DocketNumber: No. 2008-P-0031.
Citation Numbers: 2009 Ohio 1146
Judges: DIANE V. GRENDELL, J.
Filed Date: 3/13/2009
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 7/6/2016
{¶ 63} I respectfully dissent. *Page 14
{¶ 64} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred by failing to dismiss the secret indictment due to a 5-month delay between the return of the indictment and its service upon him. I agree.
{¶ 65} We review a trial court's decision on a motion to dismiss pursuant to a de novo standard of review. State v. Wendel (Dec. 23, 1999), 11th Dist. No. 97-G-2116, 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 6237, at 5. A de novo review requires the appellate court to conduct an independent review of the evidence before the trial court without deference to the trial court's decision. Brown v. Scioto Cty. Bd. of Commrs. (1993),
{¶ 66} R.C.
{¶ 67} "When a person has entered upon a term of imprisonment in a correctional institution of this state, and *** there is pending in this state any untried indictment *** against the prisoner, he shall be brought to trial within one hundred eighty days after he causes to be delivered to the prosecuting attorney and the appropriate court *** written notice of the place of his imprisonment and a request for a final disposition to be made of the matter ***. The request of the prisoner shall be accompanied by a certificate of the warden or superintendent having custody of the prisoner, stating the term of commitment under which the prisoner is being held, the time served and remaining to be served on the sentence, the amount of good time earned, the time of parole eligibility of the prisoner, and any decisions of the adult parole authority relating to the prisoner. *Page 15
{¶ 68} "The written notice and request for final disposition shall be given or sent by the prisoner to the warden or superintendent having custody of him, who shall promptly forward it with the certificate to the appropriate prosecuting attorney and court by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
{¶ 69} "***
{¶ 70} "***
{¶ 71} "If the action is not brought to trial within the time provided *** no court any longer has jurisdiction thereof, the indictment *** is void, and the court shall enter an order dismissing the action with prejudice."
{¶ 72} The Supreme Court of Ohio has held that, pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 73} "`An inmate's "notification of availability and request for final disposition" can take several forms, depending on the circumstances of the inmate. Inmates are sometimes in halfway houses or municipal jail facilities where a warden or superintendent may or may not be present as contemplated in R.C.
{¶ 74} In the case at bar, for appellant to have strictly followed the R.C.
{¶ 75} "`While in general, the one hundred eighty day time requirement of R.C.
{¶ 76} Here, the state cites and relies upon the Supreme Court of Ohio's decision in Hairston, supra, in urging us to uphold the trial court's order denying appellant's motion to dismiss. The question on appeal in Hairston was whether R.C.
{¶ 77} In the instant case, on the other hand, there is clear evidence the state knew the location where appellant was incarcerated. Again, appellant filed a pro se letter (i.e. notice of availability) with the Clerk of the Portage County Court of Common Pleas, and a copy was served upon the Portage County Prosecutor on December 19, 2006. Despite such service, the prosecutor continued to delay service of the indictment for two months afterward. If the indictment had been served upon appellant in a timely manner, he would have been arraigned prior to February of 2007, and he would have been represented by counsel at an earlier time. The amount of time that elapsed between the date of service (December 19, 2006) and appellant's no contest plea hearing (September 12, 2007) totaled 267 days, well beyond the 180-day time limit. As a result, appellant was prejudiced.
{¶ 78} Accordingly, I believe that appellant substantially complied with R.C.
{¶ 79} This writer believes that appellant's first assignment of error is with merit which would render his second, third, and fourth assignments of error moot.
{¶ 80} Thus, I would reverse the judgment of the trial court and enter judgment for appellant.
{¶ 81} For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully dissent. *Page 1