State v. Sweeting

[Cite as State v. Sweeting, 2013-Ohio-2179.]
COURT OF APPEALS
ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
JUDGES:
STATE OF OHIO : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
: Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
:
-vs- :
: Case No. 12-COA-030
WILLIAM SWEETING :
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Ashland County
Municipal Court, Case No. 12-CRB-00479
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: May 28, 2013
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
RICHARD P. WOLFE II DANIEL E. PRICE
Ashland Law Director 1210 East Main Street
W. DAVID MONTAGUE Ashland, OH 44805
Assistant Law Director
1213 East Main Street
Ashland, OH 44805
[Cite as State v. Sweeting, 2013-Ohio-2179.]
Gwin, P.J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant William Sweeting appeals the July 9, 2012 Judgment
of the Ashland County Municipal Court overruling his motion to dismiss and his motion
to suppress evidence. Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.
Facts and Procedural History
{¶2} On April 23, 2012, Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Morrison
was on Interstate 71, near milepost 183 when he checked the speed of a vehicle at 81
miles per hour. The trooper executed a traffic stop of the offending vehicle at
approximately 15:08. Sweeting was a passenger in the vehicle that was driven by
Anthony Guinto.1
{¶3} Upon approaching the passenger's side of the vehicle, Trooper Morrison
noticed that both occupants had freshly lit cigarettes. He also observed several air
fresheners in the vents and on the dashboard. Trooper Morrison further testified that the
driver was "real shaky" with his driver's license. Trooper Morrison obtained consent to
pat down both Sweeting and Guinto. He then placed them in his cruiser. At that time,
Trooper Morrison requested a drug detection canine unit be dispatched to the location
of the traffic stop. Approximately 20 minutes later Trooper Norman arrived on the scene
with his drug detection dog.
{¶4} Trooper Norman walked his drug dog around the vehicle. The canine gave
a positive indication to the car at 15:38. A search of the vehicle resulted in two glass
pipes, one blue and clear, and the other one was blue. Both pipes had suspected
marijuana residue in them. The pipes were in the center console of the car. Sweeting
admitted ownership of the blue pipe.
1
Guinto has filed separate appeals in Fifth Dist. Case Nos. 12-COA031 and 12-COA-032.
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 3
{¶5} Sweeting was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation
of R.C. 2925.14C1, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. He was summoned to appear
in court on May 4, 2012.
{¶6} On May 1, 2012, the trial court filed an entry titled “Motion for
Continuance.” The entry indicates that,
On April 30, 2012, at, [sic.] DEFENDANTS MOTHER
TELEPHONED and requested a Motion for Continuance in the case for
the following reason:
NEEDS A CONTINUANCE CAN NOT MAKE IT TO COURT ON
05-04-12.
The Deputy Clerk of Court signed the entry. The entry further contained the following
beneath the area where the deputy clerk had signed,
JUDGMENT ORDER
Defendant’s Motion is hereby GRANTED, The above-styled case is
scheduled for 05-18-12 at 09:00AM. Speedy trial is extended accordingly.
The trial judge signed the entry. Sweeting was advised of the new court date.
{¶7} Sweeting’s mother called the next day to request an earlier court day. By
entry filed May 1, 2012, the trial court scheduled the arraignment for May 11, 2012.
{¶8} Sweeting’s mother called a third time on May 10, 2012 to inform the court
that Sweeting could not appear on May 11, 2012 and requested his original arraignment
date of May 18, 2012 be reinstated. By judgment entry filed May 10, 2012, the trial court
granted the request to continue the arraignment to May 18, 2012.
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 4
{¶9} On May 16, 2012, Sweeting’s attorney filed a Notice of Appearance, a
Request for Discovery and a request for Arraignment in Abstentia. The trial court
granted the request for arraignment in abstentia by Judgment Entry filed May 17, 2012.
{¶10} At the arraignment on May 18, 2012, a pre-trial conference was scheduled
in Sweeting’s case for June 1, 2012. At the June 1, 2012 pre-trial conference, defense
counsel acknowledged that he did not request the videotape of the traffic stop in
Sweeting’s case, as he did in Guinto’s cases. A second pre-trial was set for June 18,
2012. However, that pre-trial was combined with the pre-trial in Guinto’s cases and took
place on June 15, 2012. At the combined pre-trials, a June 29, 2012 trial date was set
for both cases. During that hearing, Sweeting’s attorney informed the court that he
planned to file a motion to suppress and would request a hearing on such a motion.
{¶11} On June 26, 2012, Sweeting filed a Motion to Dismiss contending that he
was not brought to trial within 45 days as required by R.C. 2945.71(B)(1). Also on that
date, Sweeting filed a motion to suppress evidence.
{¶12} The trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing on the motion to suppress
on June 29, 2012. At that hearing, Sweeting waived his speedy trial rights to allow the
court to issue a written decision. The trial court by written decisions filed July 9, 2012
overruled Sweeting’s motion to dismiss and motion to suppress.
{¶13} At the trial date of July 11, 2012, Sweeting changed his plea to no contest
and was found guilty by the court of one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. The
trial court sentenced Sweeting to 25 days in jail, a fine of $250.00 plus court costs.
Assignments of Error
{¶14} Sweeting raises three assignments of error,
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 5
{¶15} “I. TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS DETERMINATION WHEN THE
DEFENDANT MOVED FOR DISCHARGE ON THE BASIS THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN
BROUGHT TO TRIAL WITHIN THE TIME LIMITS SET FORTH IN R.C. 2945.71, THE
BURDEN OF PRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE SHIFTED TO THE STATE AND THE
STATE FAILED TO PRODUCE ANY EVIDENCE IN REBUTTAL, SO DISCHARGE
WAS REQUIRED.
{¶16} “II. TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING DEFENDANT/APPELLANT
GUILTY BECAUSE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO
DISMISS FOR VIOLATIONS OF RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL UNDER R.C. 2945.71
AND IMPROPERLY TOLLED TIME AGAINST DEFENDANT/APPELLANT.
{¶17} “III. DID TRIAL COURT ERR IN FINDING DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS
GUILTY BECAUSE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING APPELLANTS MOTION TO
SUPPRESS EVIDENCE BECAUSE IT DID NOT RECOGNIZE AND RULE PROPERLY
ON THE ILLEGAL DETENTION AND ARREST OF APPELLANTS AND THE TRIAL
COURT DID NOT RECOGNIZE, APPLY AND RULE PROPERLY ON THE
CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS, STATUTES, CASE LAW AND SPECIFIC FACTS OF THIS
CASE CONCERNING THE LIMITED SCOPE AND DURATION OF THE STOP?
I, II
{¶18} Sweeting’s first and second assignments of error raise common and
interrelated issues; therefore, we will address the arguments together. Both
assignments contend that Sweeting was denied his right to a speedy trial.
{¶19} A person charged with a fourth degree misdemeanor shall be brought to
trial within forty-five days after the person's arrest or the service of summons.” R.C.
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 6
2945.71(B)(1). “Upon motion made at or prior to the commencement of trial, a person
charged with an offense shall be discharged if he is not brought to trial within the time
required by sections 2945.71 and 2945.72 of the Revised Code.” R.C. 2945.73(B).
“[S]uch discharge is a bar to any further criminal proceedings against him based on the
same conduct.” R.C. 2945.73(D).
{¶20} R.C. 2945.72 provides for a tolling of the time limitations under certain
circumstances,
The time within which an accused must be brought to trial, or, in the
case of felony, to preliminary hearing and trial, may be extended only by
the following:
(A) Any period during which the accused is unavailable for hearing
or trial, by reason of other criminal proceedings against him, within or
outside the state, by reason of his confinement in another state, or by
reason of the pendency of extradition proceedings, provided that the
prosecution exercises reasonable diligence to secure his availability;
(B) Any period during which the accused is mentally incompetent to
stand trial or during which his mental competence to stand trial is being
determined, or any period during which the accused is physically
incapable of standing trial;
(C) Any period of delay necessitated by the accused's lack of
counsel, provided that such delay is not occasioned by any lack of
diligence in providing counsel to an indigent accused upon his request as
required by law;
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 7
(D) Any period of delay occasioned by the neglect or improper act
of the accused;
(E) Any period of delay necessitated by reason of a plea in bar or
abatement, motion, proceeding, or action made or instituted by the
accused;
(F) Any period of delay necessitated by a removal or change of
venue pursuant to law;
(G) Any period during which trial is stayed pursuant to an express
statutory requirement, or pursuant to an order of another court competent
to issue such order;
(H) The period of any continuance granted on the accused's own
motion, and the period of any reasonable continuance granted other than
upon the accused's own motion;
(I) Any period during which an appeal filed pursuant to section
2945.67 of the Revised Code is pending.
{¶21} A speedy-trial claim involves a mixed question of law and fact. State v.
Larkin, 5th Dist. No. 2004-CA-103, 2005-Ohio-3122. As an appellate court, we must
accept as true any facts found by the trial court and supported by competent, credible
evidence. With regard to the legal issues, however, we apply a de novo standard of
review and thus freely review the trial court’s application of the law to the facts. Id.When reviewing the legal issues presented in a speedy-trial claim, we must strictly
construe the relevant statutes against the state.
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 8
{¶22} In the case at bar, the citation served upon Sweeting on April 23, 2012
ordered him to appear in the Ashland Municipal Court on May 4, 2012. At the behest of
Sweeting’s mother, that arraignment was continued to May 18, 2012.
{¶23} On May 16, 2012, Sweeting filed a request for discovery. The time during
which a discovery motion filed by a defendant is pending tolls the speedy trial clock.
State v. Brown, 98 Ohio St.3d 121, 2002-Ohio-7040, 781 N.E.2d 159, syllabus.
Sweeting agreed that the state partially responded to his discovery request on May 29,
2012. (See, Motion to Dismiss, Due Process Violation, filed June 26, 2012). On June
26, 2012, Sweeting filed motions to dismiss and to suppress. Accordingly, for speedy
trial purpose the time is as follows,
April 24, 2012 to May 4, 2012(date of original arraignment)2 11 days
May 4, 2012 to May 18, 2012(continued at Sweeting’s request) tolled
May 16, 2012 to May 29, 2012(state’s partial response to discovery) tolled
May 29, 2012 to June 26, 2012(Sweeting’s filing of motions) 29 days
Total days counted toward speedy trial 40 days
{¶24} In State v. Bickerstaff, 10 Ohio St.3d 62, 461 N.E.2d 892(1984) the Ohio
Supreme Court noted with respect to R.C.2945.72(E), "[i]t is evident from a reading of
the statute that a motion to dismiss acts to toll the time in which a defendant must be
brought to trial." Id. at 67, 461 N.E.2d 892. In Bickerstaff, supra, the Court found no
prejudice from a five-month delay between the filing of the Motion to Dismiss and the
trial court's ruling upon the motion. Id.
2
The day of arrest is not included when computing the time within which a defendant must be
brought to trial under R.C. 2945.71. State v. Steiner, 71 Ohio App.3d 249, 593 N.E.2d 368(9th Dist. 1991)
(citing R.C. 1.14 and Crim.R. 45).
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 9
{¶25} In the case at bar, the trial court overruled Sweeting’s motion to dismiss
and motion to suppress by entries filed July 9, 2012. Accordingly, the time between
June 26, 2012 and the trial court's ruling on the Motions on July 9, 2012 is not included
for speedy trial purposes. Sweeting entered his plea on July 11, 2012. Thus, at the time
of his plea, only 42 of the 45 days had elapsed for speedy trial purposes.
{¶26} The trial court correctly ruled that Sweeting's right to a speedy trial was not
abridged. Accordingly, Sweeting's first and second assignments of error are overruled.
III.
{¶27} Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of law
and fact. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 154-155, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d
71, ¶ 8. When ruling on a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of trier of
fact and is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and to evaluate witness
credibility. See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308,314, 1995-Ohio-243, 652 N.E.2d
988; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982). Accordingly, a
reviewing court must defer to the trial court's factual findings if competent, credible
evidence exists to support those findings. See Burnside, supra; Dunlap, supra; State v.
Long, 127 Ohio App.3d 328, 332, 713 N.E.2d 1(4th Dist. 1998); State v. Medcalf, 111
Ohio App.3d 142, 675 N.E.2d 1268 (4th Dist.1996). However, once this Court has
accepted those facts as true, it must independently determine as a matter of law
whether the trial court met the applicable legal standard. See Burnside, supra, citing
State v. McNamara, 124 Ohio App.3d 706, 707 N.E.2d 539(4th Dist 1997); See,
generally, United States v. Arvizu, 534 U.S. 266, 122 S.Ct. 744, 151 L.Ed.2d 740(2002);
Ornelas v. United States, 517 U.S. 690, 116 S.Ct. 1657, 134 L.Ed.2d 911(1996). That
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 10
is, the application of the law to the trial court's findings of fact is subject to a de novo
standard of review Ornelas, supra. Moreover, due weight should be given “to inferences
drawn from those facts by resident judges and local law enforcement officers.” Ornelas,
supra at 698, 116 S.Ct. at 1663.
{¶28} In his third assignment of error, Sweeting argues the trial court erred by
overruling his Motion to Suppress. The parties agree that the vehicle was lawfully
stopped. The question in the case at bar is whether the lawful detention for the traffic
infraction became an unlawful detention when the officer decided to call for the use of a
narcotics-detection dog to sniff around exterior of the vehicle.
{¶29} The use of a drug detection dog does not constitute a "search" and an
officer is not required, prior to a dog sniff, to establish either probable cause or a
reasonable suspicion that drugs are concealed in a vehicle. See Illinois v. Caballes, 543
U.S. 405, 409, 125 S.Ct. 834, 838, 160 L.Ed.2d 842(2005); United States v. Place, 462
U.S. 696, 707, 103 S.Ct. 2637, 2645, 77 L.Ed.2d 110(1983); State v. Carlson, 102 Ohio
App.3d 585, 594, 657 N.E.2d 591(9th Dist. 1995); United States v. Seals, 987 F.2d
1102, 1106(5th Cir. 1993). Further, if a trained narcotics dog alerts to the odor of drugs
from a lawfully detained vehicle, an officer has probable cause to search the vehicle for
contraband. United States v. Reed, 141 F.3d 644(6th Cir. 1998), (quoting United States
v. Berry, 90 F.3d 148, 153( 6th Cir. 1996), cert. denied 519 U.S. 999 (1996)); accord,
United States v. Hill, 195 F.3d 258, 273(6th Cir. 1999); United States v. Diaz, 25 F.3d
392, 394(6th Cir. 1994); State v. French, 104 Ohio App.3d 740, 663 N.E.2d 367(12th
Dist. 1995), abrogated on different grounds, City of Dayton v. Erickson, 76 Ohio St.3d 3,
665 N.E.2d 1091(1996).
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 11
{¶30} The Ohio Supreme Court has held,
“[W]hen detaining a motorist for a traffic violation, an officer may
delay the motorist for a time period sufficient to issue a ticket or a warning.
State v. Keathley (1988), 55 Ohio App.3d 130, 131 [562 N.E.2d 932]. This
measure includes the period of time sufficient to run a computer check on
the driver's license, registration, and vehicle plates. State v. Bolden,
Preble App. No. CA2003–03–007, 2004-Ohio-184 [2004 WL 77617], ¶ 17,
citing Delaware v. Prouse (1979), 440 U.S. 648, 659, 99 S.Ct. 1391 [59
L.Ed.2d 660]. “In determining if an officer completed these tasks within a
reasonable length of time, the court must evaluate the duration of the stop
in light of the totality of the circumstances and consider whether the officer
diligently conducted the investigation.” State v. Carlson (1995), 102 Ohio
App.3d 585, 598–599 [657 N.E.2d 591], citing State v. Cook (1992), 65
Ohio St.3d 516, 521–522 [605 N.E.2d 70], and U.S. v. Sharpe (1985), 470
U.S. 675, 105 S.Ct. 1568 [84 L.Ed.2d 605].
State v. Batchili, 113 Ohio St.3d 403, 2007-Ohio-2204, 865 N.E.2d 1282, ¶12. In order
to justify a continued detention beyond the normal period required to issue a citation the
officer must have a "reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity beyond that
which prompted the initial stop." Batchili, ¶15. "In determining whether a detention is
reasonable, the court must look at the totality of the circumstances." State v. Matteucci,
11th Dist. No. 2001-L-205, 2003-Ohio-702, ¶30, citing State v. Bobo, 37 Ohio St.3d 177,
178, 524 N.E.2d 489(1988).
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 12
{¶31} The time from the initial stop until the drug dog alerted on the car was
approximately thirty-one (31) minutes. During this time, Trooper Morrison was running
the car, driver and passenger's information through his car computer, was waiting on
the current insurance card for the driver and was asking questions of the occupants
based upon the "indicators" of potential drug use/possession that the Trooper observed.
Specifically, Trooper Morrison was waiting for the pair to find a valid proof of insurance
document for the driver, Guinto. The citation had not been completed before the drug
dog arrived on the scene. Thus, Trooper Morrison’s delay was attributable to the
necessity that the driver provide valid proof of insurance. Once the drug dog alerted to
the vehicle, police had probable cause to search that vehicle for contraband.
{¶32} No violation of Sweeting's Fourth Amendment rights has been
demonstrated. Therefore, we find the trial court correctly denied Sweeting's motion to
suppress evidence.
{¶33} Sweeting’s third assignment of error is overruled.
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-030 13
{¶34} Accordingly, the judgment of the Ashland Municipal Court, Ashland
County, Ohio is affirmed.
By Gwin,P.J.,
Farmer, J., and
Delaney, J., concur
_________________________________
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
_________________________________
HON. SHEILA G. FARMER
_________________________________
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
WSG:clw 0508
[Cite as State v. Sweeting, 2013-Ohio-2179.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
WILLIAM SWEETING :
:
:
Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 12-COA-030
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the judgment of
the Ashland Municipal Court, Ashland County, Ohio is affirmed. Costs to appellant.
_________________________________
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
_________________________________
HON. SHEILA G. FARMER
_________________________________
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY