In re M.B.

[Cite as In re M.B., 2020-Ohio-6927.]
COURT OF APPEALS
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
: JUDGES:
:
: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
: Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
: Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.
IN RE M.B. :
: Case No. 2020 CA 00027
:
:
:
:
: OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Fairfield County Court
of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division,
Case Nos. 20-DL-20 and 20-TR-34
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: December 29, 2020
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee: For Defendant-Appellant:
R. KYLE WITT GLORIA L. SMITH
FAIRFIELD COUNTY PROSECUTOR 670 Meridian Way #188
Westerville, OH 43082
KIRK L. SHAW
239 West Main Street, Suite 101
Lancaster, OH 43130
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 2
Delaney, P.J.
{¶1} Appellant M.B. appeals the May 26, 2020 judgment of the Fairfield County
Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division. Appellee is the State of Ohio.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Accident and Arraignment
{¶2} On April 23, 2019, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Appellant M.B. was driving
her vehicle northbound on the U.S. 33 West exit ramp. When M.B. turned left into the
intersection at the stop sign, her vehicle was struck by a motorcycle traveling eastbound
on Coonpath Road driven by T.J.M. and with passenger S.L.M. T.J.M. and S.L.M. were
ejected off the motorcycle and died from their injuries. At the time of the accident, M.B.
was 17 years old.
{¶3} On January 17, 2020, Appellee State of Ohio filed a complaint with the
Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, charging M.B. with two counts
of vehicular manslaughter, second-degree misdemeanors in violation of R.C.
2903.06(A)(4). She was also cited with failure to yield the right-of-way, in violation of R.C.
4511.41, a minor misdemeanor.
{¶4} The traffic crash report completed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol was
filed on January 21, 2020. The traffic crash report noted that at the time of the accident,
T.J.M. had a blood alcohol content level of 0.096. The traffic crash report stated T.J.M.
was driving straight ahead in the proper lane, he was not distracted, and there were no
contributing circumstances to the accident by T.J.M.. The report showed there was a skid
mark from the motorcycle tire some distance before the point of impact. According to the
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 3
traffic crash report, the contributing circumstance to the accident was M.B.’s failure to
yield.
{¶5} Jason A. Price filed a notice of appearance as M.B.’s counsel on January
23, 2020. He filed a demand for discovery on January 23, 2020.
{¶6} M.B. was arraigned on February 3, 2020 and she denied the charges. The
juvenile court notified M.B. of the maximum penalties for the charges of vehicular
manslaughter and failure to yield the right-of-way. (Arraignment, T. 6-9). At the
arraignment, Price stated M.B. retained an accident reconstructionist and the State was
conducting an accident reconstruction. (Arraignment, T. 12).
Plea Negotiations
{¶7} In the State’s appellate brief, it refers to the plea negotiations that took place
between the State and Price. These negotiations are not part of the trial record, nor is
there an affidavit referring to the negotiations.
{¶8} According to the State’s appellate brief, Price argued in negotiations that
M.B. had a defense because at the time of the accident, T.J.M.’s blood alcohol level was
above the legal limit. The argument was that because T.J.M. was operating his
motorcycle in contravention of law, he was not legally on the roadway. The State
countered that despite the alcohol infraction, T.J.M.’s driving was normal and not the
proximate cause of the accident according to the accident reconstruction.
Admission and Disposition
{¶9} On May 26, 2020, the trial court held a plea hearing by video. The parties
appeared remotely due to the COVID-19 state of emergency. At the time of hearing, M.B.
was 18 years old. The juvenile court judge informed M.B. the hearing was considered an
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 4
adjudicatory hearing where she would be making an admission to the charges and the
court would be disposing of the matter. (T. 5). Price notified the judge that M.B. was going
to enter a no contest plea to the charges. (T. 5).
{¶10} Before the juvenile court started the plea colloquy, the judge explained it
was important that M.B. understand everything that was happening. (T. 6). If she was
confused or did not understand what was going on or being said, she should inform the
judge. (T. 5). If she had a question, the judge would take a break so she could speak with
her attorney. (T. 5).
{¶11} The judge first outlined the order of the proceedings for M.B. He next
explained the right of M.B. to have an attorney and her right to a trial where the State
would have to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. He explained that if she
made an admission, she was waiving her right to trial. (T. 7). M.B. stated that she
understood. If M.B. had a trial, the judge explained she would have the right to question
the State’s witnesses, subpoena witnesses, present evidence, and testify at trial or remain
silent. The judge asked M.B. again that if she understood that if she made an admission,
she was waiving those trial rights. M.B. stated she understood. (T. 8).
{¶12} The judge explained the maximum penalties for vehicular manslaughter,
misdemeanors of the second degree in violation of R.C. 2903.06(A)(4). The charges
carried the potential for a $200 fine, 90 days of detention, terms of community control,
and probation. (T. 9). The charges included potential mandatory driver’s license
suspension and six traffic points. (T. 10). The judge next explained the maximum
penalties for the citation of failure to yield the right-of-way was a $50 traffic fine plus court
costs and a suspension of a driver’s license until age 21. (T 11). The judge asked M.B. if
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 5
she understood. She answered in the affirmative. The judge asked the State and Price if
they were satisfied with the juvenile court’s explanation of M.B.’s rights and penalties, to
which they responded in the affirmative. (T. 11).
{¶13} The State presented a statement of the facts and after the juvenile court
inquired, Price stated M.B. had nothing to add to the facts and was prepared to enter her
plea to the charges. (T. 13). M.B. entered a no contest plea to the three charges and
based on her admission, the juvenile court found beyond a reasonable doubt that M.B.
was delinquent, according to R.C. 2152.02, and was a juvenile traffic offender. (T. 13-14).
{¶14} The State read the dispositional recommendations to which the parties
agreed, and the juvenile court sentenced M.B. to the agreed terms. The juvenile court
sentenced M.B. to non-reporting community control; 80 hours of community service; court
costs; one-year suspension of her driver’s license from February 3, 2020 to February 2,
2021, on which date the case would automatically seal without a hearing; four-month
driving suspension (already served); driving privileges for work, school, and medical
transport for her father; and an intensive driving program. (T. 14-15; 35). The court also
assessed M.B. six points on her driver’s license.
{¶15} The admission and disposition were journalized via judgment entry filed on
May 26, 2020. It is from this judgment entry that M.B. now appeals.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶16} M.B. raises three Assignments of Error:
{¶17} “I. APPELLANT WAS DENIED THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN VIOLATION
OF THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I,
SECTION 10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 6
{¶18} “II. APPELLANT WAS DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
IN VIOLATION OF THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND
ARTICLE I, SECTION 10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION WHEN COUNSEL FAILED
TO PRESENT A CRITICAL FACT TO THE TRIAL COURT DURING THE NO CONTEST
PLEA.
{¶19} “III. THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH JUVENILE
PROCEDURE RULE 29(D) AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE RULE 29(D) IN VIOLATION
OF THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATED
CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 10 AND 16 OF THE OHIO
CONSTITUTION.”
ANALYSIS
I. and II. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
{¶20} M.B. contends in her first and second Assignments of Error that she was
denied the effective assistance of counsel because her trial counsel failed to raise a fact
at the adjudicatory hearing that would have changed the outcome of the proceeding. She
states her trial counsel did not advise the trial court at the hearing that T.J.M.’s blood
alcohol level was above the legal limit at the time of the accident. Because T.J.M. was
not operating the motorcycle in a lawful manner, she argues there was no evidence that
M.B. committed the predicate offense of failure to yield the right-of-way and therefore, the
trial court could not have found M.B. delinquent of vehicular manslaughter beyond a
reasonable doubt. We first address M.B.’s argument that trial counsel was ineffective as
to the predicate offense of failure to yield the right-of-way and next, we review counsel’s
alleged ineffectiveness as to the charges of vehicular manslaughter.
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 7
Standard of Review
{¶21} To succeed on a claim of ineffectiveness, a defendant must satisfy a two-
prong test. Initially, a defendant must show that trial counsel acted incompetently. See
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). In
assessing such claims, “a court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct
falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that is, the defendant
must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action
‘might be considered sound trial strategy.’” Id. at 689, 104 S.Ct. 2052, citing Michel v.
