State v. Newsome , 2017 Ohio 7488 ( 2017 )

[Cite as State v. Newsome, 2017-Ohio-7488.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
HOCKING COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
: Case No. 17CA2
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
:
vs. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
JASON M. NEWSOME, :
:
Defendant-Appellant. : Released: 08/31/17
_____________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Ryan Shepler, Kernen & Shepler, LLC, Logan, Ohio, for Appellant.
Benjamin E. Fickel, Hocking County Prosecutor, Logan, Ohio, for Appellee.
_____________________________________________________________
McFarland, J.
{¶1} Jason Newsome appeals from the trial court’s judgment
revoking his community control and imposing a prison term after it
determined he had violated his community control by obstructing official
business. On appeal, Appellant contends that 1) the State failed to prove
obstructing official business or any other offense by a preponderance of the
evidence; and 2) the trial court erred by admitting and relying upon hearsay
in finding that he committed a probation violation. Because the State
provided substantial evidence that Appellant obstructed official business,
and because the Ohio Rules of Evidence regarding hearsay do not apply to
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 2
community control revocation hearings, we cannot conclude that the trial
court erred or abused its discretion in revoking Appellant’s community
control. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
FACTS
{¶2} Appellant, Jason Newsome, pled guilty to one count of
trafficking in heroin, a fourth degree felony, and was sentenced to
community control on April 11, 2013. A motion was filed on September 26,
2016, alleging Appellant had violated the terms of his supervision and
requesting his community control be revoked, based upon the following:
“1. Condition #1: ‘I will obey federal, state and local laws and
ordinances, including those related to illegal drug use and
registration with authorities. I will have no contact with the
victim of my current offense(s).’
To wit: On or about 09/14/2016, in the vicinity of Hocking
County, you caused or attempted to cause physical harm to
Carol J. Francis.
To wit: On or about 09/14/2016, in the vicinity of Hocking
County, you purposely delayed the performance by a public
office of the public officials [sic] authorized acts.”
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 3
{¶3} A revocation hearing was held on November 29, 2016. At the
beginning of the hearing, the State withdrew the first grounds stated in their
motion, which alleged Appellant had caused or attempted to cause physical
harm to Carol J. Francis. The State explained that Ms. Francis had refused
to cooperate with them on the misdemeanor charges that were filed and that
it did not have Ms. Francis available as a witness that day. The State went
forward on their allegation that Appellant had obstructed official business
and presented one witness, Deputy Dustin Wesselhoeft.
{¶4} Testimony presented by Deputy Wesselhoeft indicated that on
the night in question, he was dispatched to Carol Francis’ residence in
response to a complaint that Appellant had assaulted her, as well as
numerous calls that an intoxicated individual was knocking on doors. The
deputy testified that while he was conducting his investigation at the
victim’s residence, he observed a car quickly pull in and then out of the
victim’s driveway. Because he was informed by the victim and another
individual there that Appellant was in the vehicle, the deputy quickly left
and initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle. However, because the deputy was
informed by the vehicle occupants that Appellant had been dropped off at
the victim’s house, he returned to her house. Upon arriving, he was
informed that Appellant had briefly entered the house and the fled to the
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 4
woods. Deputy Wesselhoeft eventually located Appellant in the woods and
he was taken into custody without further incident.
{¶5} Defense counsel raised several objections to the deputy’s
testimony, arguing it constituted hearsay evidence. The trial court, however,
overruled the objections. After hearing the evidence, the trial court revoked
Appellant’s community control and ordered him to serve the remainder of
the original term of an eighteen-month prison sentence. It is from this
decision that Appellant now brings his timely appeals, setting forth two
assignments of error for our review.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
“I. THE STATE FAILED TO PROVE OBSTRUCTING OFFICIAL
BUSINESS OR ANY OTHER OFFENSE BY A
PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE.
II. THE COURT ERRED BY ADMITTING AND RELYING UPON
HEARSAY IN FINDING THAT MR. NEWSOME COMMITTED A
PROBATION VIOLATION.”
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
{¶6} In his first assignment of error, Appellant contends the State
failed to prove that he obstructed official business, or any other offense, by a
preponderance of the evidence. The State counters by arguing that Deputy
Wesselhoeft’s testimony established the elements of obstructing official
business, and that the trial court properly concluded the State provided
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 5
substantial proof, the lesser standard for community control violations, that
Appellant committed the offense. Based upon the following we agree with
the State.
{¶7} This Court recently reflected on the proper standard of review
when reviewing decisions revoking community control in State v. Johnson,
4th Dist. Meigs No. 14CA10, 2015-Ohio-1373. In Johnson, we noted that
this Court has previously applied a two-part standard in such cases, as
follows:
“ ‘Because a community control revocation hearing is not a
criminal trial, the State does not have to establish a violation
with proof beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Wolfson,
Lawrence App. No. 03CA25, 2004–Ohio–2750, ¶ 7, citing
State v. Payne, Warren App. No. CA2001–09–081, 2002–
Ohio–1916, in turn citing State v. Hylton (1991), 75 Ohio
App.3d 778, 782, 600 N.E.2d 821. Instead, the prosecution
must present “substantial” proof that a defendant violated the
terms of his community control sanctions. Wolfson, citing
Hylton at 782, 600 N.E.2d 821. Accordingly, we apply the
“some competent, credible evidence” standard set forth in C.E.
Morris Co. v. Foley Constr. Co. (1978), 54 Ohio St. 2d 279, 376
N.E.2d 578, to determine whether a court's finding that a
defendant violated the terms of his community control sanction
is supported by the evidence. Wolfson at ¶ 7, citing State v.
Umphries (July 9, 1998), Pickaway App. No. 97CA45; State v.
Puckett (Nov. 12, 1996), Athens App. No. 96CA1712. This
highly deferential standard is akin to a preponderance of the
evidence burden of proof. Wolfson, citing State v. Kehoe (May
18, 1994), Medina App. No. 2284–M. * * * Thus, we conclude
the appropriate review in this matter is twofold. First, we
review the record to determine whether there is substantial
evidence to support the court's finding that C.M.C. violated the
terms of probation or community control. If it does, then we
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 6
review the court's ultimate decision to revoke probation, i.e., the
sanction, under the more deferential abuse of discretion
standard.’ ” Johnson at ¶ 13; quoting In the Matter of C.M.C.,
4th Dist. Washington No. 09CA15, 2009–Ohio–4223, ¶ 17.
{¶8} Here, a notice of violation was filed alleging Appellant had
violated the terms of his community control by obstructing official business.
R.C. 2921.31 prohibits obstructing official business and provides in section
(A) as follows:
“No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to
prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official
of any authorized act within the public official’s official
capacity.”
As previously noted by this Court, “Ohio courts have interpreted this statute
to criminalize only affirmative acts, not the failure to act.” State v. Certain,
2009-Ohio-148, 905 N.E.2d 1259, ¶ 12 (4th Dist.); citing State v. May, 4th
Dist. Highland No. 06CA10, 2007-Ohio-1428, fn. 5 (“An affirmative act is
required to prove a R.C. 2921.31 obstruction of official business violation”);
State v. Wellman, 173 Ohio App. 3d 494, 2007-Ohio-2953, 879 N.E.2d 215,
at ¶ 10 (“A violation of this statute requires an affirmative act. A person
cannot be guilty of obstructing official business by doing nothing or failing
to act”); State v. Prestel, 2nd Dist. Montgomery No. 20822, 2005-Ohio-
5236, ¶ 16 (“Ohio courts have consistently held that in order to violate the
obstructing official business statute, a defendant must engage in some
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 7
affirmative or overt act or undertaking that hampers or impedes a public
official in the performance of the official's lawful duties, as opposed to
merely failing or refusing to cooperate or obey a police officer's request for
information”); State v. Grooms, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 03AP–1244, 2005-
Ohio-706, ¶ 18 (“R.C. 2921.31(A) requires proof of an affirmative act that
hampered or impeded performance of the lawful duties of a public official”).
