State v. Bays

[Cite as State v. Bays, 2011-Ohio-3021.]
COURT OF APPEALS
ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES:
:
: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
-vs- :
: Case No. 10-CA-42
LARRY E. BAYS :
:
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Ashland County Municipal
Court Case No. 10-CRB-00261AB
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: June 13, 2011
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee: For Defendant-Appellant:
W. DAVID MONTAGUE 0015203 DAVID R. STIMPERT 0080871
Assistant Director of Law 10 E. Main Street
1213 E. Main Street Ashland, Ohio 44805
Ashland, Ohio 44805
[Cite as State v. Bays, 2011-Ohio-3021.]
Delaney, J.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Larry Bays, appeals the judgment of the Ashland
County Municipal Court, convicting him of one count of cultivation of marijuana, a
misdemeanor of the first degree. The State of Ohio is Plaintiff-Appellee.
{¶2} On February 11, 2009, Evelyn Bays, wife of Appellant, signed a parole
agreement indicating that she agreed to be subject to a warrantless search of her
residence, person, and property at any time while she was on parole. Specifically, the
terms that she agreed to stated:
{¶3} “I agree to a search without warrant of my person, my motor vehicle, or my
place of residence by a supervising officer or other authorized representative of the
Department of Rehabilitation and Correction at any time. * * *
{¶4} “Notice pursuant to section 2959.131 of the Revised Code, officers of the
Adult Parole Authority may conduct warrantless searches of your person, your place of
residence, your personal property, or any other property of which you have been given
permission to use if they have reasonable grounds to believe that you are not abiding by
the law or terms and conditions of your supervision.”
{¶5} Michelle Flaherty, an Adult Parole Authority officer (“APA”), supervised
Evelyn Bays. She accepted supervision of Evelyn because both Evelyn and Appellant
agreed to the above terms of supervision. Flaherty stated that these terms were
explained verbally to both Evelyn and Appellant and that a written copy of these
instructions was given to Evelyn.
{¶6} Officer Flaherty received information from an informant who was a former
employee of Appellant’s tobacco shop that was connected to the Bays’ residence, that
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 3
Appellant was growing marijuana in the basement of the Bays’ residence. The
informant told Flaherty that Appellant told him that he was growing the marijuana in his
basement.
{¶7} Based upon the information received, Officer Flaherty and Officer
Kimberly Marcelli went to the Bays’ residence, where they advised both Evelyn and
Appellant that they were going to look around. Evelyn stated that it was fine for them to
look around and Appellant did not make any statement to the contrary, nor did he state
that the officers could not look around.
{¶8} The officers observed a lock on the door to the basement. Evelyn and
Appellant told differing stories as to why there was a padlock on the door. Initially, both
Evelyn and Appellant stated that the landlord had placed the lock on the basement and
that they did not have access to the basement. They were unable, however, to provide
the landlord’s name or contact information. Subsequently, Appellant told the officers
that he sprayed for bugs in the basement and that was why there was a lock on the
basement.
{¶9} Evelyn then stated that she did not go into the basement because she
was scared of it; however, she admitted to having possessions and canned food stored
in the basement. Appellant stated that Evelyn did not go into the basement, but Evelyn
eventually testified at the suppression hearing that she did not go into the basement
because she was afraid of it.
{¶10} The APA officers contacted the Ashland County Sheriff’s Department, who
dispatched a deputy to remove the lock. The officers then observed a marijuana
growing operation in the basement.
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 4
{¶11} Appellant was asked several questions at the Bays’ residence by Ashland
County Sheriff Lieutenant Scott Smart. Appellant was pacing around the house and
also walked outside of the house after being instructed to stay in a particular area of the
home. He admitted that the marijuana in the basement was his. At the time he made
this statement, he had not been read his Miranda warnings; however, he was never
arrested on the date in question.
{¶12} Officer Flaherty testified that Appellant was not placed into custody, but
that he was told not to leave for officer safety reasons. Appellant was never
handcuffed. The officers did find the key to the padlock beside a loaded gun that was
next to a place that Appellant kept going to stand beside while the officers searched the
residence.
{¶13} Two complaints were filed against Appellant, charging him with one count
of possession of marijuana, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), and one count of cultivation
of marijuana, in violation of R.C. 2925.04(A). Appellant pled not guilty to both charges.
{¶14} A motion to suppress was filed on behalf of Appellant and a hearing was
held, wherein Appellant argued that he did not specifically grant consent for the officers
to search the residence, even though his wife did; and the officers’ questioning of
Appellant was tantamount to a custodial interrogation.
{¶15} The trial court denied Appellant’s motion on November 18, 2010, finding
that pursuant to State v. Benton (1998), 82 Ohio St.3d 316, 695 N.E.2d 757, and R.C.