Louisiana, 350 U.S. 91, 101, 76 S.Ct. 158, 100 L.Ed. 83 (1955). “There are countless
ways to provide effective assistance in any given case. Even the best criminal defense
attorneys would not defend a particular client in the same way.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at
689, 104 S.Ct. 2052. The question is whether counsel acted “outside the wide range of
professionally competent assistance.” Id. at 690, 104 S.Ct. 2052.
{¶22} Even if a defendant shows that counsel was incompetent, the defendant
must then satisfy the second prong of the Strickland test. Under this “actual prejudice”
prong, the defendant must show that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052.
Vehicular Manslaughter and Failure to Yield
{¶23} M.B. entered a plea of no contest to two counts of vehicular manslaughter
and failure to yield the right-of-way. Vehicular manslaughter is defined by R.C.
2903.06(A)(4), which reads:
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 8
(A) No person, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor
vehicle * * * shall cause the death of another * * * in any of the following
ways:
***
(4) As the proximate result of committing a violation of any provision of any
section contained in Title XLV of the Revised Code that is a minor
misdemeanor or of a municipal ordinance that, regardless of the penalty set
by ordinance for the violation, is substantially equivalent to any provision of
any section contained in Title XLV of the Revised Code that is a minor
misdemeanor.
The specific minor misdemeanor offense of failure to yield the right-of-way, in violation of
R.C. 4511.41, states:
(A) When two vehicles, including any trackless trolley or streetcar, approach
or enter an intersection from different streets or highways at approximately
the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-
way to the vehicle on the right.
“Right-of-way” is defined by R.C. 4511.01(UU) as, “[t]he right of a vehicle * * * to proceed
uninterruptedly in a lawful manner in the direction in which it or the individual is moving in
preference to another vehicle * * * approaching from a different direction into its or the
individual's path.”
{¶24} After the State read the statement of facts as to the charges, M.B.’s trial
counsel declined to add to the facts. M.B. entered a no contest plea to all three counts
and the juvenile court accepted M.B.’s admission. The juvenile court next found that
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 9
beyond a reasonable doubt, M.B. was delinquent according to R.C. 2152.02 and a
juvenile traffic offender.
Proceeding in a Lawful Manner
{¶25} M.B.’s arguments on appeal refer to the predicate offense, failure to yield
the right-of-way. She contends that based on the pertinent law regarding the right-of-way,
trial counsel was ineffective because he did not add to the statement of facts that T.J.M.’s
blood alcohol level was above the legal limit in contravention of Ohio’s traffic laws. She
argues that if counsel had advised the juvenile court at the adjudicatory hearing of T.J.M.’s
blood alcohol level, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different. The
predicate offense of failure to yield would have been dismissed and she could not have
been found delinquent of vehicular manslaughter.
{¶26} The law regarding the right-of-way is described in In re Neill, 160 Ohio
App.3d 439, 2005-Ohio-1696, 827 N.E.2d 811 (3rd Dist.):
Accordingly, a driver with the right of way has an absolute right to proceed
uninterruptedly in a lawful manner, and other drivers must yield to him. State
v. Bush, (July 30, 1999), 2d Dist. No. 17671, 1999 WL 960582, citing
Vavrina v. Greczanik, (1974) 40 Ohio App.2d 129, 135, 69 O.O.2d 146, 318
N.E.2d 408. Conversely, the driver with the right of way forfeits this
preferential status over other drivers if he or she fails to proceed in a lawful
manner. Id. However, because the law presumes that a vehicle that
ostensibly has the right of way is proceeding lawfully, the state is not
required to prove lawful operation as an element of proving a violation of
4511.44(A), failure to yield. State v. Harris, (Dec. 30, 1991), 12th Dist. No.
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 10
CA91–06–012, 1991 WL 278245. Rather, a defendant who asserts that an
opposing driver's right of way has been forfeited “is required to present
evidence rebutting the presumption of lawful operation.” Id. “A driver
proceeds in a lawful manner by complying with Ohio traffic laws.” Bush,
supra, citing Vavrina, supra, 40 Ohio App.2d at 136, 69 O.O.2d 146, 318
N.E.2d 408.
