State v. Smith

[Cite as State v. Smith, 2011-Ohio-602.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ROSS COUNTY
State of Ohio, : Case No. 10CA3148
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
v. : DECISION AND
JUDGMENT ENTRY
Verlin L. Smith, :
RELEASED 02/01/11
Defendant-Appellant. :
______________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Eric W. Brehm, Brehm & Associates, Columbus, Ohio, for appellant, Verlin Smith.
Michael M. Ater, Ross County Prosecuting Attorney, and Richard W. Clagg, Ross
County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Chillicothe, Ohio, for appellee, State of Ohio.
______________________________________________________________________
Harsha, P.J.
{¶1} Verlin Smith pleaded no contest to one count of conveying contraband into
a detention facility. On appeal, Smith contends he did not knowingly, intelligently, and
voluntarily enter his plea. Smith explains that he pleaded no contest because he
believed he would be able to argue a speedy trial issue on appeal. But he points out
the trial court never ruled on his motion to dismiss on speedy trial grounds and contends
he cannot obtain review of that issue. Because the trial court impliedly overruled the
motion, Smith’s no contest plea preserved his speedy trial issue for appellate review.
Thus, his plea remains valid.
{¶2} Next, Smith argues that the trial court erred by overruling his motion to
dismiss for a violation of the speedy trial statute. The court delayed Smith’s trial --
scheduled shortly before the expiration of speedy trial time -- after the state requested a
continuance from the original trial date because of the unavailability of a key witness.
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 2
We conclude that the reason, as well as the 45-day period of the continuance was
reasonable. Thus, speedy trial time tolled during the period of this continuance. The
state also requested a second continuance due to the unavailability of the same
witness. The trial court granted this continuance and continued the case an additional
78 days from the first rescheduled trial date. We conclude the second continuance was
also reasonable and tolled the statute. When combined with other tolling events
chargeable to Smith, his speedy trial time did not lapse.
{¶3} Finally, Smith contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying his
motion to file an untimely motion to suppress. Because his motion failed to establish
good cause for the untimely motion, the trial court acted reasonably in denying it.
I. Summary of the Facts
{¶4} A Ross County grand jury indicted Smith on May 15, 2009, charging him
with conveying an illegal drug into a detention facility. The state arrested and arraigned
Smith on May 18, 2009. He entered a plea of not guilty and was committed to the Ross
County jail in lieu of a $25,000 bond, which he did not post.
{¶5} After conducting a pretrial conference in June 2009, the court scheduled
the matter for a change of plea hearing on July 6, 2009, in response to Smith’s
indication that he would enter a plea. At the July hearing, however, Smith decided
against changing his not guilty plea and asked for a jury trial. Accordingly, in an entry
filed on July 6, 2009, the court set the matter for trial on August 10, 2009. By a
subsequent entry that was not filed until August 25, 2009, the court documented the
reasons for not proceeding with the change of plea on July 6, 2009, reiterated the
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 3
August 10, 2009 trial date, and tolled the speedy trial time “pursuant to Ohio Revised
Code Section 2945.72(H).”1
{¶6} On August 7, 2009, three days prior to the initial trial date, the state filed a
motion to continue the trial, explaining that an essential witness would be out of state for
a pre-planned vacation. The motion noted that the witness performed the substance
analysis of the allegedly illegally conveyed drug. In an entry issued on the August 10,
2009 trial date, the court granted the motion and ordered the trial continued until
September 23, 2009. The entry also stated the state’s reason for its request and
remarked that “[t]he speedy trial provisions of R.C. 2945.71 are tolled pursuant to Ohio
Revised Code Section 2945.72(H).”
{¶7} On September 11, 2009, the state filed a motion to continue the
Spetember 23, 2009 trial date, this time explaining that the same witness was
unavailable because she had previously been subpoenaed by another Ohio court. Two
weeks later on September 25, 2009, the court granted the motion, tolled the time under
R.C. 2945.72(H), and rescheduled Smith’s trial date for December 9, 2009.
{¶8} After Smith hired new counsel in October, he filed a motion on November
10, 2009, to dismiss on speedy trial grounds and a motion to suppress evidence. The
state filed memoranda contra to both motions. Smith later filed a motion for leave to file
the suppression motion after the state argued in its memorandum contra that Smith filed
the suppression motion in an untimely manner. The court did not rule on either motion
prior to concluding the case. But instead of proceeding with the trial on December 9,
1
Subsection “H” deals with reasons other than those relating to the defendant’s actions.
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 4
2009, the court rescheduled the matter for a change of plea hearing on December 21,
2009.
{¶9} At that hearing, which actually occurred on December 22, 2009, Smith’s
counsel announced that Smith intended to change his plea to no contest pursuant to
negotiations with the state. The court remarked that the no contest plea would preserve
the suppression and speedy trial issues for appellate review. Afterwards, the court
engaged Smith in a lengthy Crim.R. 11 plea colloquy. Upon its conclusion, the court
accepted Smith’s plea of no contest and sentenced him to a one-year prison sentence.
{¶10} Then, Smith filed this appeal.
II. Assignments of Error
{¶11} Smith assigns three errors:
1. THE TRIAL COURT DID ERR BY ACCEPTING A NO CONTEST PLEA,
WHICH WAS PREDICATED UPON DEFENDANT’S ABILITY TO APPEAL HIS
MOTION TO DISMISS, WHEN THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO ISSUE A
RULING ON THE AFORESAID MOTION TO DISMISS.
2. THE TRIAL COURT DID ERR BY VIOLATING DEFENDANT’S
STATUTORY RIGHT AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL.
3. THE TRIAL COURT DID ERR BY DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR
LEAVE TO FILE A SUPPRESION MOTION.
III. Voluntariness of the Plea
{¶12} In his first assignment of error, Smith argues that he did not knowingly,
intelligently, and voluntarily plead no contest because he was misled into believing he
would be able to appeal the overruling of his motion to dismiss. Because the trial court
never ruled on the motion, Smith contends he cannot obtain appellate review of that
issue now.
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 5
{¶13} The state argues that court properly accepted Smith’s no contest plea and
urges us to consider the trial court’s failure to rule on the motion to dismiss as an
implied overruling or an inadvertent failure to announce a decision. The state concedes
that Smith preserved the motion to dismiss under Crim.R. 12(I).
{¶14} When there is no indication in the record that a trial court ruled on a
speedy trial motion before proceeding to trial, we presume the court overruled it. State
v. Whitt, Scioto App. No. 04CA2962, 2005-Ohio-5154, at ¶7, citing Brannan v. Fowler
(1995), 100 Ohio App.3d 577, 581, 654 N.E.2d 434; State v. Hines (2001), 145 Ohio
App.3d 792, 794, fn. 2, 764 N.E.2d 1040. Here, there is evidence in the transcript of the
December 22, 2009 plea hearing that the court intended but inadvertently failed to
journalize its ruling on the motion to dismiss.
{¶15} Smith’s attorney began the plea hearing by stating that she “expected” the
motion to dismiss to be overruled based on the apparent strength of the state’s
memorandum contra. The court did not directly respond to this, but asked Smith if he
wished a new attorney to argue the speedy trial issue. Later, after Smith indicated he
wished to change his plea from not guilty to no contest the court remarked “[a]nd there’ll
be a couple of issues for appeal and that’s the speedy trial issues and the ruling on the
motion to suppress and the no contest plea will preserve both of those for appeal.”
Thus, the record suggests that the court intended to overrule the speedy trial motion but
inadvertently failed to journalize an entry to that effect. We presume that the trial court
overruled the motion and deem it properly before us now. See Crim.R. 12(C) and (I).
{¶16} The only basis upon which Smith challenges the voluntariness of his no
contest plea is his purported inability to argue the speedy trial motion on appeal.
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 6
Because we have determined that the issue is properly before us, there is no merit to
this argument. Smith’s first assignment of error is meritless.
IV. Speedy Trial
{¶17} In his second assignment of error, Smith argues that the trial court erred
by denying his motion to dismiss on speedy trial grounds. Smith argues that the state
arrested him on May 18, 2009, and speedy trial time began on May 19, 2009. Because
he remained in jail more than 90 days before he filed his motion to dismiss, Smith
argues that the speedy trial statute entitled him to discharge. He does not address any
potential tolling events. Although the state concedes that Smith has established a prima
facie case for discharge under the speedy trial statute, it argues that several events
tolled the running of the time.
A. Standard of Review
{¶18} Speedy trial issues involve mixed questions of law and fact. State v. Hiatt
(1997), 120 Ohio App.3d 247, 261, 697 N.E.2d 1025. We review the legal issues de
novo, but we defer to the trial court’s findings of fact if supported by competent, credible
evidence. Id. When reviewing the legal issues presented in a speedy trial claim, we
must strictly construe the relevant statutes against the state. Brecksville v. Cook, 75
Ohio St.3d 53, 57, 1996-Ohio-171, 661 N.E.2d 706.
B. Statutory Framework
{¶19} R.C. 2945.71 through R.C. 2945.73 sets forth Ohio’s statutory provisions
concerning speedy trial rights.2 R.C. 2945.71(C)(2) provides that the state must bring a
person “against whom a charge of felony is pending” to trial within 270 days after the
2
Although Smith fleetingly mentions constitutional speedy trial rights in his brief, he confines his argument
to the speedy trial statute. We do likewise.
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 7
person’s arrest. The day of the arrest does not count towards the 270-day time limit.
R.C. 1.14; Crim.R. 45; State v. Staffin, Ross App. No. 07CA2967, 2008-Ohio-338, at ¶9.
{¶20} Each day the state holds an accused in jail solely on the pending charge
counts for three days towards the 270-day limit. R.C. 2945.71(E); State v. Sanchez, 110
Ohio St.3d 274, 2006-Ohio-4478, 853 N.E.2d 283, at ¶7. In other words, if the
defendant remains incarcerated solely on the pending felony, the state has 90 days to
bring the defendant to trial unless some activity “tolls” the running of the speedy trial
time limit.
{¶21} Tolling of the speedy trial clock occurs for the activities listed in R.C.
2945.72. Among those circumstances are delay caused by the “neglect or improper act
of the accused[,]” delay necessitated by “motion” instituted by the accused, and any
“period of any reasonable continuance granted other than upon the accused’s own
motion[.]” R.C. 2945.72(D),(E),(H), respectively. When the court grants a continuance it
must journalize the entry before the expiration of the time limit specified in R.C.
2945.71. State v. King, 70 Ohio St.3d 158, 162, 1994-Ohio-412, 637 N.E.2d 903, citing
State v. Mincy (1982), 2 Ohio St.3d 6, 441 N.E.2d 571.
{¶22} Under R.C. 2945.73(B), a person not brought to trial within speedy trial
time “shall be discharged” and no further criminal proceedings based on the same
conduct may occur. If the case does not go to trial because the defendant enters a
plea, the trial court must still determine the defendant’s guilt within the speedy trial time
limit. State v. Younker, Highland App. No. 07CA18, 2008-Ohio-6889, at ¶13. citing
State v. Mintz (1991), 74 Ohio App.3d 62, 69, 598 N.E.2d 52.
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 8
{¶23} A criminal defendant presents a prima facie case for discharge by
contending that he was held in jail solely on the pending charge and demonstrating he
was not brought to trial within the statutory time limits. State v. Butcher (1986), 27 Ohio
St.3d 28, 30-31, 500 N.E.2d 1368. The burden then shifts to the state to show an
extension of the time limit under R .C. 2945.72. Butcher at 31.
C. Running of the Speedy Trial Clock
{¶24} The Ross County Sheriff’s office arrested Smith on May 18, 2009. After
arraignment, the state held Smith in jail in lieu of a $25,000 bond. Nothing in the record
indicates that the state released Smith from jail during the pendency of the case. Nor
does the record indicate that the state held Smith in jail on any other charge. Thus,
Smith’s speedy trial count begins on May 19, 2009, the day following his arrest, and
ends on December 22, 2009, the date he pleaded no contest and the court found him
guilty. During this period, 218 calendar days elapsed. Applying the three for one
provision of the statute, this amounts to well over the 90-day limit. Absent recognized
tolling events, the state should have brought Smith to trial (or otherwise concluded the
case) by August 17, 2009, i.e., 90 calendar days after the date of his arrest.
Consequently, Smith has presented a prima facie case for discharge and the state has
the burden of proving an extension of the time limit by some statutorily recognized
tolling event.
1. Initial Change of Plea Hearing
{¶25} The change of plea hearing originally set for July 6, 2009, did not occur
because Smith changed his mind on the day of the hearing and decided to proceed to
trial. At that point, 49 speedy trial days had run. Under R.C. 2945.72(D) or (E), which
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 9
apply to delay caused by neglect or improper act of the accused and “a plea in bar or
abatement, motion proceeding, or action made or instituted by the accused,” the time
from July 6 through the new trial date on August 10, 2009 is charged to Smith.
Although Smith was free to change his mind and proceed to trial, the delay caused by
his change of heart tolled the running of the time. So, up through August 10, 2009, 49
speedy trial days had lapsed, i.e., 41 days remained.
2. The August 10, 2009 Trial Date
{¶26} On August 7th, just three days prior to trial, the state filed a motion to
continue the trial date, stating that its principal witness -- who performed the substance
analysis of the illegally conveyed marijuana -- would be unavailable because of a
planned vacation. The court granted the motion and rescheduled the trial for
September 23, 2009.
{¶27} R.C. 2945.72(H) provides that speedy trial time tolls for the period of any
“reasonable continuance granted other than upon the accused’s own motion.” The
reasonableness of a continuance is determined by examining the purpose and length of
the continuance as specified in the record. State v. Lee (1976), 48 Ohio St.2d 208, 209-
210, 357 N.E.2d 1095.
{¶28} For purposes of the speedy trial statute, the Supreme Court of Ohio has
held that the unavailability of a material witness because of a planned vacation is a
reasonable ground for granting a continuance. State v. Saffell (1988), 35 Ohio St.3d 90,
91-92, 518 N.E.2d 934 (per curiam). Thus, the justification for the state’s continuance
was reasonable.
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 10
{¶29} A 45-day continuance is significant, especially for the individual awaiting
trial in jail. However, given the time constraints and complexity of a trial court’s docket,
45 days is a reasonable length of time to continue a jury trial. See State v. Hughes,
Athens App. No. 08CA19, 2010-Ohio-2969, at ¶9 (commenting “[w]e are cognizant of
the burdensome caseloads in Ohio trial courts and do not believe that a two month
continuance is necessarily unreasonable.”)
{¶30} Consequently, the speedy trial time tolled under R.C. 2945.72(H) for the
period of the first continuance, from August 10, 2009 through September 23, 2009.
Thus, on the September 23 trial date, the total number of lapsed days remained at 49.
With 41 days remaining, the state now had until November 3, 2009 to conclude the
case.
B. September 23, 2009 Trial Date
{¶31} On September 11, 2009, the state filed its second motion for a
continuance, stating that the same essential witness had previously been subpoenaed
to appear in a different Ohio common pleas court on that date and would be unavailable
again. Two weeks later the court granted the continuance, issuing an entry reciting the
reasons for the unavailability of the witness and rescheduling the trial for December 9,
2009.
{¶32} The justification for the continuance in this case – unavailability due to the
witness receiving a prior subpoena from another court is reasonable. The record
indicates that the state requested the issuance of subpoenas for its witnesses on
August 25, 2009, almost a month before the trial and only two weeks after the court
journalized the new trial date. We discern no lack of diligence on the state’s part in
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 11
attempting to ensure the appearance of its witness. In contrast, see State v. Reeser
(1980) 63 Ohio St.2d 189, 407 N.E.2d 25, where the court questioned the timeliness of
the State’s efforts.
{¶33} Although the length of the continuance is more troublesome than the basis
for granting it, we cannot conclude it was unreasonable. In its entry, the court did not
set forth a reason for rescheduling Smith’s trial nearly two and a half months in
advance. It would have been helpful for the court to have explained why it could not
reschedule the trial within a shorter period of time, or why it did not sua sponte consider
either releasing Smith on his own recognizance or lowering his bond after his trial was
delayed a second time. Nonetheless, we conclude a 78-day continuance was
reasonable in length. See Hughes, supra. Accordingly, we hold that speedy trial time
was tolled again from September 23, 2009 until December 9, 2009. Therefore, the total
of lapsed time remained at 49 days as of December 9, 2009.
{¶34} Smith entered his no contest plea on December 22, 2009, well within the
remaining 41 days of speedy trial time as of December 9, 2009, even without
considering any tolling that might be attributable to various motions Smith filed prior to
and after December 9. Because the state has met its burden of showing an extension
of the statutory speedy trial time limits, the court did not err by overruling Smith’s motion
to dismiss. Consequently, this assignment of error is meritless.
V. Motion for Leave to File Suppression Motion
{¶35} In his final assignment of error, Smith argues that the trial court abused its
discretion by denying his motion for leave to file an untimely suppression motion. Smith
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 12
contends that “the interest of justice” required the court to extend the time to file the
motion and that its failure to do so amounted to “a clear abuse of discretion.”
{¶36} The state argues that Smith failed to present the trial court with a valid
reason for extending the time for filing a motion to suppress, i.e., Smith merely argued
that the court should grant him leave because he retained new counsel. The state
additionally argues that Smith had months to review the evidence against him with prior
counsel yet did not file a suppression motion until a month before the trial date.
{¶37} The decision to grant or deny leave to file an untimely suppression motion
is in the trial court’s discretion, and we will not reverse absent a showing of an abuse of
that discretion. State v. Estep (Mar. 19, 1999), Montgomery App. No. 17455, 1999 WL
148109, at *2, citing Akron v. Milewski (1985), 21 Ohio App.3d 140, 142, 487 N.E.2d
582. The term “abuse of discretion” implies that the court’s attitude is unreasonable,
arbitrary, or unconscionable. State v. Adams (1980), 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157, 404
N.E.2d 144.
{¶38} A defendant must raise a motion to suppress evidence before trial.
Crim.R. 12(C). More specifically, a motion to suppress evidence must be raised “within
thirty-five days after arraignment or seven days before trial, whichever is earlier[,]” but in
the “interest of justice[,]” a court may extend the time limit. Crim.R.12(D). A defendant’s
failure to raise a pretrial motion constitutes a waiver. Crim.R. 12(H). However, for
“good cause shown[,]” a court may grant relief from the waiver. Id. Accordingly, a
defendant who needs additional time to file a motion to suppress evidence may obtain
an extension prior to the expiration of time if the court finds that doing so is in the
“interest of justice.” Crim.R.12(D). But once the time for filing a pretrial motion has
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 13
passed and waiver has occurred, a court may only grant relief from waiver for “good
cause shown.” Crim.R.12(H).
{¶39} Here, it is undisputed that Smith did not file his motion to suppress within
the time limits prescribed by Crim.R.12(D), nor did he request an extension of time to do
so within that period. Thus, contrary to Smith and the state’s arguments, our focus is
whether Smith demonstrated “good cause” to the trial court to allow him relief from his
waiver.
{¶40} Smith filed the motion on November 23, 2009, roughly two weeks prior to
his trial date, and over six months from the date of his arraignment, well over the thirty-
five day time limit. See, e.g., State v. Bower, Licking App. No. 2009CA00139, 2010-
Ohio-4420 (affirming the denial of leave for defendant who waited to file motion to
suppress 62 days after arraignment.) The memorandum attached to the motion for
leave is one page in length and merely recites that Smith retained new counsel, who
reviewed the evidence, and believes the Defendant “should have the opportunity to be
heard on the Motion to Suppress.” The motion sets forth no facts supporting the merit
of Smith’s suppression issue. More importantly, the memorandum in no ways explains
why the Defendant could not or did not raise a suppression issue before waiver
occurred, other than alluding to the fact that “it is not unusual for different attorneys to
view the information provided in discovery in a different light.”
{¶41} Smith did not contend that he was unaware of any of the alleged facts
supporting the suppression motion, that the state provided untimely discovery or
withheld any information, or that he was unable to discuss the facts that might establish
a Fourth Amendment violation with prior counsel. See, e.g., State v. Rush, Delaware
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 14
App. No. 03CAC01002, 2003-Ohio-3915 (affirming denial of leave where discovery
provided in timely fashion, counsel in no way impeded from obtaining and reviewing
discovery in a timely fashion). The only justification he offered was that prior counsel
viewed the evidence “differently.” Based on this record, we cannot say that the court
acted unreasonably in finding good cause did not exist given the fact that trial was only
two weeks away.
{¶42} Consequently, this assignment of error is meritless.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Ross App. No. 10CA3148 15
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and that Appellant shall pay the
costs.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Ross
County Court of Common Pleas 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. Exceptions.
Abele, J. & Kline, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court
BY: ________________________________
William H. Harsha, Presiding 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.