2967.131(C), the warrantless search of the Bays’ residence was proper, and that the
interaction between the officers and Appellant was not custodial.
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 5
{¶16} On November 29, 2010, Appellant entered a change of plea, and pled no
contest to the charge of cultivation of marijuana, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
The possession of marijuana charge was dismissed. The court found Appellant guilty of
the cultivation charge and sentenced him to thirty days in jail with fifteen days
suspended.
{¶17} Appellant now appeals and raises two Assignments of Error:
{¶18} “I. THE ASHLAND MUNICIPAL COURT ERRED BY NOT
SUPPRESSING THE EVIDENCE GATHERED AS A RESULT OF THE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL SEARCH OF APPELLANT’S RESIDENCE, BECAUSE SAID
SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED WITHOUT A WARRANT AND WITHOUT HIS
CONSENT, IN VIOLATION OF APPELLANT’S FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES.
{¶19} “II. THE ASHLAND MUNICIPAL COURT ERRED BY NOT
SUPPRESSING A CONFESSION MADE BY THE APPELLANT, SAID CONFESSION
BEING MADE WHILE IN CUSTODY, PRIOR TO MIRANDA WARNINGS, AND WHICH
FOLLOWED STATEMENTS MADE BY AN OFFICER THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE
UNDERSTOOD BY THE AVERAGE LISTENER AS CALLING FOR A RESPONSE
AND THEREFORE, IN VIOLATION OF HIS FOURTH AND FIFTH AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.”
I.
{¶20} In his first assignment of error, Appellant argues that the trial court erred
by failing to suppress evidence gathered as a result of the search of his residence. We
disagree.
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 6
{¶21} Appellate review of a trial court’s decision to deny a motion to suppress
involves a mixed question of law and fact. State v. Long (1998), 127 Ohio App.3d 328,
713 N.E.2d 1. During a suppression hearing, the trial court assumes the role of trier of
fact and, as such, is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and to evaluate
witness credibility. State v. Brooks, (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 148, 661 N.E.2d 1030. A
reviewing court is bound to accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported
by competent, credible evidence. State v. Metcalf (1996), 111 Ohio App.3d 142, 675
N.E.2d 1268. Accepting these facts as true, the appellate court must independently
determine as a matter of law, without deference to the trial court’s conclusion, whether
the trial court’s decision meets the applicable legal standard. State v. Williams (1993),
86 Ohio App.3d 37, 619 N.E.2d 1141.
{¶22} There are three methods of challenging a trial court’s ruling on a motion to
suppress on appeal. First, an appellant may challenge the trial court’s finding of fact. In
reviewing a challenge of this nature, an appellate court must determine whether the trial
court’s findings of fact are against the manifest weight of the evidence. See State v.
Fanning (1982), 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 1 Ohio B. 57, 437 N.E.2d 583; and State v. Klein
(1991), 73 Ohio App.3d 486, 597 N.E.2d 1141. Second, an appellant may argue that
the trial court failed to apply the appropriate test or correct law to the findings of fact. In
that case, an appellate court can reverse the trial court for committing an error of law.
See State v. Williams (1993), 86 Ohio App.3d 37, 619 N.E.2d 1141. Finally, an
appellant may argue the trial court has incorrectly decided the ultimate or final issues
raised in a motion to suppress. When reviewing this type of claim, an appellate court
must independently determine, without deference to the trial court’s conclusion, whether
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 7
the facts meet the appropriate legal standard in any given case. State v. Curry (1994),
95 Ohio App.3d 623, 620 N.E.2d 906.
{¶23} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits
warrantless searches and seizures, rendering them per se unreasonable unless an
exception applies. Katz v. United States (1967), 389 U.S. 347, 357, 88 S.Ct. 507. An
investigative stop, or Terry stop, is a common exception to the Fourth Amendment
warrant requirement. Terry v. Ohio (1968), 391 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1503. Because the
"balance between the public interest and the individual's right to personal security,"
United States v. Brignoni-Ponce (1975), 422 U.S. 873, 878, 95 S.Ct. 2574, tilts in favor
of a standard less than probable cause in such cases, the Fourth Amendment is
satisfied if the officer's action is supported by reasonable suspicion to believe that
criminal activity "may be afoot." United States v. Sokolow (1989), 490 U.S. 1, 7, 109
S.Ct. 1581 (quoting Terry, supra, at 30). In Terry, the Supreme Court held that a police
officer may stop an individual if the officer has a reasonable suspicion based upon
specific and articulable facts that criminal behavior has occurred or is imminent. See,
also, State v. Chatton (1984), 11 Ohio St.3d 59, 61, 463 N.E.2d 1237.