****
[When the trial court was] presented with evidence tending to rebut the
presumption that [the other driver] was proceeding in a lawful manner, the
trial court herein was obligated to resolve the issue whether [the other
driver] forfeited his right of way. Harris, supra; see, also, State v. Neff
(1975), 41 Ohio St.2d 17, 18, 70 O.O.2d 82, 322 N.E.2d 274; Upper
Arlington v. Streets (Dec. 20, 1994), 10th Dist. No. 94APC04–534, 1994 WL
714609.
In re Neill, 2005-Ohio-1696, ¶¶ 10–12; State v. Rayner, 5th Dist. No. 2015CA00105,
2016-Ohio-3161, 65 N.E.3d 84, 2016 WL 3019489, ¶ 21
{¶27} In this case, the presumption was that T.J.M. had the right-of-way at the
time of the accident and was proceeding lawfully. The traffic crash report stated that
T.J.M. was driving straight ahead in the proper lane, was not distracted, and there were
no contributing circumstances by T.J.M. to the accident. Pursuant to In re Neill, there was
no burden on the State to prove T.J.M.’s lawful operation of the motorcycle as an element
of the charge of failure to yield the right-of-way.
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 11
{¶28} The presumption of lawful operation is not absolute, however. The
presumption may be overcome if the driver with the right-of-way forfeits the preferential
status over other drivers by failing to proceed in a lawful manner. In re Neill, supra at ¶
10. The law places the burden on the defendant to present evidence rebutting the
presumption of lawful operation. Accordingly, the burden fell to M.B. to assert that T.J.M.
forfeited the right-of-way by presenting evidence the decedent was not proceeding in a
lawful manner.
{¶29} To proceed in a lawful manner means to comply with Ohio traffic laws.
Vavrina, supra, 40 Ohio App.2d at 136. M.B. argues on appeal that while the traffic crash
report states that T.J.M. was driving straight ahead in the proper lane and there were no
contributing circumstances by T.J.M. to the accident, it also states that T.J.M. had a blood
alcohol content level of 0.096 and an ethanol concentration of 0.135 in his urine. R.C.
4511.19(A) reads:
(A)(1) No person shall operate any vehicle * * * within this state, if, at the
time of the operation, any of the following apply:
(a) The person is under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a
combination of them.
(b) The person has a concentration of eight-hundredths of one per cent or
more but less than seventeen-hundredths of one per cent by weight per unit
volume of alcohol in the person's whole blood.
(c) The person has a concentration of ninety-six-thousandths of one per
cent or more but less than two hundred four-thousandths of one per cent by
weight per unit volume of alcohol in the person's blood serum or plasma.
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 12
***
(e) The person has a concentration of eleven-hundredths of one gram or
more but less than two hundred thirty-eight-thousandths of one gram by
weight of alcohol per one hundred milliliters of the person's urine.
***
{¶30} In Noaker v. Gerdeman, 3rd Dist. Henry No. 7-03-10, 2004-Ohio-2799, a
motorcycle collided with a man mowing grass around his mailbox with a lawn tractor. The
collision killed the driver of the motorcycle and injured the driver of the lawn tractor. It was
determined the blood alcohol of the motorcycle driver was above the legal limit. The lawn
tractor driver brought a personal injury action against the estate of the motorcycle driver
where he argued the motorcycle driver’s intoxication should result in the loss of his
preferential right-of-way. Id. at ¶ 4. The court held the motorcycle driver was driving with
a prohibited concentration of alcohol in his blood in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A); therefore,
he forfeited his absolute right-of-way. Id. at ¶ 8.
{¶31} In the case sub judice, there was evidence in the record that T.J.M. was
driving with a prohibited concentration of alcohol in his blood in violation of R.C. 4511.19.
The evidence of T.J.M.’s blood alcohol level was available to trial counsel to rebut the
presumption that T.J.M. was proceeding in a lawful manner. The question before this
Court, however, is not whether T.J.M. forfeited his right-of-way. The issue on appeal is
whether M.B.’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing to advise the juvenile court of this
evidence during the adjudicatory hearing. Based on our analysis below, we answer the
question of whether trial counsel was ineffective in the negative.
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 13
The Role of the Fact Finder
{¶32} After the defendant presents evidence tending to rebut the presumption that
the driver was not proceeding in a lawful manner, it is then the role of the fact finder to
weigh the evidence and determine whether the defendant is in violation of R.C.
4511.44(A). In re Neill, supra, 2005-Ohio-1696, ¶ 12. It is the trial court’s obligation to
resolve the issue whether the other driver forfeited his right-of-way. Id.{¶33} The analysis of whether M.B. was denied the effective assistance of
counsel comes into play when we consider the trial counsel’s trial strategies and the
juvenile court’s role to determine whether the defendant rebutted the presumption that
the other driver was proceeding lawfully. A properly licensed attorney is presumed
competent. Matter of C.Q., 5th Dist. Licking No. 2020 CA 00012, 2020-Ohio-5531, 2020
WL 7078332, ¶ 45 citing State v. Hamblin, 37 Ohio St.3d 153, 524 N.E.2d 476 (1988).
Therefore, in order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, M.B. must
show counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonable
representation and but for counsel's error, the result of the proceedings would have been
different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674(1984);
State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). In other words, M.B. must
show counsel's conduct so undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process
that the trial cannot be relied upon as having produced a just result. Id.{¶34} In this case, the conduct of M.B.’s trial counsel in not adding T.J.M.’s blood
alcohol level to the statement of facts during the adjudicatory hearing did not so
undermine the proper functioning of the adversarial process that the judgment of the
juvenile court cannot be relied upon as having produced a just result. The traffic crash
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 14
report stated that T.J.M.’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit. The traffic crash
report also stated that at the time of the accident, T.J.M. was driving straight ahead in the
proper lane, he was not distracted, and he did not engage in any contributing
circumstances to the accident. The traffic report noted a skid mark from the motorcycle
tire some distance before the point of impact, showing that T.J.M. braked before colliding
with M.B.’s vehicle. The traffic crash report stated that M.B.’s actions were the contributing
circumstance to the accident.
{¶35} While there was evidence that T.J.M.’s blood alcohol level was above the
legal limit, there was no evidence to show that his condition of being under the influence
contributed to the cause of the accident. Based on our application of the Strickland test,
we cannot say if trial counsel had raised the fact of the blood alcohol level, the court would
have weighed the evidence of the blood alcohol level against the totality of the evidence
in the traffic crash report to find that T.J.M. had forfeited his right-of-way so that the citation
of failure to yield would have been necessarily dismissed. There must be a “reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would
have been different.” Strickland, supra 466 U.S. at 694. We cannot summarily conclude
in this case that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise the fact of T.J.M.’s blood
alcohol level during the adjudicatory hearing based on the role of the juvenile court as
fact finder to resolve the issue of whether T.J.M. forfeited his right-of-way in light of the
evidence in the traffic crash report.
Vehicular Manslaughter and Contributory Negligence
{¶36} We next consider the issue of whether trial counsel was ineffective for failing
to raise the fact of T.J.M.’s blood alcohol level as to the charges for vehicular
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 15
manslaughter. “It is well-settled that any contributory negligence of the decedent cannot
be a defense to vehicular homicide, unless it is the sole proximate cause of the accident.”
State v. Dendak, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2013 CA 00065, 2013-Ohio-5694, ¶ 14 citing State
v. Langenkamp, 137 Ohio App.3d 641, 621, 739 N.E.2d 404 (2000). In Dendak, we found
the aforesaid holding was applicable to offense of vehicular manslaughter. Dendak, supra
at ¶ 14.
{¶37} As stated above, the traffic crash report concluded that T.J.M. did not
commit any contributing circumstances to the accident. While his blood alcohol level was
above the legal limit, T.J.M. was not distracted, he was driving within his lane of traffic,
and he attempted to brake before impact. The traffic crash report found the actions of
M.B. were the sole proximate cause of the accident. The plea negotiations between the
State and trial counsel are not in the record and are therefore unavailable for our review.
We consider only the facts in the record and the law regarding proximate cause and
vehicular manslaughter. The facts of this case are tragic for all parties, but on these facts,
we do not find M.B. was denied effective assistance of counsel because she cannot show
her trial counsel’s performance was so deficient that the outcome of the adjudicatory
hearing would have been different.
{¶38} M.B.’s first and second Assignments of Error are overruled.
III. Juv.R. 29(D)(1)
{¶39} In her third Assignment of Error, M.B. contends the juvenile court did not
engage in an adequate colloquy before accepting M.B.’s no contest plea; therefore, her
admission was not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. We disagree.
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 16
Standard of Review
{¶40} Juv.R. 29(D) provides:
The court may refuse to accept an admission and shall not accept an
admission without addressing the party personally and determining both of
the following:
(1) The party is making the admission voluntarily with understanding of the
nature of the allegations and the consequences of the admission;
(2) The party understands that by entering an admission the party is waiving
the right to challenge the witnesses and evidence against the party, to
remain silent, and to introduce evidence at the adjudicatory hearing.
{¶41} “The purpose of Juv.R. 29(D) is to ensure that minors are afforded their due
process right to fundamentally fair treatment in juvenile court proceedings.” In re Miller,
119 Ohio App.3d 52, 57, 694 N.E.2d 500 (2nd Dist.1997), citing In re Harris, 104 Ohio
App.3d 324, 662 N.E.2d 34 (2nd Dist.1995). “Before accepting a minor's admission, the
court must personally address the minor and determine that he or she is making the
admission voluntarily, and that he or she understands the rights that are waived by
entering an admission.” Id., citing Juv.R. 29(D).
{¶42} In a juvenile delinquency case, the preferred practice is strict compliance
with Juv.R. 29(D). In re T.W., 5th Dist. Licking No. 16-CA-38, 2016-Ohio-8371, 2016 WL
7496640, ¶ 9 citing In re C.S., 115 Ohio St.3d 267, 874 N.E.2d 1177, 2007–Ohio–4919,
¶ 113. However, if the trial court substantially complies with Juv.R. 29(D) in accepting an
admission from a juvenile, the plea is deemed voluntary absent a showing of prejudice or
a showing that the totality of the circumstances does not support a finding of a valid
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 17
waiver. Id. Substantial compliance for purposes of juvenile delinquency proceedings
means that under the totality of the circumstances, the juvenile subjectively understood
the implications of his plea. Id.Plea Colloquy
{¶43} Upon our review of the adjudicatory hearing transcript, we find the juvenile
court substantially complied with Juv.R. 29(D) in accepting the admission from M.B. The
adjudicatory hearing was somewhat unusual because it occurred remotely due to the
COVID-19 state of emergency. M.B.’s trial counsel seemed to be in a different location
than M.B. (T. 5). The juvenile court started the hearing by explaining to M.B. the purpose
of the hearing:
So [M.B.], today is what is considered an adjudicatory hearing where you
would be making an admission to the charges, and the Court would be
disposing of the matter. * * * And so everyone understands what a no
contest plea is, it’s an admission – it’s a plea which is admitting to facts
sufficient for a guilty finding, and the Court finds the juvenile guilty of the
offense.
(T. 4-5).
{¶44} The juvenile court next instructed M.B. that if something were happening
during the hearing that she did not understand, she could stop the proceedings and she
would be muted so she could call her attorney. (T. 6). The judge stated, “I want you to be
aware, it’s very important to me that you understand everything that’s going on here. So
we’ll just take this step by step.” (T. 6).
{¶45} The judge first outlined the order of the proceedings for M.B.:
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 18
So I’m going to advise you of your rights again, M.B. And then I’m going to
advise you of what the maximum penalties are for the charges that you
would be making an admission to. When I get done with that, I’ll ask if you
have any questions, if you need to speak with Mr. Price about anything,
then Mr. Shaw is going – the prosecutor is going to read his statement of
facts of what happened in this accident, and you will be asked to – you will
enter a no contest plea to those facts, and then the Court would make that
finding that you, in fact, had admitted to the facts that you are charged with.
(T. 7).
{¶46} He next explained M.B.’s rights:
THE COURT: So first of all, let’s step back, M.B., and make sure that you
understand what your rights are. You do have the right to an attorney, and
Mr. Price is here in that capacity representing you as legal counsel. And we
will accommodate you however you need during this hearing if you need to
speak to him privately. You do have a right to a trial on these charges. If
you make an admission today, you are waiving a trial. You have a right to
have the State of Ohio prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
When you make an admission, you waive that trial, and you waive that right.
Do you understand that?
M.B.: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: All right. You also have a right to question – at trial you would
have the right to question any of the witnesses that the State of Ohio would
call against you, and you would also have a right to use a Court order, which
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 19
is a subpoena, to bring in any evidence or witnesses that you felt are
necessary for you to prove your case. You also have a right to testify at your
trial, or a right to remain silent. And if you testified, anything you say could
be used against you. You also have a right to a record of these proceedings.
* * * Again, if you make an admission, you’re waiving those trial rights; no
trial, no witness questioning, you don’t testify; you waive those rights. Do
you understand that?
M.B.: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Do you have any questions as far as your rights here today?
M.B.: No, thank you.
(T. 7-8).
{¶47} The judge explained the maximum penalties for vehicular manslaughter,
misdemeanors of the second degree in violation of R.C. 2903.06(A)(4). The charges
carried the potential for a $200 fine, 90 days of detention, terms of community control,
and probation. (T. 9). The charges included potential mandatory driver’s license
suspension and six traffic points. (T. 10). The judge next explained the maximum
penalties for the citation of failure to yield the right-of-way was a $50 traffic fine plus court
costs and a suspension of a driver’s license until age 21. (T 11). The judge asked M.B. if
she understood. She answered in the affirmative. The judge asked the State and Price if
they were satisfied with the juvenile court’s explanation of M.B.’s rights and penalties, to
which they responded in the affirmative. (T. 11).
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 20
Possible Defense
{¶48} M.B. contends that her no contest plea was not given knowingly,
intelligently, and voluntarily because when the juvenile court explained the nature of the
charges, the court did not explain the defenses available to her. Juv.R. 29(D)(1) states
the court shall not accept the admission without determining that the “party is making the
admission voluntarily with understanding of the nature of the allegations and the
consequences of the admission.” M.B. does not cite to any case law to support her
argument but it appears she is arguing the juvenile court did not comply with Juv.R.
29(D)(1) because it did not explain that she was voluntarily waiving the defense that
T.J.M. was not proceeding lawfully because he was under the influence of alcohol at the
time of the accident.
{¶49} According to the State’s appellate brief, the parties were aware that T.J.M.’s
blood alcohol level was above the legal limit based on the traffic crash report and it was
discussed during plea negotiations. Based on Dendak, supra, M.B.’s trial counsel did not
pursue that argument. The plea negotiations are not in the record available for our review.
The record available to this Court shows that while T.J.M.’s blood alcohol level was above
the legal limit, the traffic crash report showed his actions did not contribute to the
circumstances of the accident. M.B. was determined to be the sole proximate cause of
the accident. Based on our previous analysis of the right-of-way and Dendak, trial counsel
was not ineffective for failing to raise the fact of the blood alcohol level as a defense.
{¶50} “Before accepting a minor's admission, the court must personally address
the minor and determine that he or she is making the admission voluntarily, and that he
or she understands the rights that are waived by entering an admission.” In re Miller, 119
Fairfield County, Case No. 2020 CA 00027 21
Ohio App.3d 52, 57, 694 N.E.2d 500 (2nd Dist.1997), citing In re Harris, 104 Ohio App.3d
324, 662 N.E.2d 34 (2nd Dist.1995), citing Juv.R. 29(D). Upon the juvenile court’s
colloquy in this case and the totality of the circumstances, we find the trial court
substantially complied with Juv.R. 29(D). The juvenile court personally addressed M.B.
to determine that she was making the admission voluntarily. The record shows that she
understood the rights that are waived by entering an admission.
{¶51} M.B.’s third Assignment of Error is overruled.
CONCLUSION
{¶52} The judgment of the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile
Division is affirmed.
By: Delaney, P.J.,
Baldwin, J. and
Wise, Earle, J., concur.