In re A.M.I. , 2015 Ohio 367 ( 2015 )

[Cite as In re A.M.I., 2015-Ohio-367.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
WARREN COUNTY
IN THE MATTER OF: :
A.M.I. : CASE NO. CA2014-07-095
: OPINION
2/2/2015
:
:
APPEAL FROM WARREN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
JUVENILE DIVISION
Case No. 13-N001139
David P. Fornshell, Warren County Prosecuting Attorney, Michael Greer, 500 Justice Drive,
Lebanon, Ohio 45036, for plaintiff-appellee
W. Randall Rock, 137 North Main Street, Suite 302, Dayton, Ohio 45402, for defendant-
appellant
PIPER, P.J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, A.M.I., appeals from a decision in the Warren County
Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, adjudicating him a delinquent child for underage
consumption of alcohol and resisting arrest. For the reasons detailed below, we affirm.
{¶ 2} At the time of the incident giving rise to the present case, appellant was a
student at Springboro High School. On October 4, 2013, appellant attended a varsity football
game at Springboro High. During the game, two assistant principals at Springboro High,
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Michael Myers and Jim Eaker, approached appellant and noticed an odor of an alcoholic
beverage on his person. Following a brief discussion, the school officials alerted Springboro
police officers who then arrested appellant after he exhibited several signs of intoxication and
became unruly. Appellant was ultimately charged with one count of underage consumption
in violation of R.C. 4301.69(E)(1), a first-degree misdemeanor, and one count of resisting
arrest in violation of R.C. 2921.33(A), a second-degree misdemeanor.
{¶ 3} The case proceeded to a bench trial before a magistrate on February 20, 2014.
In its case in chief, the state called the two assistant principals, Myers and Eaker, as well as
the arresting officer, Sergeant Aaron Zimmero. After concluding the evidence and closing
remarks, the magistrate adjudicated appellant as a delinquent child after finding that
appellant committed the offenses of underage consumption and resisting arrest. Appellant
raised objections with the trial court. The trial court overruled appellant's objections and
adopted and affirmed the magistrate's decision in its entirety. Appellant now appeals his
conviction, raising four assignments of error for review.
{¶ 4} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 5} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN HOLDING THAT EVIDENCE OF THE SMELL
OR ODOR OF ALCOHOL COUPLED WITH EVIDENCE OF BLOODSHOT AND GLASSY
EYES IS PROOF BEYOND A REASOANBLE [sic] DOUBT THAT APPELLANT WAS
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND, THEREFORE, ERRED IN HOLDING THAT
SUCH EVIDENCE WAS SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A CONVICTION FOR A VIOLATION
OF R.C. 4301.69(E)(1).
{¶ 6} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues his adjudication as a
delinquent child for the offense of underage consumption is based on insufficient evidence
and not supported by the manifest weight of the evidence. "[W]hile a review of the
sufficiency of the evidence and a review of the manifest weight of the evidence are separate
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and legally distinct concepts, a finding that a conviction is supported by the weight of the
evidence will be dispositive of the issue of sufficiency." State v. English, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2013-03-048, 2014-Ohio-441, ¶ 66. With that in mind, we first examine whether
appellant's conviction is supported by the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶ 7} "A manifest weight challenge concerns the inclination of the greater amount of
credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one side of the issue rather than the other."
State v. Hensley, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2014-01-011, 2014-Ohio-5012, ¶ 10, quoting
State v. Wilson, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2006-01-007, 2007-Ohio-2298, ¶ 34. To determine
whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence, the reviewing court must
look at the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the
credibility of the witnesses, and determine whether in resolving the conflicts in the evidence,
the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the
conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. State v. Chasteen, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2013-12-223, 2014-Ohio-4622, ¶ 10. As a result, we will overturn a conviction due to the
manifest weight of the evidence only in extraordinary circumstances when the evidence
presented at trial weighs heavily in favor of acquittal. State v. Little, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2014-01-020, 2014-Ohio-4756, ¶ 11.
{¶ 8} As noted above, appellant was charged with underage consumption of alcohol
in violation of R.C. 4301.69(E)(1), which provides:
No underage person shall knowingly order, pay for, share the
cost of, attempt to purchase, possess, or consume any beer or
intoxicating liquor in any public or private place. No underage
person shall knowingly be under the influence of any beer or
intoxicating liquor in any public place.
An "underage person," as defined by R.C. 4301.69(H)(5), is a person under the age of 21
years. State v. Eaton, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2014-03-026, 2014-Ohio-5746, ¶ 11.