{¶24} A warrantless search performed pursuant to a condition of parole requiring
a parolee to submit to random searches of his or her person, motor vehicle, or place of
residence by a parole officer at any time is constitutional. State v. Benton (1998), 82
Ohio St.3d 316, 695 N.E.2d 757.
{¶25} As the Benton court noted, “prisoners have forfeited many of their rights
and privileges upon incarceration. Some of these privileges are regained upon parole,
but the defendant is still subject to limitations because a convicted criminal has no
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 8
inherent or constitutional right to be conditionally released before the expiration of a
validly imposed sentence. Greenholtz v. Inmates of Nebraska Penal & Correctional
Complex (1979), 442 U.S. 1, 7, 99 S.Ct. 2100, 2104, 60 L.Ed.2d 668, 675; State ex rel.
Hattie v. Goldhardt (1994), 69 Ohio St.3d 123, 125, 630 N.E.2d 696, 698; State ex rel.
Carrion v. Ohio Adult Parole Auth. (1998), 80 Ohio St.3d 637, 687 N.E.2d 759.
Nonetheless, because the state has an interest in rehabilitation and reintegration of the
prisoner into society, prisoners are often offered an opportunity for parole. The
government is “offering to allow the prisoner to regain his or her freedom in return for a
promise to abide by rules which, to a greater or lesser extent, limit the exercise of
fundamental rights.” Carchedi v. Rhodes (S.D.Ohio 1982), 560 F.Supp. 1010, 1016.”
{¶26} Allowing offenders to be present in the community before the expiration of
their sentence creates the need for special supervision. Benton, supra, citing Griffin v.
Wisconsin (1987), 483 U.S. 868, 107 S.Ct. 3164, 97 L.Ed.2d 709. Supervision “is a
‘special need’ of the State permitting a degree of impingement upon privacy that would
not be constitutional if applied to the public at large.” Id. at 875, 107 S.Ct. at 3169, 97
L.Ed.2d at 718. “Revocation deprives an individual, not of the absolute liberty to which
every citizen is entitled, but only of the conditional liberty properly dependent on
observance of special parole restrictions.” Morrissey v. Brewer (1972), 408 U.S. 471,
480, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 2600, 33 L.Ed.2d 484, 494. “These restrictions are meant to assure
that the probation serves as a period of genuine rehabilitation and that the community is
not harmed by the probationer's being at large. * * * These same goals require and
justify the exercise of supervision to assure that the restrictions are in fact observed.”
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 9
Benton, supra, quoting Griffin, 483 U.S. at 875, 107 S.Ct. at 3169, 97 L.Ed.2d at 718.
See, also, Carchedi, 560 F.Supp. at 1015.
{¶27} In this case, Evelyn Bays, a parolee, and Appellant’s wife, as part of the
conditions of her parole, read and signed an Ohio Adult Parole Authority form entitled
“Conditions of Supervision.” One of the conditions enumerated in the form required
Evelyn, if she chose to sign the form and be paroled, to “agree to a search without
warrant of [her] person, [her] motor vehicle, or [her] place of residence by a parole
officer at any time.” By signing the form, Evelyn waived her right to have searches
conducted pursuant to a warrant. Appellant was also present when this form was read
to Evelyn and agreed to the terms and conditions of her parole since he lived with her.
{¶28} Conditions of parole must be reasonably and necessarily related to the
government's interest in rehabilitating the parolee and in protecting society from
recidivism. Carchedi, 560 F.Supp. 1010.
{¶29} In the present case, Evelyn gave consent to search her residence and
Appellant did not object to that search. We find that the consent-to-search condition at
issue meets the twin goals set forth in Carchedi. Consent searches are part of the
standard investigatory techniques of law enforcement. Schneckloth v. Bustamonte
(1973), 412 U.S. 218, 231, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 2050, 36 L.Ed.2d 854, 865. “The primary
purpose of [searches of parolees' residences] is to deter the commission of crime and to
provide supervisors with information on the progress of their rehabilitative efforts. It is
clear that a requirement that searches only be conducted when officers have
‘reasonable suspicion’ or probable cause that a crime has been committed or that a
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 10
condition of probation has been violated could completely undermine the purpose of the
search condition.” Owens v. Kelley (C.A.11, 1982), 681 F.2d 1362, 1368.
{¶30} “Being on parole with a consent-to-search condition is ‘akin to sitting
under the Sword of Damocles: ‘ “ With knowledge he may be subject to a search by law
enforcement officers at any time, [the parolee] will be less inclined to have narcotics or
dangerous drugs in his possession. The purpose of an unexpected, unproved search of
defendant is to ascertain whether he is complying with the terms of probation; to
determine not only whether he disobeys the law, but also whether he obeys the law.
