City of Parma v. Manning

514 N.E.2d 749, 33 Ohio App. 3d 67, 1986 Ohio App. LEXIS 10205
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 2, 1986
Docket51109
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 514 N.E.2d 749 (City of Parma v. Manning) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City of Parma v. Manning, 514 N.E.2d 749, 33 Ohio App. 3d 67, 1986 Ohio App. LEXIS 10205 (Ohio Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

Nahra, P.J.

Robert Manning appeals his conviction, pursuant to a jury verdict, for trespassing.

The trespassing charge against appellant stemmed from an incident at Cuyahoga Community College (“CCC”), Western Campus, on the evening of June 8, 1985. The college was hosting a “Proud of Parma” gathering at its galleria, at which Par-ma Mayor John Petruska was honored. Appellant appeared and began distributing literature which was critical of Mayor Petruska.

Dorothy Rieman, a police officer for the college, testified she was advised of appellant’s activity by someone involved in the “Proud of Parma” event. According to Officer Rieman, she approached appellant and told him he could not pass out literature without permission. Appellant refused to stop distributing his leaflets, contending he had an absolute right to do so, despite Officer Rieman’s repeated advice that he was trespassing.

James Lynch, also a security officer at CCC, testified he was called to assist Officer Rieman. Officer Lynch informed appellant that appellant would have to go outside to pass out literature. Appellant then walked outside. Officer Lynch returned to the security office and conferred with his supervisor, William Kubasta, who apparently indicated to Officer Lynch that appellant was not permitted to pass out leaflets anywhere on the college grounds without having obtained a permit.

Kubasta, CCC’s Assistant Safety Director, testified he thereafter approached appellant in a CCC parking lot and, after identifying himself, told appellant he could not distribute literature anywhere on campus without a permit. When appellant refused to stop passing out his leaflets, the Parma police were summoned, and appellant was arrested for trespassing.

John J. McNulty, Dean of Student Development at CCC, also testified for the prosecution. According to McNulty, the college’s rules require application to the campus scheduler for a permit before a person may distribute literature. He further testified that such an application may be granted even if made one day before the day the applicant seeks permission, as distribution of literature is not considered an “event” for which college rules require five weeks’ notice.

The Scheduling Manager for CCC, Kathleen Moskin, testified that all applications to distribute literature come through the scheduling office, and that she received no calls prior to the “Proud of Parma” gathering concerning such a request. In her six years as a scheduler, Moskin did not know of any occasion that a request to distribute literature had been refused. She cor-, roborated McNulty’s testimony that requests could be accommodated with as little as one day’s'notice.

Appellant took the stand in his own defense. He testified that he *69 called the college the day before the “Proud of Parma” event to inquire about obtaining a permit to pass out literature, and was told by someone at the “activities office” that four to six weeks’ notice was required before a permit could be issued. Appellant further testified that on the evening he was arrested he was told by McNulty that a two-week waiting period from the time of application was required. 1 Appellant admitted that Kubasta told him he could not, pursuant to college regulations, distribute leaflets without a permit.

I

Appellant’s first assignment of error is that:

“The trial court erred in excluding defendant’s tape recording by failing to follow prescribed methods concerning admissibility of sound-recording evidence.”

Appellant argues the trial court erred in refusing to admit a sound tape recording he made of the events surrounding his arrest.

In seeking to introduce the tape, appellant’s counsel indicated to the trial court that the recording would show exactly who was present in the parking lot, as well as that appellant was quiet and conducted himself “properly” before his arrest. Further, counsel claimed, the tape would demonstrate that Officer Rieman did not ask appellant about a permit.

Evid. R. 403(B) gives a trial court discretion to exclude evidence, even though relevant, when the probative value of such evidence “is substantially outweighed by considerations of undue delay, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” Moreover, the court may exclude evidence of marginal probative value on collateral matters. State v. Shields (1984), 15 Ohio App. 3d 112, 114, 15 OBR 202, 204, 472 N.E. 2d 1110, 1113. Finally, when a trial court determines evidence should not be admitted, its ruling will not be reversed absent a clear and prejudicial abuse of discretion. O’Brien v. Angley (1980), 63 Ohio St. 2d 159, 17 O.O. 3d 98, 407 N.E. 2d 490.

Applying the above rules, we hold the trial court did not err in excluding the tape recording. Exactly who was present in the parking lot, and appellant’s demeanor before he was arrested, were clearly collateral matters on which the tape would have shed little light. Likewise, the precise point at which appellant was informed he needed a permit to distribute literature was at best of minor relevance, as appellant admitted he repeatedly refused to stop his activity even after the point at which he claims he was told a permit was required.

The assignment fails.

II

Appellant’s second assignment of error is that:

“The trial court erred in ruling that the Tri-C rules and regulations were constitutional on their face and in their application to appellant’s exercise of free speech and expression.”

In arguing that CCC’s regulations, on their face and as applied, deprived him of his rights under the First Amendment, appellant first asserts that the college requires a five-week waiting period before a permit to distribute literature will be granted, and that the waiting period unreasonably burdened appellant’s right of free expression. Appellant relies for this argument on College Procedure #60 030 010 3354: l-26-55(A)(l), which provides in part:

“(A) For the purpose of facilities use, non-college groups will pertain to, but not be limited to, non-profit groups, business and industry, community organizations, professional *70 associations, and other public agencies representing the people of the district in providing for educational, social, civic, and recreational activities.
“(1) Requests for use of college facilities by non-college groups shall be made in writing using the ‘Application/Agreement for Use of College Facilities.’ Applications for use of facilities shall be submitted to the college no later than five weeks prior to the event. In general, applications submitted by residents of Cuyahoga County shall have precedence over [applications of] residents of other counties.” (Emphasis added.)

Although a five-week waiting period to obtain a permit to distribute literature could, under many circumstances, constitute an unconstitutional infringement on First Amendment rights, the record strongly supports the conclusion that no such waiting period exists at CCC.

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Bluebook (online)
514 N.E.2d 749, 33 Ohio App. 3d 67, 1986 Ohio App. LEXIS 10205, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-of-parma-v-manning-ohioctapp-1986.