State v. Benton

[Cite as State v. Benton, 2023-Ohio-153.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NO. C-210476
TRIAL NO. C-20CRB-21903
Plaintiff-Appellant, :
vs. : O P I N I O N.
JALIL BENTON, :
Defendant-Appellee. :
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Municipal Court
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: January 20, 2023
Mark Piepmeier, Interim Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Ronald
Springman, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellant,
Raymond T. Faller, Hamilton County Public Defender, and Lora Peters, Assistant
Public Defender, for Defendant-Appellee.
OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
CROUSE, Judge.
{¶1} Jalil Benton was arrested six-and-a-half months after the police filed a
complaint charging him with domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. Benton
filed a motion to dismiss, contending that the six-and-a-half-month delay between the
filing of the complaint and his arrest violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial.
After a hearing, the trial court agreed and dismissed the charge. On appeal, the state
argues that the trial court erred when it engaged in a full speedy-trial analysis pursuant
to Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972), because it
contends that the six-and-a-half-month delay was not sufficiently long to trigger such
an analysis. For the following reasons, we overrule the state’s assignment of error and
affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Factual and Procedural Background
{¶2} Jalil Benton was charged with domestic violence on November 15, 2020,
and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On May 31, 2021, Benton was arrested for the
charge. On June 10, 2021, Benton filed a motion to dismiss, which was supplemented
on August 18, 2021, contending that the delay between the filing of the complaint and
his arrest violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial.
{¶3} At the hearing on the motion, North College Hill Police Officer Zachary
Whyle testified that he responded to a call from Nianah Shaw who alleged that Benton
had pushed her head against a framed picture. Whyle testified that “upon our initial
dispatch, they stated that he had left the scene, so I checked the area.” Whyle had a
description of Benton’s vehicle and spent “[s]omewhere between 5 and 10 minutes”
looking for him, but was unsuccessful. Whyle testified that Shaw provided Benton’s
phone number, but the police were in possession of his phone, so they did not try to
call. And while Benton’s registered address was the address of the alleged incident,
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Shaw reported that Benton no longer lived there. After the warrant was issued, no
other attempts were made to locate or notify Benton.
{¶4} Besides Shaw and Benton, there were no other witnesses to the
domestic-violence incident. Although Whyle was wearing a body camera at the time
of his investigation, he testified that the body-camera video was most likely deleted
pursuant to the department’s retention policy.1 Whyle testified that the video “would
have shown a broken glass from a picture frame that was on the wall in line with Ms.
Shaw’s statements,” in addition to Shaw’s demeanor and her statement to police.
Whyle testified that he remembered seeing the broken glass and looking for Benton’s
vehicle, but that given that “it’s been awhile” since the incident, he could “remember
some things. Just not everything.”
{¶5} Benton testified that he had no knowledge of the arrest warrant. Benton
stated that he was never contacted by police about the warrant, and did not learn about
it until he was arrested. He stated that he spoke with Shaw in 2021 after the incident,
and that she knew how to contact him. Benton was not familiar with the phone
number that Shaw gave to the police.
{¶6} After a hearing on the motion, the trial court found that Benton’s
constitutional speedy-trial right was violated by the delay and dismissed the charge.
{¶7} The state now appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in concluding
that Benton’s constitutional rights were violated because the delay in initiating the
arrest was not “presumptively prejudicial,” and therefore, was insufficient to trigger a
Barker speedy-trial analysis. See Barker, 407 U.S. at 530, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d
1 PROSECUTOR: So most likely—you can’t say for certain today, but most likely that video, if
it ever existed, no longer exists?
WHYLE: Yes.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
101 (“Until there is some delay which is presumptively prejudicial, there is no necessity
for inquiry into the other factors that go into the balance.”).
Standard of Review
{¶8} The review of a speedy-trial claim involves a mixed question of law and
fact. See State v. Long, 163 Ohio St.3d 179, 2020-Ohio-5363, 168 N.E.3d 1163, ¶ 15.
Therefore, we defer to the trial court’s factual findings, including findings of historical
facts, if they are supported by competent, credible evidence. Id. We then
independently determine whether the trial court properly applied the law to the facts.
Id.Law and Analysis
{¶9} “Both the United States and the Ohio Constitution guarantee the right
to a speedy trial.” State v. Gage, 2018-Ohio-480, 104 N.E.3d 994, ¶ 25 (1st Dist.),
citing State v. Meeker, 26 Ohio St.2d 9, 268 N.E.2d 589 (1971), paragraph one of the
syllabus. This right applies to delays in prosecution. Meeker at paragraph three of the
syllabus. To determine whether a particular delay is constitutionally reasonable, a
court must balance four factors: (1) the length of the delay, (2) the reason for the delay,
(3) the defendant’s assertion of the right, and (4) the prejudice to the defendant.