{¶9} Appellant contends that the State failed to prove an affirmative
act on his part or that he acted without privilege. Appellant also contends
the State failed to prove that law enforcement was actually hampered or
impeded. Appellant claims that his actions of running into the woods and
hiding in the weeds when he saw law enforcement was not criminal conduct,
absent some law enforcement command to do otherwise, and that he simply
exercised his constitutional right to refrain from speaking with the deputies.
Appellant further informs this Court that he has been unable to locate a
single case where an obstructing official business conviction was upheld
where the defendant merely avoided law enforcement without disobeying a
verbal command of law enforcement.
{¶10} In State v. Harris, 2015-Ohio-5378, 56 N.E.3d 286 (9th Dist.),
¶ 7, the court acknowledged that “[a]n affirmative act is required in order to
support a finding that an individual was guilty of obstructing official
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 8
business[,]” and that “the ‘mere failure to obey a law enforcement officer’s
request may not amount to obstruction.’ ” (internal citations omitted).
However, the court also recognized “that the ‘affirmative act of running
from an officer’ does impede an officer’s lawful duty.” Id.; quoting State v.
Sanders, 9th Dist. Summit No. 23504, 2007-Ohio-2898, ¶ 21. State v.
Sanders, as well as several other cases cited by the Harris court, all involved
scenarios where defendants either ran or retreated from law enforcement
after being given an order to either, stop, come out, or put their hands up.
{¶11} Here, the evidence suggests Appellant ran and hid from law
enforcement when he saw law enforcement, but before law enforcement
spotted him. Thus, law enforcement didn’t have an opportunity to order
Appellant to stop. They were, nevertheless, looking for him, and the
evidence suggests Appellant knew that and sought to evade them. As such,
the evidence indicates Appellant was aware that police officers were
attempting to detain him when he fled into the woods and hid in the weeds.
The officers’ “official business” was to investigate the allegations made by
the various callers as well as Appellant’s ex-girlfriend, Carol Francis’, report
that Appellant had assaulted her. Appellant had no privilege to hamper the
officers in the performance of their official duties, but his actions caused
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 9
them to chase and stop a vehicle and then search woods to find him. We
conclude such actions do, in fact, constitute affirmative acts.
{¶12} In State v. LaPorte, 4th Dist. Ross No. 14CA3450, 2015-Ohio-
294, ¶19, a situation involving law enforcement responding to a residence as
a result of a domestic violence report was compared to a situation where a
defendant flees from a Terry stop. See also State v. Willey, 2015-Ohio-4572,
46 N.E.3d 1121 (5th Dist.) (comparing a situation involving law
enforcement responding to a residence in response to a report of a “domestic
incident” as a Terry stop.) As noted by the Willey court, “the law within the
State of Ohio recognizes three types of police-citizen encounters: consensual
encounters, Terry stops (brief investigatory stop or detention), and arrests.”
Id. at ¶ 31 (internal citations omitted); see also State v. Millerton, 2015-
Ohio-34, 26 N.E.3d 317 (2nd Dist.); State v. Glauser, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas
No. 2011AP100039, 2012-Ohio-3230; State v. DeBrossard, 4th Dist. Ross
No. 13CA3395, 2015-Ohio-1054. A Terry stop is an investigatory detention
and is valid if an officer has reasonable and articulable suspicion of criminal
activity. Willey at ¶ 32.
{¶13} As set forth above, law enforcement responded to Appellant’s
ex-girlfriend’s house on the night in question due to several reports of an
intoxicated individual knocking on doors, as well as a report that Appellant
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 10
had assaulted his ex-girlfriend. This type of interaction can be compared to
or characterized as a Terry stop, or brief investigatory detention. While
conducting their investigation at the residence, law enforcement witnessed a
vehicle pull into and then out of Francis’ driveway. Upon being informed
by the residents that Appellant was in the vehicle, law enforcement left and
gave chase to the vehicle, ultimately being informed by the occupants of the
vehicle that Appellant had been dropped off at Francis’ house. When law
enforcement returned to the residence they were then informed that
Appellant had briefly entered the house and then fled into the woods. Law
enforcement eventually found Appellant hiding in the weeds in the woods
next to Francis’ house.
