We are expressing no opinion as to the validity of the trial court’s findings of fact and reasons that it
articulated in support of its dismissal.
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