Barker at 530.
{¶10} In holding that Benton’s right to a speedy trial was violated, the trial
court stated, “I am not finding that it is a presumptively prejudicial delay of six and a
half months. I understand that factor, but I am finding that is prejudicial.” The court
then went on to weigh the remaining Barker factors. The court found that the state
did not have any reason for the delay. The court stated, “I have a real problem with
this prong. * * * that’s not enough looking for someone for 5 minutes around the North
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
College Hill area. That is not enough over six months.” The court found that Benton
timely asserted his speedy-trial right. The court lastly found that Benton suffered
actual prejudice “because there is no body worn camera.”
{¶11} In its sole assignment of error, the state argues that “The trial court
erred in dismissing the domestic violence charge against defendant based on
allegations his constitutional rights to speedy trial were violated.” In this appeal, the
state does not take issue with the trial court’s Barker findings, explain why the court’s
findings were not supported by competent, credible, evidence, or argue that the court
improperly weighed the Barker factors. Rather, the state argues that the trial court
erred in engaging in a Barker analysis at all. According to the state, because the court
stated that it was “not finding that it is a presumptively prejudicial delay,” the court
erred by engaging in “a complete analysis of the Barker four-factor test used to
evaluate the constitutionality of pretrial delay.”
{¶12} In Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 651, 112 S.Ct. 2686, 120
L.Ed.2d 520 (1992), the United States Supreme Court held that the length of delay to
trigger a Barker analysis must cross the threshold from “ordinary” to “presumptively
prejudicial delay.” “[I]n other words, the length of the delay must be sufficiently
prejudicial to warrant further review of the speedy-trial claim.” State v. Long, 163
Ohio St.3d 179, 2020-Ohio-5363, 168 N.E.3d 1163, ¶ 50 (Dewine, J., dissenting).
However, no case has drawn a specific line regarding exactly how many months will
trigger a Barker analysis. This is because Barker “specifically rejected setting a fixed
approach to a speedy-trial analysis, finding that there could be no constitutional basis
for specifying a set number of days or months.” State v. Sears, 166 Ohio App.3d 166,
2005-Ohio-5963, 849 N.E.2d 1060, ¶ 11 (1st Dist.). The Barker court reasoned that:
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
[B]ecause of the imprecision of the right to a speedy trial, the length of
delay that will provoke such an inquiry is necessarily dependent upon
the peculiar circumstances of the case. To take but one example, the
delay that can be tolerated for an ordinary street crime is considerably
less than for a serious, complex conspiracy charge.
Barker, 407 U.S. at 530-531, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101.
{¶13} The Doggett case later emphasized that the inquiry must be whether
the delay “crossed the threshold dividing ordinary from ‘presumptively prejudicial’
delay, since, by definition, [the accused] cannot complain that the government has
denied him a ‘speedy’ trial if it has, in fact, prosecuted his case with customary
promptness.” Doggett at 652, quoting Barker at 530-531. “If the accused makes this
showing, the court must then consider, as one factor among several, the extent to
which the delay stretches beyond the bare minimum needed to trigger judicial
examination of the claim.” Id.{¶14} Doggett mentioned in a footnote that “[d]epending on the nature of the
charges, lower courts have generally found postaccusation delay ‘presumptively
prejudicial’ at least as it approaches one year.” Doggett, 505 U.S. at 652, 112 S.Ct.
2686, 120 L.Ed.2d 520, fn.1. Courts have generally applied this “approaching a year”
rule as the point at which an ordinary delay transforms into a presumptively
prejudicial delay. This has led to inconsistent results.
{¶15} In State v. Sears, 166 Ohio App.3d 166, 2005-Ohio-5963, 849 N.E.2d
1060 (1st Dist.), we found that a nine-month delay triggered the Barker analysis. Id.
at ¶ 12. More recently, in State v. Mughni, 2022-Ohio-626, 185 N.E.3d 678 (1st Dist.),
we stated that “[w]e decline the state’s invitation to draw an indelible nine-month line
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
in the sand for establishing a violation of the defendant’s right to a speedy trial,” and
held that an eight-and-a-half-month delay was “approaching a year, and therefore,
sufficient to trigger the remainder of the analysis.” Id. at ¶ 8.