{¶ 9} In the present case, the state presented the testimonies of two assistant
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principals at Springboro High School, Myers and Eaker, who attended the varsity football
game and monitored the student section. Both Myers and Eaker testified that appellant
smelled of alcohol. After detecting the odor of alcohol, Eaker and Myers testified that they
attempted to question appellant, but appellant refused to directly engage with them and
instead continued to talk on his cell phone with his mother. After several attempts to speak
with appellant, Myers and Eaker stated that appellant began walking away and Eaker flagged
down law enforcement to help with the situation.
{¶ 10} Next, Sergeant Zimmero testified about the incident. Sergeant Zimmero is a
15-year veteran of the police force and certified as an instructor in Alcohol Detection
Apprehension and Prosecution (ADAP). Sergeant Zimmero identified appellant and stated
that on the night in question, he approached appellant and noticed a significant odor of an
alcoholic beverage coming from appellant's person. In addition, Sergeant Zimmero testified
that appellant exhibited several clues of impairment, including extremely bloodshot and
glassy eyes. Because Sergeant Zimmero had previous interactions with appellant, Sergeant
Zimmero testified that he knew appellant was under the age of 21 at the time of the incident.
{¶ 11} Based on our review of the evidence presented, we find appellant's adjudication
as a delinquent child for underage consumption is not against the manifest weight of the
evidence. Although appellant adamantly denied that he consumed alcohol on the night of the
offense, the state presented evidence that appellant had the odor of an alcoholic beverage
on his person and exhibited several clues of impairment, including glassy and bloodshot
eyes. E.g., State v. Griffith, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2005-05-118, 2006-Ohio-2399 (affirming
a conviction for DUI where defendant had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and smelled of
alcoholic beverages). The trial judge, as trier of fact, was in the best position to judge the
credibility of the witnesses. As such, appellant's first assignment of error is without merit and
overruled.
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{¶ 12} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 13} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ALLOWING THE ADMISSION INTO
EVIDENCE EVIDENCE [sic] OF APPELLANT'S ALLEGED REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO A
PORTABLE BREATH TEST AND IN CONSIDERING SUCH EVIDENCE IN DECIDING
APPELLANT'S GUILT OR INNOCENCE FOR A VIOLATION OF R.C. 4301.69(E)(1).
{¶ 14} In his second assignment of error, appellant asserts the trial court erred by
allowing the state to introduce evidence of his refusal to submit to a portable breath test
(PBT).
{¶ 15} As relevant here, Officer Zimmero testified:
STATE: Okay. Did you perform any field sobriety tests on
[appellant]?
ZIMMERO: Nah [sic], I never had the chance to.
STATE: Did you offer him a breath test?
ZIMMERO: I did offer him, he was adamant that he had not been
drinking over and over again, and I offered him a portable breath
test.
APPELLANT'S COUNSEL: Objection.
COURT: Basis?
APPELLANT'S COUNSEL: It's not admissible, PBTs, whether
the result or any denial or refusal.
COURT: Overruled.
ZIMMERO: I offered a PBT and he refused
As a result of this testimony, appellant claims that the trial court abused its discretion, which
affected the outcome of the case.
{¶ 16} "Generally, evidence regarding a refusal to submit to a reasonably reliable
chemical test for intoxication is admissible in evidence at trial." State v. Janick, 11th Dist.
Ashtabula No. 2007-A-0070, 2008-Ohio-2133, ¶ 27; see Maumee v. Anistik, 69 Ohio St.3d
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339 (1994); State v. Murphy, 12th Dist. Brown No. CA95-05-010, 1995 WL 764049 (Dec. 29,
1995). "The results of a PTB, however, are generally not admissible as evidence." Id. at ¶
28; State v. Durnwald, 6th Dist. Sandusky No. S-04-013, 2005-Ohio-4867, ¶ 40.
{¶ 17} Ohio Adm.Code 3701-53-02 lists the approved evidentiary breath-testing
instruments for use in determining whether a person's breath contains a prohibited
concentration of alcohol. None of these are defined or designated, however, as a "portable"
or "preliminary" breath test. As a result, a number of courts have presumed that the refusal of
a PBT is inadmissible "unless evidence or testimony to the contrary is presented." Janick at
¶ 28; Durnwald at ¶ 40.
{¶ 18} Based on our review, we find that it was error for the trial court to permit
testimony related to appellant's refusal to submit to a PBT. Although the trial court did note
that the testimony was "not dispositive to the decision reached in the case" and also noted
the "additional independent evidence" supporting a finding that appellant was intoxicated, the
evidence that appellant refused the PBT was inadmissible and therefore the magistrate
should have sustained appellant's objection at his bench trial. E.g., Durnwald at ¶ 41
(concluding that "since the PBT test itself would have been inadmissible, evidence of the
refusal of that test is also inadmissible, and any reference to it was error"); Janick at ¶ 30
("[t]here is no question that evidence of [defendant's] refusal to take a PBT was erroneously
admitted into evidence"); State v. Waters, 4th Dist. Vinton No. 13CA693, 2014-Ohio-3109, ¶
25 ("[i]t is true the results of portable breath tests are not to be admitted for use as evidence
at trial"); see State v. Johnson, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2003-02-010, 2004-Ohio-2213, ¶
23 (it was not an abuse of discretion for trial court to exclude evidence that defendant had
consented to a PBT).
{¶ 19} Although we find this to be error, in light of the evidence presented at trial, we
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decline to find reversible error because this evidence was harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt. It is well-established that harmless trial errors are to be disregarded and the
erroneous admission of evidence is not reversible unless it affects a substantial right that
prejudices the defendant. See Crim.R. 52(A). "A finding of harmless error is appropriate
where there is 'overwhelming evidence of guilt' or 'some other indicia that the error did not
contribute to the conviction.'" State v. Pottorf, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2014-03-046, 2014-
Ohio-5399, ¶ 20, quoting State v. Ferguson, 5 Ohio St.3d 160, 166 (1983), fn. 5.
{¶ 20} Here, there was abundant evidence that appellant had consumed alcoholic
beverages and was knowingly under the influence of an alcoholic beverage in violation of
R.C. 4301.69(E)(1). Again, the testimonies of Myers, Eaker, and Sergeant Zimmero
indicated that appellant had a noticeable odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person.
Sergeant Zimmero's testimony further established that appellant exhibited several clues of
impairment, including extremely bloodshot and glassy eyes. Accordingly, because the state
provided abundant evidence of appellant's guilt, we find any error the trial court committed by
admitting the testimony regarding appellant's refusal to submit to a PBT to be harmless.
Therefore, appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 21} Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶ 22} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING INTO EVIDENCE TESTIMONY
OF APPELLEE'S WITNESSES THAT APPELLANT WAS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-
ONE AND RELYING ON SUCH EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A CONVICTION OF
APPELLANT FOR A VIOLATION OF R.C. 4301.69(E)(1).
{¶ 23} In his third assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred by
permitting Myers to testify about appellant's age based on student records that were not
subsequently entered into evidence and constituted inadmissible hearsay. Appellant also
claims that the testimony provided by Eaker and Sergeant Zimmero did not establish his age
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because neither knew appellant's precise date of birth or established how they had personal
knowledge of appellant's age at the time of his arrest.
{¶ 24} At issue here is the testimony presented by Myers, Eaker, and Sergeant
Zimmero. It is undisputed that no document was offered into evidence to prove appellant's
age or date of birth. Over objection, Myers testified that "[a]ccording to his student records
[appellant] was 17 at the time [of the offense]." Next, Eaker testified that he believed
appellant was 17 years old on the day of the offense. Finally, Sergeant Zimmero testified
that he was familiar with appellant prior to the incident, and knew appellant was under 21
years old at the time of the offense and was "pretty sure" he was under 18 years old.
{¶ 25} The admission or exclusion of relevant evidence rests within the sound
discretion of the trial court. State v. Perkins, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2012-09-012, 2013-
Ohio-3409, ¶ 24. Absent an abuse of discretion, an appellate court will not disturb a trial
court's ruling as to the admissibility of evidence. State v. Henry, 12th Dist. Clermont Nos.
CA2013-12-095 and CA2013-12-097, 2014-Ohio-4624, ¶ 52. An abuse of discretion
connotes more than an error in law or judgment; it implies that the court's attitude is
unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Perkins at ¶ 24.
{¶ 26} Hearsay is "a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying
at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted." Evid.R.
801(C). Pursuant to Evid.R. 802, hearsay is not admissible unless the statement comes
under some exception to the hearsay rule. State v. Shouse, 12th Dist. Brown No. CA2013-
11-014, 2014-Ohio-4620, ¶ 21.
{¶ 27} There are a number of cases holding that testimony regarding a criminal
defendant's age in an underage consumption case based solely on information contained in
a computer printout is inadmissible hearsay. State v. Fair, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-97-054,
1998 WL 114218 (Mar. 6, 1998); see State v. Wolderufael, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-
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1148, 2003-Ohio-3817; Cleveland v. Mohamoud, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 84333, 2004-Ohio-
6104.
{¶ 28} For instance, in State v. Fink, 12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2008-10-118 and
CA2008-10-119, 2009-Ohio-3538, this court reversed a defendant's conviction for underage
consumption after concluding that the state failed to prove that the defendant was underage.
Id. at ¶ 18-19. In so doing, this court found that the only testimony related to the defendant's
date of birth came from a deputy with the Warren County Sheriff's Office who testified
regarding the defendant's date of birth based solely on undocumented computer generated
information that he received through the Law Enforcement Automated Data System
(LEADS). Id. at ¶ 18. That information went uncorroborated due to the state's failure to
provide the trial court with a copy of defendant's driver's license, or with a printout of the
LEADS report. Id. Because the only evidence referencing the defendant's age was
inadmissible, this court found that the defendant was clearly prejudiced by its admission at
trial and reversed his conviction. Id. at ¶ 19.