{¶14} Several courts have held that a defendant’s act of fleeing from
a Terry stop is an affirmative act and constitutes obstructing official
business. In State v. Ross, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2007-CA-00127, 2008 WL
568303, ¶ 28, the court explained that “ ‘[h]eadlong flight-wherever it
occurs-is the consummate act of evasion: it is not necessarily indicative of
wrongdoing, but it is certainty suggestive of such.’ ” Quoting Illinois v.
Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119, 124, 120 S. Ct. 673 (2000); see also State v.
Glauser, supra, at ¶ 21 (unprovoked flight is simply not a mere refusal to
cooperate.) Similarly, this Court concluded in State v. Certain, 180 Ohio
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 11
App.3d 457, 2009-Ohio-148, 905 N.E.2d 1259, ¶ 14, that “fleeing from
police ‘to hamper or impede the police from finding out [the defendant’s]
identity’ would be a violation of R.C. 2921.31.” Thus, we conclude that
here, based upon the facts before us, the trial court did not err or abuse its
discretion in finding that Appellant’s act of fleeing from law enforcement
constituted an affirmative act that hampered and impeded law enforcement’s
investigation on the night in question.
{¶15} We further reject Appellant’s argument that he was under no
obligation to make himself available to law enforcement on the night in
question and that he was merely exercising his Fifth Amendment right to
remain silent. In State v. Glauser the court reasoned as follows in
determining that an officer had reasonable suspicion of criminal activity to
justify pursuing the appellant with an intent to stop him:
“In Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119, 120 S. Ct. 673, 145
L. Ed. 2d 570 (2000), the suspect fled upon seeing police officers
patrolling an area known for heavy narcotics trafficking. An
officer exited his patrol car and stopped the suspect. In
upholding the stop, the United States Supreme Court held that
headlong flight is not necessarily indicative of wrongdoing, but
it is certainly suggestive of wrongdoing:
‘Such a holding is entirely consistent with our decision in
Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 103 S. Ct. 1319, 75 L. Ed. 2d 229
(1983), where we held that when an officer, without reasonable
suspicion or probable cause, approaches an individual, the
individual has a right to ignore the police and go about his
business. Id., at 498, 103 S. Ct. 1319. And any “refusal to
cooperate, without more, does not furnish the minimal level of
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 12
objective justification needed for a detention or seizure.”
Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 437, 111 S. Ct. 2382, 115
L. Ed. 2d 389 (1991). But unprovoked flight is simply not a mere
refusal to cooperate. Flight, by its very nature, is not “going
about one’s business”; in fact, it is just the opposite. Allowing
officers confronted with such flight to stop the fugitive and
investigate further is quite consistent with the individual's right
to go about his business or to stay put and remain silent in the
face of police questioning.’ ” Glauser at ¶ 19-21.
Thus, while Appellant is correct that he had a right to remain silent in the
face of questioning by law enforcement, he was without privilege to flee
from them to avoid investigation.
{¶16} Additionally, with regard to any suggestion by Appellant that
he could not have obstructed official business without disobeying the order
of an officer, there is no such requirement contained in the elements of
obstructing official business. Appellant was not charged with resisting arrest
or failure to comply with the order of a police officer. Disobeying an order
of a police officer is not an element the State was required to prove in order
to demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Appellant
obstructed official business. Although many cases involving this offense
have fact patterns that include defendants failing to obey an order and
fleeing from law enforcement, we conclude a defendant can still obstruct
official business without disobeying an order of law enforcement. See State
v. Puterbaugh, 142 Ohio App. 3d 185, 755 N.E.2d 359, *363 (reasoning that
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 13
there is no need to discuss falsification, as defendant was charged with
obstructing official business, not falsification). Similarly, because failing to
obey an order of a police officer is not an element of obstructing official
business, there is no requirement that such element be proven by the State
here.
{¶17} Finally, with respect to Appellant’s assertions that the State’s
failure to file a formal criminal complaint charging Appellant with
obstructing official business and dismissal of the assault charges involving
Appellant’s girlfriend in some way invalidates the State’s claim that he
violated his probation, we disagree. As this Court has previously explained,
“community control, probation, and parole can be revoked, even if the
underlying criminal charges are dismissed, the defendant is acquitted, or the
conviction is overturned, unless all factual support for the revocation is
removed.” State v. Johnson, supra, at ¶ 16; citing Barnett v. Ohio Adult
Parole Auth., 81 Ohio St. 3d 385, 387, 692 N.E.2d 135 (1998); State v.
McCants, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C–120725, 2013–Ohio–2646, ¶ 9.
{¶18} As discussed above, Appellant’s interaction with law
enforcement on the night in question was essentially pursuant to a Terry-
type stop or investigatory detention. Terry stops “must be viewed within the
totality of the circumstances” presented to the officer at the time. State v.
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 14
Freeman, 64 Ohio St. 2d 291, 414 N.E.2d 1044, (1980), paragraph one of
syllabus. At the time law enforcement sought Appellant, they were
investigating a report of an assault by Appellant of his ex-girlfriend. The
fact that the State did not go forward on their original claim in the notice of
violation that referenced the assault because the victim would not cooperate
does not diminish the fact that law enforcement was responding to a
domestic report on the night in question and was operating under those facts
at the time. The dismissal of the assault complaint and failure to file a
complaint charging obstructing official business in this case did not remove
all factual support for the trial court’s finding that he violated his community
control. Therefore, the trial court’s determination that Appellant violated his
community control by obstructing the official business of law enforcement
officers who were responding to investigate a report of Appellant assaulting
his ex-girlfriend was supported by substantial proof.
{¶19} Thus, in light of the foregoing, we cannot conclude that the
trial court erred or abused its discretion in finding the State proved, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that Appellant violated the terms of his
community control by obstructing official business. Accordingly,
Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 15
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
{¶20} In his second assignment of error, Appellant contends that the
trial court erred by admitting and relying upon hearsay in finding that he
committed a probation violation. In making this argument, Appellant
concedes that the Rules of Evidence do not apply at community control
revocation hearings. Nevertheless, he argues that he was prejudiced by the
introduction of hearsay evidence because it was the only evidence that was
presented by the State. He contends “[t]he present case involves evidence
that is exclusively hearsay[,]” and that his due process rights require that he
be provided a right to confront and cross-examine witnesses.
{¶21} This Court has previously noted, with regard to the
applicability of the Rules of Evidence to community control or probation
revocation hearings, that “ ‘[p]robation-revocation hearings are not subject
to the rules of evidence and thus allow for the admission of [otherwise
inadmissible] evidence.’ ” State v. Johnson, supra, at ¶ 24; quoting State v.
Ohly, 166 Ohio App. 3d 808, 2006–Ohio–2353, 853 N.E.2d 675, ¶ 21 (6th
Dist.); State v. Estep, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 03CA22, 2004–Ohio–1747, ¶ 6
(“The Rules of Evidence do not apply to community control revocation
hearings”); Evid.R. 101(C)(3) (“These rules do not apply in * * *
[p]roceedings granting or revoking probation [and] proceedings with respect
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 16
to community control sanctions * * * ”); 1 Giannelli, Baldwin's Ohio
Practice Evidence, Section 101.11 (3d Ed.2014) (“Rule 101(C)(3) exempts
from the Rules of Evidence a number of criminal proceedings, including
those involving sentencing, probation, and community control sanctions”);
State v. Talty, 103 Ohio St. 3d 177, 2004–Ohio–4888, 814 N.E.2d 1201, ¶ 16
(recognizing “no meaningful distinction between community control and
probation”). “The rationale for this exception is that a trial court should be
able to consider any reliable and relevant evidence indicating whether the
probationer has violated the terms of probation, since a probation or
community control revocation hearing is an informal proceeding, not a
criminal trial.” State v. Gullet, 5th Dist. Muskingum No. CT2006–0010,
2006–Ohio–6564, ¶ 27; citing Columbus v. Bickel, 77 Ohio App. 3d 26, 36,
601 N.E.2d 61 (10th Dist.1991). Thus, we reject any argument by Appellant
that the trial court’s reliance on hearsay evidence, in general, constituted
error.
{¶22} With respect to Appellant’s argument that the evidence
presented by the State was exclusively hearsay and that the trial court’s
reliance upon it, without more, deprived him of his due process rights and
constituted reversible error, Appellant is correct that “ ‘[t]he introduction of
hearsay evidence into a probation-revocation hearing is reversible error
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 17
when that evidence is the only evidence presented and is crucial to a
determination of a probation violation.’ ” Johnson at ¶ 25; quoting State v.
Ohly at ¶ 21; see also State v. McCants, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-120725,
2013-Ohio-2646, ¶ 14 (“Although the rules of evidence are inapplicable to
revocation hearings, the admission of hearsay may implicate the defendant’s
right to confront and cross-examine witnesses.”).
{¶23} Here, however, the trial court did not rely exclusively on
hearsay evidence. Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered in court as
evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Evid.R. 801(C). This
Court has consistently held that “ ‘ “[i]t is well settled that statements
offered by police to explain their conduct while investigating a crime are not
hearsay because they are not offered for their truth, but rather, are offered as
an explanation of the process of investigation.” ’ ” State v. Trainer, 4th Dist.
Pickaway No. 14CA21, 2015-Ohio-2548, ¶ 12; quoting State v. Gerald, 4th
Dist. Scioto No. 12CA3519, 2014–Ohio–3629, ¶ 70; quoting State v. Spires,
4th Dist. Gallia No. 10CA10, 2011–Ohio–3661, ¶ 13; quoting State v.
Warren, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83823, 2004–Ohio–5599, ¶ 46; citing State
v. Price, 80 Ohio App. 3d 108, 110, 608 N.E.2d 1088 (1992); State v.
Braxton, 102 Ohio App. 3d 28, 49, 656 N.E.2d 970 (1995); State v. Blevins,
36 Ohio App. 3d 147, 149, 521 N.E.2d 1105 (1987).
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 18
{¶24} The testimony to which Appellant objected during the hearing
involved statements made by Deputy Dustin Wesselhoeft regarding the steps
he took in attempting to locate Appellant as he was conducting his
investigation on the night in question. He first testified to a report he
personally received from dispatch. He next testified to the information
provided to him by the victim regarding the identity and location of
Appellant as he was conducting his investigation. He next testified to
personally seeing a vehicle pull into the driveway and then leave, as well as
the information provided to him indicating Appellant was in the vehicle,
which led him to follow and then stop that vehicle. He then testified
regarding information provided by the driver of the vehicle he stopped, that
indicated Appellant had been dropped off at the victim’s residence, which
led him to return to the residence to continue his investigation. He then
testified to information provided again by the victim and another person in
the victim’s house indicating Appellant had fled into the woods. He finally
testified to personally locating Appellant, who was hiding in the weeds in
the woods near the house.
{¶25} While some of the information contained in Appellant’s
testimony was provided to Appellant by individuals that did not testify at
trial, some of the testimony was based upon the deputy’s eyewitness account
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 19
of what happened that night. Other statements encompassed within the
deputy’s testimony that explained the course of the investigation and how
Appellant was eventually located were not hearsay, as they served as an
explanation of the process of the investigation. In fact, when Appellant’s
counsel repeatedly objected to the testimony during the hearing, the
objections were overruled based upon the trial court’s stated reasoning that
“[n]ormally this sort of thing is not offered for the truth, but just simply to
explain the officer’s subsequent actions so -- * * * All right. So we’ll
overrule that at that [sic] this point.” Thus, the trial court properly overruled
Appellant’s objections on the correct basis. Based upon the foregoing, we
find no merit to the arguments raised in Appellant’s second assignment of
error and it is, therefore, overruled.
{¶26} Having found that the State provided substantial proof that
Appellant obstructed official business, we cannot conclude that the trial
court erred or abused its discretion in revoking Appellant’s probation.
Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Hocking App. No. 17CA2 20
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and costs be
assessed to Appellant.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing
the Hocking County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division, 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.
Hoover, J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion as to Assignment of Error II;
Concurs in Judgment Only as to Assignment of Error I.
Harsha, J.: Concurs in Judgment Only.
For the Court,
BY: ______________________________
Matthew W. McFarland, 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.