{¶16} Some courts have found delays around six months to be sufficient to
trigger a Barker analysis. See United States v. Valentine, 783 F.2d 1413, 1417 (9th
Cir.1986) (“[W]hile the [6 month] delay in Valentine’s case was not very long, it was
sufficient to cause us to examine the other factors.”); United States v. Simmons, 536
F.2d 827, 831 (9th Cir.1976) (“Although a borderline case, we hold that the six-month
delay [of trial on forgery charges] was sufficiently prejudicial to trigger an inquiry into
the other factors.”); See Takacs v. Engle, 768 F.2d 122, 128 (6th Cir.1985) (delay of
six-and-one-half months between arrest and trial for aggravated burglary, aggravated
robbery, and felonious assault was “probably a sufficient length of time to trigger [a
Barker] inquiry”).
{¶17} Other courts have found that delays around six months are not
sufficient to trigger a Barker analysis. See State v. Webb, 4th Dist. Washington No.
01CA32, 2002-Ohio-3552, ¶ 26 (delay of 186 days not presumptively prejudicial);
State v. Pinson, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 00CA2713, 2001-Ohio-2423 (delay of six-and-a-
half months not presumptively prejudicial); State v. Davis, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 05
MA 235, 2007-Ohio-7216, ¶ 31 (six-month delay “does not begin to approach the time
frame in which presumptive prejudice applies.”).
{¶18} To be sure, any delay longer than six months is arguably “approaching
a year.” But, when faced with a borderline case like Benton’s, rather than focus on
whether the delay is “approaching a year,” the question should instead be whether the
delay causes any constitutional concern or is sufficiently prejudicial to warrant further
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
review of the speedy-trial claim. Such an inquiry is more in line with Barker’s
observation that “the right to speedy trial is a more vague concept than other
procedural rights” and that it is “impossible to determine with precision when the right
has been denied.” Barker, 407 U.S. at 521, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101.
{¶19} The dissent accuses the majority of ignoring the trial court’s finding that
there was no presumptive prejudice, “judicially rewrit[ing] the Barker analysis,” and
“disregard[ing] Ohio precedent.” But that is simply not the case.
{¶20} To “presume” means “[t]o assume beforehand; to suppose to be true in
the absence of proof.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1304 (9th Ed.2009). In this case, the
trial court stated that it did not have to “presume” that there was prejudice, because it
found that there actually was prejudice. No presumption of prejudice was required in
this case.2 To require a finding of presumptive prejudice when the testimony elicited
at the hearing demonstrated actual prejudice ignores the heart of the inquiry and
works to draw that indelible line in the sand that we have been warned to avoid. Would
a delay of a few more weeks, when some evidence has already been destroyed,
somehow transform the case and allow the trial court to examine the Barker factors?
Such an approach was not the aim of Barker or Doggett. Thus, we are left to determine
whether the length of the delay in this particular case was sufficiently prejudicial to
2 In discussing speedy-trial prejudice, the Doggett court explained that one important role of
presumptive prejudice is to demonstrate prejudice when a defendant otherwise cannot. The court
explained,
Barker explicitly recognized that impairment of one’s defense is the most difficult
form of speedy trial prejudice to prove because time’s erosion of exculpatory
evidence and testimony “can rarely be shown.” [Barker,] 407 U.S. at 532 [,92 S.Ct.
2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101]. * * * Thus, we generally have to recognize that excessive
delay presumptively compromises the reliability of a trial in ways that neither party
can prove or, for that matter, identify. While such presumptive prejudice cannot
alone carry a Sixth Amendment claim without regard to other Barker criteria, it is
part of the mix of relevant facts, and its importance increases with the length of
delay.
(Citation omitted.) Doggett, 505 U.S. at 655, 112 S.Ct. 2686, 120 L.Ed.2d 520.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
warrant further review. Our analysis is completely in line with the Barker/Doggett
precedent and follows the directive not to draw a line in the sand regarding the length
of delay that will trigger a Barker analysis.
{¶21} In determining whether the six-and-a-half-month delay in this case
causes any constitutional concern, we must keep in mind the “peculiar circumstances
of the case,” such as the fact that Benton was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor.
While the allegations are serious, this is precisely the type of ordinary street crime
where a lengthy delay should not be tolerated. In fact, R.C. 2945.71(B)(2) requires the
state to bring a defendant to trial 90 days from the date of arrest. Sears noted that in
evaluating the length of delay between the filing of the complaint and the service of
the warrant for a first-degree misdemeanor, “we might start with a premise that any
delay of more than 90 days is presumptively prejudicial.” Sears, 166 Ohio App.3d 166,
2005-Ohio-5963, 849 N.E.2d 1060, at ¶ 10. The length of delay in Benton’s case is
more than twice that.