Information obtained under such circumstances would afford a valuable measure of the
effectiveness of the supervision given the defendant and his amenability to
rehabilitation.” ’ ” (Emphasis added.) In re Anthony (1992), 4 Cal.App.4th 1000, 1002, 6
Cal.Rptr.2d 214, 215, fn. 1, quoting People v. Kern (1968), 264 Cal.App.2d 962, 965, 71
Cal.Rptr. 105, 107, and People v. Bravo (1987), 43 Cal.3d 600, 610, 238 Cal.Rptr. 282,
288, 738 P.2d 336, 342.
{¶31} “To require a warrant would decrease the deterrent effect of the
supervisory relationship. Griffin, 483 U.S. at 878, 107 S.Ct. at 3171, 97 L.Ed.2d at 720.
As the United States Supreme Court pointed out, “[t]he [parolee] would be assured that
so long as his illegal (and perhaps socially dangerous) activities were sufficiently
concealed as to give rise to no more than reasonable suspicion, they would go
undetected and uncorrected.” Id. at 878, 107 S.Ct. at 3171, 97 L.Ed.2d at 720.” Benton,
supra, at 320.
{¶32} “Absent some evidence of a motive of ill will or intent to harass, we must
trust a parole officer's judgment as to when a search may be appropriate, as sometimes
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 11
only very subtle signs may lead a parole officer to suspect that the parolee is engaging
once again in illegal activities. To that end, random searches serve as an important tool
in rehabilitation.” Id.
{¶33} In the present case, Officer Flaherty had evidence that Evelyn’s husband
was cultivating marijuana in their basement, as was reported to her by an employee of
the tobacco shop that Appellant and Evelyn ran. Such evidence is sufficient to supply
the necessary basis for the APA to search a parolee’s home. Moreover, since Appellant
did not object to the search, we do not need to consider whether he had the standing to
prevent the search from occurring.
{¶34} Further, since Appellant was present during the reading of Evelyn’s parole
agreement and he agreed to the terms of that agreement, we find that he also agreed to
be bound to the search provisions in that parole agreement.
{¶35} Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.
II.
{¶36} In Appellant’s second assignment of error, he argues that the trial court
erred by failing to suppress statements that he made to officers while they were at his
residence after the marijuana was discovered. We disagree.
{¶37} The existence of an arrest is dependent upon the existence of four
requisite elements:
{¶38} “(1) An intent to arrest, (2) under real or pretended authority, (3)
accompanied by an actual or constructive seizure or detention of the person, and (4)
which is so understood by the person arrested.” State v. Barker (1978), 53 Ohio St.2d
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 12
135, 7 O.O.3d 213, 372 N.E.2d 1324, paragraph one of the syllabus, certiorari denied
(1978), 439 U.S. 913, 99 S.Ct. 285, 58 L.Ed.2d 260.
{¶39} Furthermore, an arrest, in the technical, as well as the common sense,
signifies the apprehension of an individual or the restraint of a person's freedom in
contemplation of the formal charging with a crime. United States v. Bonanno
(S.D.N.Y.1960), 180 F.Supp. 71; Patterson v. United States (C.A.5, 1951), 192 F.2d
631, 633 (dictum), certiorari denied, 343 U.S. 951, 72 S.Ct. 1043, 96 L.Ed. 1352. See,
also, 5 American Jurisprudence 2d 698, Arrest, Section 3; American Law Institute, Code
of Criminal Procedure, Section 18.
{¶40} In the present case, no arrest occurred. The officers testified that
Appellant was told to stay within a certain place in the residence for officer safety
purposes. Given the fact that a loaded weapon was found by the key to the padlock
and that Appellant kept drifting towards that area in the home, we find this to be a
legitimate reason to limit Appellant’s movement in his home.
{¶41} Moreover, Appellant made statements to Lieutenant Smart inside
Appellant’s home and outside his residence. Appellant was never handcuffed, nor was
he arrested after he admitted that the marijuana in the basement was his. He was not
even arrested after the loaded weapon was found next to the key to the basement lock.
Quite simply, there was no custodial interrogation and therefore, Miranda rights were
not required. Additionally, Appellant was never arrested on the charges, but instead
was issued a summons days after the search was completed.
{¶42} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.
Ashland County, Case No. 10-CA-42 13
{¶43} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Ashland Municipal Court is
affirmed.
By: Delaney, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Hoffman, J. concur.
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN
[Cite as State v. Bays, 2011-Ohio-3021.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
LARRY E. BAYS :
:
Defendant-Appellant : Case No. 10-CA-42
:
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion on file, the
judgment of the Ashland County Municipal Court is affirmed. Costs assessed to
Appellant.
_________________________________
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
_________________________________
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
_________________________________
HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN