State v. Brown

[Cite as State v. Brown, 2017-Ohio-678.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
MARION COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
CASE NO. 9-16-37
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
WILLIAM C. BROWN, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Marion Municipal Court
Trial Court No. TRC1509569A&B
Judgment Reversed and Cause Remanded
Date of Decision: February 27, 2017
APPEARANCES:
Cleve M. Johnson for Appellant
Steven E. Chaffin for Appellee
Case No. 9-16-37
WILLAMOWSKI, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant William C. Brown (“Brown”) appeals the decision
of the Marion Municipal Court finding the defendant guilty of operating a vehicle
while impaired in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A). On appeal, Brown argues that the
trial court erred by 1) striking his motion to suppress without a hearing, 2) striking
his motion to suppress without ruling on his antecedent motion to compel discovery,
3) failing to give him a hearing on his administrative license suspension (“ALS”),
and 4) failing to require the State to read the facts of the case into the record after
he pled no contest. For the reasons set forth below, the judgment of the lower court
is reversed.
{¶2} On November 25, 2015, Brown was charged under R.C.
4511.19(A)(1)(a) and R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(d) for operating a vehicle while impaired.
Doc. 1. At his arrest, Brown’s license was subjected to an ALS in accordance with
R.C. 4511.191.1 The trial court set December 8, 2015, as the date for Brown’s initial
appearance. Doc. 3. On December 7, 2015, Brown submitted an entry of
appearance in which he pled not guilty and appealed his ALS. Doc. 4. The trial
court, however, did not rule on his request or hold a hearing on his appeal of the
ALS.
1
Brown’s ALS expired on April 3, 2016, prior to his conviction. Doc. 22.
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{¶3} On July 6, 2016, Brown pled no contest at his sentencing hearing. Tr.
4. The court found Brown guilty of violating R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(d) but did not
state which factual findings the court relied upon in reaching this determination. Tr.
4-5. The court also did not require the State to recite the facts of the case for the
record. Tr. 4-5. As part of his sentence, Brown’s license was suspended until
November 25, 2018. Doc. 28. On appeal, Brown raises four assignments of error.
First Assignment of Error
Striking [Brown’s] motion to suppress without a hearing was
error.
Second Assignment of Error
Striking [Brown’s] motion to suppress without ruling on
[Brown’s] previously filed motion to compel discovery was error.
Third Assignment of Error
Failing to give [Brown] a hearing on his administrative license
suspension was error.
Fourth Assignment of Error
The trial court committed reversible error in finding [Brown]
guilty after [Brown’s] verbal entry of a plea of no contest without
first having the state read into the record an explanation of the
facts and circumstances supporting all of the essential elements of
the offense charged as required under Ohio Revised Code Section
2937.07.
In the following analysis, the fourth and third assignments of error will be evaluated
prior to consideration of the first and second assignments of error.
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Failure to Recite the Facts into the Record
{¶4} In his fourth assignment of error, Brown argues that the absence, in
the record, of an explanation of circumstances supporting the court’s finding of
guilt is reversible error. R.C. 2937.07 states, in pertinent part,
A plea to a misdemeanor offense of “no contest”…shall constitute
an admission of the truth of the facts alleged in the complaint and
that the judge or magistrate may make a finding of guilt or not
guilty from the explanation of the circumstances of the offense.
“R.C. 2937.07 confers a substantive right. Therefore, a no contest plea may not be
the basis for a finding of guilt without an explanation of circumstances.” City of
Cuyahoga Falls v. Bowers, 9 Ohio St.3d 148, 150, 459 N.E.2d 532 (1984).
{¶5} The State has the burden of ensuring that an explanation of the
circumstances is introduced into the record. State v. Jenkins, 3d Dist. Hancock Nos.
5-15-21, 5-15-22, and 5-15-23, 2016-Ohio-1428, ¶ 7, citing State v. Schornak, 2d
Dist. Greene No.2014–CA–59, 2015–Ohio–3383, 1 N.E.3d 168. R.C. 2937.07 does
not designate who must recite the facts for the record and only requires “some
participant in the hearing…provide this recitation for the record.” State v. James,
7th Dist. Mahoning No. 15 MA 0003, 2016-Ohio-4662, ¶ 8, citing State v. Murphy,
116 Ohio App.3d 41, 45, 686 N.E.2d 553 (9th Dist.1996).
{¶6} “An explanation of circumstances is found where the record includes a
statement of the facts sufficient to support all of the essential elements of the
offense.” State v. Horvath, 3d Dist Seneca No. 13-15-10, 2015-Ohio-4729, ¶ 12,
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citing State v. Provino, 175 Ohio App.3d 283, 2007-Ohio-6974, 886 N.E.2d 888, ¶
5. Even though the no contest plea admits the facts alleged in the complaint, “the
record must provide an ‘explanation of circumstances’” for the trial court “to find a
defendant guilty.” Provino at ¶ 5, quoting City of Broadview Hts. v. Krueger, 8th
Dist. No. 88998, 2007-Ohio-5337, 2007 WL 2875156, at ¶ 10. “[T]he mere fact
that the court's record includes documents which could show the defendant's guilt
will not suffice.” Berea v. Moorer, 2016-Ohio-3452, 55 N.E.3d 1186, ¶ 9 (8th
Dist.), quoting Village of Chagrin Falls v. Katelanos, 54 Ohio App.3d 157, 158, 561
N.E.2d 992 (8th Dist.1988); Horvath at ¶ 16-17. “[D]ocumentary evidence may
suffice as an explanation of the circumstances supporting the charge, provided the
record demonstrates that the trial court actually considered that evidence in
determining [the] [d]efendant's guilt or innocence.” State v. Mazzone, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 18780, 2001 WL 1141822, *2 (Sept. 28, 2001), citing Bowers.
See Jenkins at ¶ 7. Thus, R.C. 2937.07 requires, “at a minimum, some positive
recitation of facts which, if the court finds them to be true, would permit the court
to enter a guilty verdict.” Id., quoting Schornak at ¶ 8.
{¶7} “Appellate review of a trial court's finding of guilt on a no contest plea
to a misdemeanor is de novo.” State v. Erskine, 4th Dist. Highland No. 14CA17,
2015-Ohio-710, 29 N.E.3d 272, ¶ 10. In reviewing the record, “[t]he question is not
whether the court could have rendered an explanation of circumstances sufficient to
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find appellant guilty based on the available documentation but whether the court
made the necessary explanation.” Bowers, supra, at 151.
Under R.C. 2937.07, when a plea of no contest is accepted in a
misdemeanor case, the explanation of circumstances serves as the
evidence upon which the trial court is to base its finding of guilt
or not guilty.
Horvath at ¶ 18, citing State v. Kareski, 137 Ohio St.3d 92, 2013-Ohio-4008, 998
N.E.2d 410, ¶ 14, citing Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1, 98 S.Ct. 2141, 57
L.Ed.2d 1 (1978). For this reason,
[i]f the explanation of circumstances provided on the record does
not establish all of the offense's elements, the defendant who pled
no contest ‘has a substantive right to be discharged by a finding
of not guilty.’ Bowers at 150. It follows that if an appellate court
finds that the explanation of circumstances requirement was not
satisfied, the conviction must be vacated. Id. at 151.
Jenkins, at ¶ 8, quoting Bowers, supra, at 151. Further,
[w]hen a conviction is reversed due to insufficient evidence,
jeopardy attaches, and a remand for a new determination of guilt
or innocence is prohibited by the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I,
Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution.
Horvath at ¶ 18 (citations omitted).
{¶8} In the instant case, Brown pled no contest to the charges brought against
him as part of a plea agreement. Tr. 3-4. To determine whether the trial court
followed the requirements of R.C. 2937.07, we scrutinize the trial transcript for an
explanation of circumstances or evidence of a waiver from the defendant. While
the explanation of circumstances is mandated by law, in State v. Arnold, this court
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“join[ed] the many other Ohio courts that have held that the explanation-of-
circumstances requirement of R.C. 2937.07 is waivable.” State v. Arnold, 3d Dist.
Seneca No. 13-16-13, 2017-Ohio-326, ¶ 10, citing State v. Kern, 6th Dist. Lucas
No. L-14-1173, 2015-Ohio-1988, ¶ 12, citing City of Broadview Hts. V. Burrows,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 79161, 2001 WL 1174264, 2 (Oct. 4, 2001), State v. Smyers,
5th Dist. Muskingum No. CT03-0039, 2004-Ohio-851, ¶ 12, State v. Ritch, 4th Dist.
Scioto No. 97CA2491, 1998 WL 282970 (May 11, 1998), City of North Ridgeville
v. Roth, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 03CA008396, 2004-Ohio-4447, ¶ 12. The relevant
portion of the exchange between Brown and the court is as follows:
[Court]: [H]ow do you plead?
[Defendant]: No contest, sir.
[Court]: Is that with a stipulated finding of guilt?
[Defense Counsel]: That’s correct. We’re not stipulating to the
guilt, but we understand that the court is doing that.
[Court]: I’ll accept the finding of guilt and adopt the
recommended penalty. The Count B charge will be dismissed—
or excuse me—the Count A charge. Of course, it was the Count
B charge that we just did. And I will sign the order appointing
the transcriber. And I’ll sign the entry granting the stay, pending
the timely filing of the appeal. Anything else?
Tr. 4-5.
{¶9} In Arnold, we affirmed the conviction of the defendant in the absence
of an explanation of circumstances because we found evidence in the record that the
defendant intended to waive the explanation of circumstances requirement of R.C.
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2937.07. Arnold at ¶ 11, 21. We find, however, that Arnold is distinguishable from
the present case. In Arnold, when asked for his plea, the defendant answered
through his counsel, “No contest. Consent to a finding of guilt, Your Honor. And
there’s an actual basis.” Id. at ¶ 10. Going beyond the bare admission that the facts
of the complaint are true, the defendant’s no contest plea was accompanied by an
admission that the facts were “an actual basis” for a finding of guilt and by express
consent to the court’s finding of guilt. Id. In Arnold, the explanation of
circumstances was not necessary as the defendant admitted such a basis existed and,
in so doing, waived the requirements of R.C. 2937.07. Id. Thus, the trial judge was
warranted in relying on the admission that accompanied the defendant’s no contest
plea as a sufficient basis for a finding of guilt and as a waiver of the explanation of
circumstances requirement. Id. at ¶ 12.
{¶10} In the present case, the trial court, in its judgment entry, submitted
Brown’s plea as “No Contest, with a stipulated finding of Guilty.” Doc. 28.
However, this entry is not—by itself—a waiver. See State v. Roland, 2d Dist.
Champaign No. 2005 CA 39, 2006-Ohio-3517 (holding that a stipulation of guilt
was “not the functional equivalent of a guilty plea.”). Rather, a no contest plea with
a stipulated finding of guilty must be accompanied by conduct on the part of the
defendant that objectively indicates a clear intention to waive the explanation of
circumstances. See State v. Roth, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 03CA008396, 2004-Ohio-
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4447 (holding that an explicit waiver by the defendant was sufficient to waive the
explanation of circumstances requirement).
{¶11} Here, Brown admitted the facts of the case by pleading no contest, but
he did not admit that the facts provided a sufficient or “actual basis” for a finding of
guilt or expressly consent to a finding of guilt as the defendant did in Arnold. Arnold
at ¶ 10. Tr. 4. Rather, counsel stated that they “[were] not stipulating to a finding
of guilt” with the understanding that the court was going to make that finding. Tr.
4. This is not a waiver of the explanation of circumstances as this statement
explicitly leaves the finding of guilt in the hands of the trial court. Such a finding
by the trial court needed, in turn, to be based on an explanation of circumstances.
{¶12} In reaching a finding of guilt, neither the State nor the trial judge
mentioned a single factual finding during the hearing. Tr. 1-6. See Jenkins, supra,
at ¶ 11, citing State v. Hess, 3d Dist. Mercer No. 10-91-4, 1991 WL 271716 (Dec.
13, 1991), 3 (holding the court needs to facilitate the “required ‘explanation of the
circumstances’ before finding guilt.”). The docket contains several documents
which supply information that could have supported a finding of guilt, but the court
did not—at any point—allude to any of these materials for the record. Tr. 1-6. State
v. Myers, 3d Dist. Marion Nos. 9-02-65 and 9-02-66, 2003-Ohio-2936, ¶ 18
(reversing the judgment of the trial court where “the record was silent as to whether
the court based its decision on the documentary evidence.”). The facts of the
complaint, which Brown admitted to in pleading no contest, were not introduced
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into the record to substantiate the court’s determination. Tr. 4. See Bowers, supra,
at 151. See Schornak, supra, at ¶ 16 (holding that the court may meet the
requirements of R.C. 2937.07 by explicitly referencing, for the record, the
documentary evidence that supports its finding of guilt). While the trial court judge
may have had knowledge of facts that would constitute a sufficient basis for a
finding of guilt, the law requires an explanation of the circumstances that support
such a conclusion. Horvath, supra, at ¶ 16, (finding City of Cleveland v. Paramount
Land Holdings, LLC, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95448, 2011-Ohio-3383, 2011 WL
2640236, ¶ 23, to stand for the proposition that “an explanation of circumstances is
not satisfied by a presumption that the [trial] court was aware of facts”).
{¶13} In this case, Brown clearly qualified the plea he tendered to the court
and did not engage in any conduct that would signal to the court that Brown had an
intention to waive the explanation of circumstances requirement. In a misdemeanor
case, a no contest plea is not an admission of guilt and cannot alone be the basis for
a finding of guilt. Horvath, supra, at ¶ 17. See Moorer, supra, at ¶ 13. Further, the
trial court’s acceptance of a no contest plea even with a stipulated finding of guilty
cannot—by itself—discharge the duty to provide an explanation of circumstances
for the record when it is unaccompanied by a clear waiver by the defendant of this
substantive right. Finally, we also do not see the indications of invited error which
were present in Arnold. Arnold, supra, at ¶ 12.
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{¶14} The burden is on the State to provide the explanation of circumstances
requirement, and the State simply did not carry its burden. Jenkins, supra, at ¶ 7.
Since the record does not contain an explanation of the circumstances with factual
findings sufficient to establish the essential elements of the crime, the record left to
us by the trial court cannot support a finding of guilty in this case. Horvath, supra,
at ¶ 18. Accordingly, Brown’s conviction is reversed for insufficient evidence. Id.Further, double jeopardy has attached, barring reconsideration of this charge on
remand. See Id.; Moorer, supra, at ¶ 20. For these reasons, Brown’s fourth
assignment of error is sustained.
Administrative License Appeal
{¶15} In his third assignment of error, Brown asserts that the trial court erred
by failing to hold a hearing on his ALS appeal. An ALS is a civil matter that is
remedial in nature and distinct from the criminal charge in this case. Ohio Bur. Of
Motor Vehicles v. Williams, 97 Ohio App.3d 779, 780, 647 N.E.2d 562 (3d Dist.
1994). See State v. Gustafson, 76 Ohio St.3d 425, 436, 668 N.E.2d 435 (1996)
(holding the ALS and criminal trial were distinct proceedings for the purposes of
double jeopardy). Thus, this issue survives our ruling on Brown’s fourth assignment
of error. Id.{¶16} When an arrestee tests positive for driving with a prohibited
concentration of alcohol, he or she is immediately subject to an ALS. R.C.
4511.192(D)(1)(a) and R.C. 4511.191(C)(1). In the period between the arrest and
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the trial, the ALS continues for the length of time specified in R.C. 4510.02(B)
absent judicial intervention. If a defendant is charged with violating R.C. 4511.19
and is found not guilty while the ALS is still in effect, the verdict does not affect the
ALS. R.C. 4511.191(D)(1). If the defendant is convicted for driving with a
prohibited concentration of alcohol or drugs under R.C. 4511.19 and the ALS is still
in effect, the ALS must terminate upon sentencing. See Gustafson at 436 (holding
the ALS ceases to be remedial at conviction and, if continued beyond the conviction,
would result in a cumulative punishment in violation of the Double Jeopardy
Clauses of the United States and Ohio Constitutions). See R.C. 4511.197(A) and
4511.191(F).
{¶17} When the ALS terminates after an OVI conviction, the time spent
under the ALS is credited towards any license suspension imposed in the sentence.
R.C. 4511.191(C)(2). State v. Hoover, 123 Ohio St.3d 418, 2009-Ohio-4993, 916
N.E.2d 1056, ¶ 25 and State v. Sapariti, 118 Ohio App.3d 1, 7, 691 N.E.2d 1064(3d Dist.1997). Even though the ALS terminates upon a conviction and the
suspension time merges with the OVI sentence, “[t]he administrative suspension of
[the defendant’s] driver’s license is [still] a separate civil action which is unrelated
to the criminal case charging [the defendant] with driving under the influence of
alcohol.” Williams at 780, citing Hoban v. Rice, 25 Ohio St.2d 111, 267 N.E.2d 311(1971); State v. Starnes, 21 Ohio St.2d 38, 254 N.E.2d 675 (1970).
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{¶18} Since “the Due Process Clause applies to the suspension…of a driver’s
license,” procedural safeguards are necessary to prevent an erroneous deprivation.
State v. Hochhausler, 76 Ohio St.3d 455, 459, 668 N.E.2d 457 (1996). R.C.
4511.197(A) subjects an ALS to judicial oversight and provides a licensee with a
process to appeal an ALS. Within five days of the arrest or the issuance of the
citation that led to the ALS, the court must hold an initial appearance. R.C.
4511.196(A). The person charged with an OVI “may appeal the suspension at the
person’s initial appearance on the charge resulting from the arrest or within the
period ending thirty days after the…initial appearance.” R.C. 4511.197(A). “The
purpose for requiring the initial appearance to be held within five days is to provide
the person with the opportunity to appeal the ALS.” Columbus v. Rose, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 06AP-579, 2007-Ohio-499, ¶ 6 (finding R.C. 4511.191 and 4511.196
address the “civil and remedial aspects of the OVI statutory framework, and not the
criminal aspects.”).
{¶19} Ohio law, however, “does not expressly set forth the procedure a trial
court is to follow in reviewing an appeal of an [ALS].”2 State v. Norman, 5th Dist.
2
In the past, R.C. 4511.191 governed the ALS appeals process and directed a person with an ALS suspension
to “file a petition in the Municipal Court or the County Court” within twenty days of receiving a notice of
suspension. State v. Starnes, 21 Ohio St.2d 38, 42, 254 N.E.2d 675 (1970), quoting the former version of
R.C. 4511.191, which is now 4511.197. The statute also required the person “to pay the cost of the
proceedings.” See State v. Rozell, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 95CA17, 1996 WL 344034 (June 20, 1996). R.C.
4511.197 now governs the ALS appeal process. See R.C. 4511.191(C)(1). Under the current law, the
defendant need only “challenge the [ALS] at the initial appearance in the criminal case.” State v. Wisby, 1st
Dist. Hamilton No. C-020758 and C-020759, 2003-Ohio-5834, ¶ 15. The statute directs the person to appeal
“at the initial appearance on the charge resulting from the arrest.” R.C. 4511.197(A).
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Knox No. 2005CA00022, 2005-Ohio-5791, ¶ 17. For this reason, courts have
employed varying procedures in hearing ALS appeals. State v. Mallin, 6th Dist.
Ottawa No. OT-06-040, 2007-Ohio-4476, ¶ 20 (finding the ALS appeal and the
criminal proceeding need not “proceed under separate case number[s]”); State v.
Wisby, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-020758 and C-020759, 2003-Ohio-5834, ¶ 15
(finding the ALS is “perhaps best treated as ancillary to a criminal prosecution”
even though it is a separate proceeding); Jackson v. Rankin, 2d Dist. Montgomery
No. 23083, 2009-Ohio-1639, ¶ 26 (finding a separate civil filing perfected an ALS
appeal). The fundamental issue, however, is not how the appeal was heard but
whether the appeal was heard. “[I]nherent in an ALS appeal is an opportunity to be
heard.” Norman, at ¶ 17. “[T]he lack of any mention or order relative to the ALS
appeal is tantamount to a denial of appellant’s right to a hearing pursuant to R.C.
4511.197.” State v. Katz, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 09CAC030028, 2009-Ohio-5803,
¶ 26. See City of Mayfield Heights v. Buckner, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 69221, 1996
WL 563624 (Oct. 3, 1996).
{¶20} In the present case, Brown appealed his ALS in his initial appearance
pleadings, but the trial court did not schedule a hearing. Doc. 4. On appeal, the
State argues the trial court was correct in doing so because Brown failed to file his
appeal as a separate civil action. This argument fails in that the trial court
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acknowledged the appeal by ordering a stay of the ALS on January 20, 2016.3 Doc.
11. In this case, no evidence in the record suggests that the trial court addressed or
issued an order regarding a hearing of the ALS appeal that Brown requested. Brown
was never given an opportunity to be heard, which state law and due process require.
In doing so, the trial court erred.
{¶21} In this case, Brown’s license was subjected to an ALS after his breath
test showed an alcohol level of 0.117%. Doc. 2. The ALS began on November 25,
2015, and expired pursuant to R.C. 4511.191(C)(1)(a) on April 3, 2016. Doc. 22.
After finding Brown guilty, the court sentenced Brown on July 6, 2016, and
suspended Brown’s license until November 25, 2018. Doc. 28. The reversal of
Brown’s conviction removes the license suspension imposed on July 6, 2016.
However, reversal of Brown’s conviction does not reinstate Brown’s license as his
driving privileges were not originally suspended by the penalty imposed by the court
on July 6, 2016, but by the ALS on November 25, 2015.4 Doc. 22. The expiration
of the ALS did not reinstate Brown’s license. Id. Rather, R.C. 4511.191(F) requires
Brown to take affirmative steps to have his license reinstated, including the possible
payment of a reinstatement fee.
3
For reasons not stated, the court issued an order on February 29, 2016 that lifted the stay effective on March
1, 2016. Doc. 22.
4
Since the ALS expired on April 3, 2016, prior to the sentencing hearing, Brown’s license is no longer subject
to the ALS. Uskert, 85 Ohio St.3d 593, 596-597, 709 N.E.2d 1200.
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{¶22} Whether Brown needs to take these affirmative steps in R.C.
4511.191(F) to reinstate his license depends on whether the initial ALS was valid.
Since the trial court did not hold an ALS appeal, we have no record from which we
can determine whether the initial ALS was proper. If Brown wishes to continue the
appeal of his ALS, this determination must be made by the trial court. For these
reasons, the third assignment of error is sustained.
Remaining Assignments of Error
{¶23} Since the fourth assignment of error, regarding the trial court’s
decision to find the defendant guilty in the absence of an explanation of the
circumstances, has been sustained, the questions concerning the appellant’s motion
to suppress and the motion to compel discovery, raised in the first and second
assignments of error respectively, are moot. Thus, this court declines to address
these questions pursuant to App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).
{¶24} Having found error prejudicial to the appellant in the particulars
assigned and argued, the judgment of the Marion Municipal Court is reversed. The
matter is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings in accord with this
opinion.
Judgment Reversed
And Cause Remanded
PRESTON, P.J. and SHAW, J., concur.
/hls
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