{¶22} The Sixth Amendment’s speedy-trial provision has several purposes: (1)
to prevent undue delay and oppressive incarceration prior to trial; (2) to reduce
anxiety and concern accompanying public accusation; and (3) to limit the possibility
that long delay will impair the ability of the accused to defend himself. United States
v. Marion, 404 U.S. 307, 320, 92 S.Ct. 455, 30 L.Ed.2d 468 (1971). In this case,
because Benton was not incarcerated and had no knowledge of the criminal charges
prior to his arrest, the only concern at issue is the possibility that the delay impaired
the ability of Benton to defend himself. As set forth in Doggett, this is the “most
serious form[] of prejudice, * * * because the inability of a defendant to adequately
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
prepare his case skews the fairness of the entire system.” Doggett, 407 U.S. at 532,
112 S.Ct. 2686, 120 L.Ed.2d 520.
{¶23} The trial court found that there was more than a possibility that the
delay impaired Benton’s defense. The court found that Benton suffered actual
prejudice due to the delay. The state has not challenged this finding.
{¶24} Benton was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor and was not
arrested for six-and-a-half months, which is more than twice the statutory speedy-trial
time limit. This delay led to the destruction of evidence, which the trial court found to
have prejudiced the defense. Based upon the peculiar circumstances of this case, we
hold that the six-and-a-half-month delay caused constitutional concern and was
sufficiently prejudicial to warrant further review of Benton’s speedy-trial claim.
Because the state has not challenged the court’s ultimate constitutional speedy-trial
findings or its weighing of the Barker factors, we do not undertake that analysis.
{¶25} The holding in this case should by no means be interpreted to mean that
a six-and-a-half-month delay will always trigger a Barker analysis. Rather, the
peculiar facts of this case drive the outcome.
{¶26} Accordingly, we hold that trial court’s examination of the remaining
Barker factors was not in error and we overrule the sole assignment of error.
Judgment affirmed.
BOCK, J., concurs.
ZAYAS, P.J., dissents.
ZAYAS, P.J., dissenting.
{¶27} The majority correctly acknowledges that the trial court determined
that this six-and-a-half-month delay was not a presumptively prejudicial delay.
Additionally, neither the state nor Benton challenged this finding. We are not at
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
liberty to ignore this finding and judicially rewrite the Barker analysis. Consequently,
I must respectfully dissent.
{¶28} In this case, after finding that the delay was not presumptively
prejudicial, the trial court proceeded to engage in the Barker analysis. The state
maintains that, “After this finding, the trial court’s analysis of Benton’s speedy trial
claim under Barker should have ended.” I agree. Under Barker, “Until there is some
delay which is presumptively prejudicial, there is no necessity for inquiry into the
other factors that go into the balance.” Barker, 407 U.S. at 530-531, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33
L.Ed.2d 101. “Presumptive prejudice,” when used in this threshold context simply
“marks the point at which courts deem the delay unreasonable enough to trigger the
Barker enquiry.” Doggett, 505 U.S. 647, 112 S.Ct. 2686, 120 L.Ed.2d 520, fn.1. Absent
a finding of presumptive prejudice, the trial court should not have analyzed the
remaining Barker factors.
{¶29} Instead of addressing the state’s argument, the majority reexamines the
court’s determination that the delay was not presumptively prejudicial and rejects the
trial court’s finding. In doing so, the majority admittedly disregards Ohio precedent
finding that delays around six months are not presumptively prejudicial and further
concludes that a finding of presumptive prejudice was unnecessary because the trial
court found actual prejudice after weighing the Barker factors.
{¶30} To justify its contrary finding, the majority concludes that “rather than
focus on whether the delay is ‘approaching a year,’ the question should instead be
whether the delay causes any constitutional concern or is sufficiently prejudicial to
warrant further review of the speedy-trial claim.”
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{¶31} Perhaps that is what the question “should be,” but we are bound by
precedent. Barker is clear that the length of delay operates as a “triggering
mechanism.” Barker, 407 U.S. at 530, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101. While I
recognize that presumptive prejudice is not necessarily determined by drawing a line
in the sand, this does not obviate the Barker directive that unless the delay “has
crossed the threshold dividing ordinary from ‘presumptively prejudicial’ delay,”
inquiry into the remaining Barker factors is unnecessary. Doggett at 651-652.
{¶32} Because I am bound by precedent to apply the analysis set forth in
Barker and Doggett, I would reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand the cause
for further proceedings, including reinstatement of the complaint.
Please note:
The court has recorded its own entry this date.
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