State v. Varner

[Cite as State v. Varner, 2020-Ohio-1329.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
PORTAGE COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellant, :
CASE NOS. 2019-P-0089
- vs - : 2019-P-0098
LISA MARIE VARNER, :
Defendant-Appellee. :
Criminal Appeals from the Portage County Municipal Court, Ravenna Division, Case No.
2018 TRC 15167 R.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded.
Victor V. Vigluicci, Portage County Prosecutor, and Theresa M. Scahill, Assistant
Prosecutor, 241 South Chestnut Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266 (For Plaintiff-Appellant).
Gregg A. Rossi and James N. Melfi, Rossi & Rossi Co., 26 Market Street, 8th Floor, P.O.
Box 6045, Youngstown, Ohio 44501 (For Defendant-Appellee).
MARY JANE TRAPP, J.
{¶1} Appellant, the state of Ohio (the “state”), appeals the judgment entry of the
Portage County Municipal Court, Ravenna Division, precluding the state from introducing
any evidence of appellee’s, Lisa Marie Varner (“Ms. Varner”), prior conviction for
operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol (“OVI”) and indicating it will not instruct
the jury regarding any prior OVI convictions within the last 20 years.
{¶2} The state argues that it must be permitted to present evidence of Ms.
Varner’s prior OVI conviction, including a stipulation, because a prior OVI conviction
within 20 years is an element of an OVI offense under R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) involving the
refusal to submit to a chemical test. The state further argues that the trial court is required
to include this element in the jury instructions at trial.
{¶3} After a careful review of the record and pertinent law we find as follows:
{¶4} First, based on the plain language of the statute and the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s precedent, Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction is an essential element of a refusal
offense under R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) that the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
{¶5} Second, the parties’ stipulation regarding the fact of Ms. Varner’s prior
conviction is admissible under Evid.R. 403(A).
{¶6} Finally, the trial court must instruct the jury regarding Ms. Varner’s prior OVI
to correctly state the law for a refusal offense under R.C. 4511.19(A)(2).
{¶7} Thus, we reverse the judgment of the Portage County Municipal Court,
Ravenna Division, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Substantive and Procedural History
{¶8} Following a traffic stop on October 5, 2018, Ms. Varner was charged with
(1) OVI in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a); (2) OVI in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(2)
involving the refusal to submit to a chemical test (the “refusal offense”); (3) driving under
an OVI suspension in violation of R.C. 4510.14; and (4) driving in marked lanes in violation
of R.C. 4511.33. The ticket noted a prior OVI in 2018. Ms. Varner pleaded not guilty and
subsequently filed a jury demand.
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{¶9} In June 2019, Ms. Varner, through counsel, filed an offer of stipulation,
where she offered to stipulate that she had a prior OVI conviction within 20 years of the
date of the alleged offense in the underlying case. Ms. Varner stated that the prior OVI
conviction is from the Barberton Municipal Court dated September 17, 2019 [sic].1 The
state accepted Ms. Varner’s offer of stipulation.
{¶10} Ms. Varner also filed a motion in limine to preclude the state from
introducing, among other things, any evidence of her prior OVI conviction. Citing this
court’s decision in State v. Baird, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2014-L-098, 2015-Ohio-4539, Ms.
Varner argued that evidence of her prior OVI conviction violated Evid.R. 403(A), which
mandates exclusion of relevant evidence that is substantially outweighed by the danger
of unfair prejudice.
{¶11} The state filed a response, arguing that Ms. Varner’s motion in limine would
prevent it from proving an element of the refusal offense.
{¶12} In August 2019, the trial court held a hearing on Ms. Varner’s motion in
limine.2 After hearing counsels’ arguments, the trial court ruled that the state could not
introduce any evidence of Ms. Varner’s prior conviction, including the stipulation.
{¶13} The trial court also addressed jury instructions. It noted that a second
offense of OVI under either R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a) or R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) is a
misdemeanor of the first degree, although an offense under the latter provision carries
higher penalties. The trial court ruled that it would not instruct the jury regarding a prior
1. The stated year of the prior OVI appears to be a typographical error.
2. The court’s recording equipment malfunctioned, so no recording was available for transcription. The
state subsequently produced a proposed statement of proceedings, which the trial court approved following
a limited remand.
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OVI offense. The state objected and requested that the trial court give the standard Ohio
Jury Instruction for the refusal charge.
{¶14} The trial court issued a judgment entry nunc pro tunc granting Ms. Varner’s
motion. Relevant here, the trial court precluded the state from introducing any evidence
of Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction from the Barberton Municipal Court and stated it will
not instruct the jury regarding any prior OVI convictions within the last 20 years.
{¶15} The state filed a notice of appeal as of right pursuant to R.C. 2945.67(A)
regarding that portion of the trial court’s judgment entry precluding it from introducing any
evidence of Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction. The state sought, and this court granted,
leave to appeal that portion of the trial court’s judgment entry regarding the jury
instruction. This court consolidated the appeals.
{¶16} The state sets forth the following two assignments of error for our review:
{¶17} “[1.] The trial court erred by prohibiting the State from introducing any
evidence of Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction, including her stipulation to that conviction.
{¶18} “[2.] The trial court erred by refusing to instruct the jury regarding Ms.
Varner’s prior OVI conviction within 20 years of the current offense.”
Exclusion of Evidence
{¶19} In its first assignment of error, the state argues that the trial court erred in
precluding it from introducing any evidence of Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction.
{¶20} We review a trial court's evidentiary rulings under an abuse of discretion
standard of review. Bates-Brown v. Brown, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2006-T-0089, 2007-
Ohio-5203, ¶20. An abuse of discretion is the trial court’s “failure to exercise sound,
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reasonable, and legal decision-making.” State v. Beechler, 2d Dist. Clark No. 09-CA-54,
2010-Ohio-1900, ¶62, quoting Black's Law Dictionary 11 (8th Ed.Rev.2004).
{¶21} When an appellate court is reviewing a pure issue of law, the mere fact that
the reviewing court would decide the issue differently is enough to find error (although
harmless errors and errors not preserved for appellate review are not reversible). Id. at
¶67, fn. 2. By contrast, where the issue on review has been confided to the discretion of
the trial court, the mere fact that the reviewing court would have reached a different result
is not enough, without more, to find error. Id. at ¶67.
Essential Element
{¶22} The first issue is whether a prior OVI conviction is an essential element of
a refusal offense under R.C. 4511.19(A)(2).
{¶23} The essential elements of a given offense are those facts which must be
proven to obtain a conviction of the accused. State v. Jones, 11th Dist. Portage Nos.
2010-P-0051 & 2010-P-0055, 2011-Ohio-5109, ¶16. The state must prove all elements
of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. R.C. 2901.05(A). Where the existence of a
prior offense is an element of a subsequent crime, the state must prove the prior
conviction beyond a reasonable doubt, just as it must prove any other element. State v.
Day, 99 Ohio App. 3d 514, 517 (12th Dist.1994). The jury must find that the previous
conviction has been established in order to find the defendant guilty on the second
offense. Id. By contrast, where an earlier conviction merely affects the penalty imposed
for a subsequent offense, a defendant may request that the trial court determine the
existence of the prior conviction at the sentencing hearing. Id.
{¶24} R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) provides:
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{¶25} “No person who, within twenty years of the conduct described in division
(A)(2)(a) of this section, previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation
of this division, a violation of division (A)(1) or (B) of this section, or any other equivalent
offense shall do both of the following:
{¶26} “(a) Operate any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley within this state while
under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them;
{¶27} “(b) Subsequent to being arrested for operating the vehicle, streetcar, or
trackless trolley as described in division (A)(2)(a) of this section, being asked by a law
enforcement officer to submit to a chemical test or tests under section 4511.191 of the
Revised Code, and being advised by the officer in accordance with section 4511.192 of
the Revised Code of the consequences of the person's refusal or submission to the test
or tests, refuse to submit to the test or tests.” (Emphasis added.)
{¶28} Thus, based the plain language of the statute, Ms. Varner’s prior OVI
offense appears to be an essential element of a refusal offense under R.C. 4511.19(A)(2).
{¶29} Ms. Varner argues that her prior OVI conviction is not an essential element
based on the Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in State v. Allen, 29 Ohio St. 3d 53 (1987).
In Allen, the defendant was charged with OVI pursuant to R.C. 4511.19(A). Id. at 53. The
court held that “[w]here the existence of a prior conviction enhances the penalty for a
subsequent offense, but does not elevate the degree thereof, the prior conviction is not
an essential element of the subsequent offense and need not be * * * proved as a matter
of fact.” Id. at syllabus.
{¶30} At the time Allen was decided, however, R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) did not exist.
State v. Miller, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2011-02-013, 2012-Ohio-997, ¶13. A prior
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conviction merely enhanced the penalty under the relevant penalty statute (former R.C.
4511.99(A)(3)), making it only a sentencing consideration for the trial court. Id.
{¶31} The Ohio General Assembly enacted R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) effective
September 23, 2004. State v. Hoover, 123 Ohio St. 3d 418, 2009-Ohio-4993, ¶27. In
Hoover, the Supreme Court of Ohio upheld the constitutionality of R.C. 4511.19(A)(2). Id.
at ¶30. In doing so, the court expressly stated that “[t]here are three elements of a charge
brought pursuant to R.C. 4511.19(A)(2):” (1) an OVI conviction within 20 years of the
current violation, (2) operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or
drugs, and (3) a refusal to submit to a chemical test while under arrest for the current OVI.