{¶ 29} On appeal, the state concedes that the magistrate erred when it allowed Myers
to testify about appellant's age when his testimony was based only on appellant's student
records that were not subsequently entered into evidence. However, the state argues that
the error was harmless because both Eaker and Sergeant Zimmero testified, based on
personal knowledge, that appellant was under 21 years old.
{¶ 30} After review, we agree with the state and find the state presented admissible
testimony to prove appellant's age. In Fink, this court specifically stated that there was no
evidence indicating the criminal defendant "told [the Deputy] his age, nor was there any
evidence that [the Deputy] had personal knowledge of appellant's age and date of birth
beyond what he received from the police computer." Id. at ¶ 18. Unlike Fink, in the present
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case, the state did successfully present admissible evidence with respect to appellant's age
at the time of the offense. See Evid.R. 602 ("Evidence to prove personal knowledge may,
but need not, consist of the witness' own testimony").
{¶ 31} Here, the state presented the testimony of both Eaker and Sergeant Zimmero
relevant to appellant's age at the time of the offense. Eaker testified that he has had previous
interactions with appellant at the high school for disciplinary issues. Through his capacity as
assistant principal and based on those prior interactions with appellant, Eaker testified that
he believed appellant was 17 years old on the day of the offense. In addition, Sergeant
Zimmero testified that he was familiar with appellant prior to the incident, and "know[s]"
appellant was under 21 years old at the time of the offense and was "pretty sure" he was
under 18 years old.
{¶ 32} Although the state concedes that a portion of the testimony was based solely
on a review of appellant's student records and should not have been admitted at trial, there
was other uncontested evidence presented by both Eaker and Sergeant Zimmer averring,
based on personal knowledge, that appellant was under 21 years old. As a result, we find the
present case is unlike Fink. Any error in admitting Myers' testimony is harmless given the
testimony by Eaker and Sergeant Zimmero that they had personal knowledge that appellant
was under 21 years old. Accordingly, we find appellant's third assignment of error is without
merit and is overruled.
{¶ 33} Assignment of Error No. 4:
{¶ 34} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN HOLDING THAT THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS
A FINDING BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT APPELLANT IS IN VIOLATION OF
R.C. 2921.33(A), RESISITNG [sic] A LAWFUL ARREST.
{¶ 35} In his fourth assignment of error, appellant argues his adjudication as a
delinquent child for the offense of resisting arrest is against the manifest weight of the
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evidence. Specifically, appellant argues that he could not be adjudicated as a delinquent
child for resisting arrest because Sergeant Zimmero did not have a reasonable basis to arrest
him for underage consumption.
{¶ 36} Resisting arrest is defined in R.C. 2921.33(A), which provides "[n]o person,
recklessly or by force, shall resist or interfere with a lawful arrest of the person or another." In
determining the lawfulness of appellant's arrest, this "court need not find that the elements of
the underlying charge have been proven [beyond a reasonable doubt], but there must exist a
reasonable basis for the arrest." State v. Mitchell, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-05-107,
2011-Ohio-2465, ¶ 33. In other words, an arrest is "lawful" if the surrounding circumstances
would give a reasonable police officer cause to believe that an offense has been or is being
committed. Id.; Middletown v. Hollon, 156 Ohio App. 3d 565, 2004-Ohio-1502, ¶ 43 (12th
Dist.).
{¶ 37} Based on our review, we find appellant's assignment of error is without merit.
As previously addressed in our resolution of appellant's first assignment of error, Sergeant
Zimmero observed appellant's conduct on the night of his arrest, which supported a finding
that appellant was intoxicated in violation of R.C. 4301.69(E)(1). Sergeant Zimmero testified
that appellant smelled of an odor of an alcoholic beverage and had extremely bloodshot and
glassy eyes. In addition, Sergeant Zimmero testified that appellant refused to follow his
reasonable instructions and elected to ignore the officer. After multiple attempts to restore
control over the situation, Sergeant Zimmero placed appellant under arrest. While attempting
to place the handcuffs on appellant, Sergeant Zimmero testified that appellant tensed up,
resisted, repeatedly attempted to pull his arms away, and made a fist with his arm.
{¶ 38} In light of this testimony, we find the evidence presented to the trial court was
sufficient to establish appellant's arrest as "lawful." Appellant's adjudication as a delinquent
child for resisting arrest was therefore not against the manifest weight of the evidence.
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Accordingly, appellant's fourth assignment of error is without merit and overruled.
{¶ 39} Judgment affirmed.
RINGLAND and M. POWELL, JJ., concur.
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