Id. at ¶13. The court further stated that “[a] person’s refusal to take a chemical test is
simply an additional element that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt along with
the person’s previous [OVI] conviction to distinguish the offense from a violation of R.C.
4511.19(A)(1)(a).” (Emphasis added.) Id. at ¶21.
{¶32} Relying on Hoover, several of our sister districts have concluded that a prior
OVI conviction in 20 years is an essential element of R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) that the state
must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Holland, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2011 CA
00104, 2012-Ohio-486, ¶18-21; Miller, supra, at ¶12; State v. Kraus, 2d Dist. Greene No.
2011-CA-35, 2013-Ohio-393, ¶3; Parma v. Benedict, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101480,
2015-Ohio-3340, ¶13; State v. Leasure, 4th Dist. Ross No. 15CA3484, 2015-Ohio-5327,
¶36; State v. Harris, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-160279, et al., 2017-Ohio-5594, ¶19.
{¶33} Based on the plain language of the statute and Hoover, we agree with our
sister districts and hold that Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction is an essential element of
R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) that the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Evid.R. 403(A)
{¶34} The second issue is whether evidence of Ms. Varner’s prior conviction is
inadmissible under Evid.R. 403(A) as creating a danger of unfair prejudice.
{¶35} Evid.R. 403(A) provides that “[a]lthough relevant, evidence is not admissible
if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, of
confusion of the issues, or of misleading the jury.”
{¶36} Ms. Varner argues that this court previously resolved this issue in Baird,
supra. In that case, a defendant with two prior OVI convictions was subsequently charged
with another OVI offense and a refusal offense under R.C. 4511.19(A)(2). Id. at ¶19-21.
Defense counsel offered to stipulate that Mr. Baird had one prior OVI conviction. Id. at
¶23. The state refused the offer, and both judgment entries of Mr. Baird’s prior OVI
convictions came into evidence. Id.
{¶37} Mr. Baird argued that the admission of this evidence violated Evid.R.
403(A). Id. He contended that the evidence that he had two prior OVI convictions was
not necessary for the state to prove its case, since he was willing to stipulate to one. Id.
He also contended that the evidence was prejudicial because it tended to show not merely
that he was a repeat offender but a habitual, chronic offender. Id. This court agreed,
relying on the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding in Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S. 172
(1997). See Baird at ¶26.
{¶38} In Old Chief, the defendant was charged with violating a federal statute
prohibiting the possession of a firearm by anyone who had a prior conviction of a crime
punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Id. at 174-75. The defendant
offered to stipulate to the fact of the prior conviction and sought to preclude the prosecutor
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from revealing to the jury the name and nature of the prior felony conviction. Id. at 175.
The defendant asserted that, in light of his offer to stipulate, evidence relating to the name
and nature of the previous felony conviction was inadmissible under Fed.R.Evid. 403
because of the danger of unfair prejudice. Id.
{¶39} The Assistant U.S. Attorney refused to join in a stipulation, and the district
court ruled that he did not have to stipulate. Id. at 177. Over objection, the government
introduced the order of judgment and commitment for the defendant’s prior conviction,
and the defendant was ultimately found guilty on all counts. Id.
{¶40} The U.S. Supreme Court held that the district court abused its discretion by
admitting the full record of a prior judgment when a stipulation was available. Id. at 191.
The court concluded that when the sole issue pertaining to a prior conviction is a
defendant’s legal status, i.e., whether a defendant is subject to prosecution and
conviction, then the government is required to accept a defendant’s stipulation regarding
the prior conviction to avoid undue prejudice. Baird at ¶26, citing Old Chief at 190-92.
The court emphasized that its holding represented a limited exception to the general
principle that “the prosecution is entitled to prove its case free from any defendant’s option
to stipulate the evidence away.” Old Chief at 189.
{¶41} Based on Old Chief, this court held in Baird that the admission into evidence
of Mr. Baird’s prior OVI convictions when he was willing to stipulate that he had a prior
conviction was unfairly prejudicial and gave the jury an improper basis for its verdict. Id.
at ¶27.3
3. The dissenting judge would have found the error harmless based on substantial other evidence to
support the guilty verdict. See Baird at ¶36 (Westcott Rice, J., dissenting).
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{¶42} Ms. Varner asserts that Baird requires the trial court to exclude all evidence
concerning her prior OVI conviction. This broad assertion is inconsistent with the limited
holding in Baird.
{¶43} Further, the present case is factually distinguishable from Baird. In Baird,
the state did not accept Mr. Baird’s offer to stipulate to a prior OVI conviction. Here, the
state accepted Ms. Varner’s offer to stipulate. Thus, Baird does not address, much less
answer, the issue presently before us, i.e., whether and to what extent a stipulation of a
prior OVI conviction is admissible. Instead, Old Chief supplies that answer.
{¶44} This court has recognized that Old Chief stands for the substantive
proposition that, in order to avoid undue prejudice, a court must accept a defendant's
stipulation on an element of a crime which simply goes to his or her legal status. State v.
Nadock, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2009-L-042, 2010-Ohio-1161, ¶30. However, Old Chief
neither states nor implies that the jury must remain ignorant of that prior conviction. Id.
Rather, where a defendant's legal status is a material element of a charged crime, “the
fact of the qualifying conviction is alone what matters under the statute.” Id., quoting Old
Chief at 190. As a result: “[t]he most the jury needs to know is that the conviction admitted
by the defendant falls within the class of crimes that Congress thought should bar a
convict from possessing a gun, and this point may be made readily in a defendant's
admission and underscored in the court's jury instruction.” Id., quoting Old Chief at 190-
91. Thus, the stipulation ensures that the jury would know only the fact of a prior felony
conviction, which is admissible under Evid.R. 403, not the facts underlying that conviction,
which are inadmissible under the rule. Id.
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{¶45} Further, Old Chief explicitly recognized that even where a defendant
stipulates to his legal status, the jury must nevertheless be made aware of the concession.
Id. at ¶31. While a defendant is entitled to stipulate to the fact of his legal status, the jury
must still find that fact to be established in order to convict the defendant in a later
proceeding where the fact is a necessary element of the charged crime. Id. A stipulation
concerning a prior conviction does not relieve the state of its burden of proving beyond a
reasonable doubt every element of the offense charged. State v. Cisternino, 11th Dist.
Lake No. 99-L-137, 2001 WL 314798, *7 (Mar. 30, 2001). A stipulation is simply another
type of evidential submission which the jury is required to consider in making its factual
findings. Id.
{¶46} This holding fully complies with Evid.R. 403(A). Old Chief bars evidence of
prior convictions offered solely to prove a defendant's status as a convicted criminal.
State v. Hatfield, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2006-A-0033, 2007-Ohio-7130, ¶144. Under
circumstances where a defendant's legal status must be proved, the probative value of a
defendant's admission and stipulation to a prior conviction has equivalent value to a fuller
record with less potential for prejudice, thereby justifying a limitation on prosecutorial
discretion. Id.
{¶47} Accordingly, in State v. Melton, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2009-L-078, 2010-Ohio-
1278, this court held that the trial court did not err in accepting and reading to the jury a
joint stipulation as to the defendant’s prior illegal drug trafficking conviction where it was
an essential element of the charge of having a weapon while under disability. Id. at ¶2.
We noted that the stipulation simply recited, verbatim, the statutory name of the offense
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and that the trial court gave a limiting instruction as to the jury’s use of the prior conviction
to balance any possible prejudicial use. Id. at ¶60.
{¶48} Based on the foregoing, the trial court abused its discretion by precluding
the state from introducing the stipulation regarding Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction. The
trial court may supplement the stipulation with an appropriate limiting instruction.
{¶49} The state’s first assignment of error has merit.
Jury Instruction
{¶50} In its second assignment of error, the state argues that the trial court erred
by stating it will not instruct the jury regarding Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction.
{¶51} An appellate court reviews a trial court's refusal to give a requested jury
instruction for abuse of discretion. State v. Adams, 144 Ohio St. 3d 429, 2015-Ohio-3954,
¶240.
{¶52} In charging the jury, the court must state to it all matters of law necessary
for the information of the jury in giving its verdict. R.C. 2945.11. Requested jury
instructions should ordinarily be given if they are correct statements of law, if they are
applicable to the facts in the case, and if reasonable minds might reach the conclusion
sought by the requested instruction. Adams at ¶240.
{¶53} Since Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction is an essential element of a refusal
offense under R.C. 4511.19(A)(2), the trial court must instruct the jury accordingly.
Otherwise, the instruction would constitute an incorrect statement of law.
{¶54} The state requested that the trial court utilize the standard instruction
contained in Ohio Jury Instructions, CR Section 711.19(A)(2) (Rev. Apr. 1, 2017). The
Ohio Jury Instructions are authoritative and are generally to be followed and applied by
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Ohio's courts. State v. Turner, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2015-L-116, 2016-Ohio-4733, ¶50.
Upon review, we find that the requested jury instruction contains a correct statement of
law and that reasonable minds might reach the conclusion sought by it.
{¶55} Accordingly, the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to instruct the
jury regarding Ms. Varner’s prior OVI conviction.
{¶56} The state’s second assignment of error has merit.
{¶57} Based on the foregoing, the judgment of the Portage County Municipal
Court, Ravenna Division, is reversed, and this matter is remanded for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, P.J.,
CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.,
concur.
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