State v. Cisler

2016 Ohio 5016
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided July 12, 2016·No. 15CA43·Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT WASHINGTON COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO, :

: Case No. 15CA43

Plaintiff-Appellee, :

:

vs. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT : ENTRY

BRANDON RAY CISLER, :

:

Defendants-Appellant. : Released: 07/12/16

APPEARANCES:

William B. Summers, Parkersburg, West Virginia, for Appellant.

Paul G. Bertram, III, Marietta City Law Director, and Catherine Ingram Reynolds, Marietta City Assistant Law Director, Marietta, Ohio, for Appellee.

McFarland, J.

{¶1} Brandon Ray Cisler appeals the October 2, 2015 judgment of the Marietta Municipal Court convicting him of domestic violence, R.C. 2919.25(C), a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. On appeal, he asserts that: (1) the trial court erred by failing to advise him of his right to post bond; and (2) the trial court erred by failing to properly advise him of the effect of his plea upon his right to possess a firearm. Having reviewed the record, we find no merit to Appellant’s arguments. As such, we overrule the sole assignment of error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Washington App. No. 15CA43 2 FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

{¶2} A complaint was filed with the Marietta City Police Department by Cisler’s step-mother, alleging that on September 30, 2015, Appellant had threatened to “beat her ass.” On October 1, 2015, Appellant was arrested on a charge of domestic violence by threat of force, and taken to the Washington County Jail. On October 2, 2015, Appellant was arraigned by video, pled no contest, and sentenced.1

{¶3} This appeal followed. Additional relevant facts are set forth below.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

“I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO ADVISE THE APPELLANT OF HIS RIGHT TO POST BOND AND THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO PROPERLY ADVISE THE APPELLANT OF THE EFFECT OF HIS GUILTY PLEAS ON HIS RIGHT TO POSSESS A FIREARM.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

{¶4} Crim.R. 10(C) is mandatory and not merely a procedural guideline. It sets forth fundamental and constitutionally protected rights that must be observed by the court. Failure of the court to inform a defendant of the rights pursuant to the criminal rules constitutes “prejudicial error.” State v. Orr, 26 Ohio App.3d 24, 25, 498 N.E.2d 181 (1985)(Record did not reflect defendant was advised of her rights

pursuant to Crim.R. 5(A), 10(C) and 11(E)). State v. Groner, 7th Dist. Mahoning 1 Appellant’s sentence was 15 days of jail, with credit for one day served and the remainder suspended; $150.00 fine and costs; and one year of non-reporting probation. The terms of probation specified that Appellant was to have no contact with the victim and that Appellant could not own or possess firearms during the probationary year.

No. 96CA144, 1998 WL 15865, (Mar. 31, 1998). A violation of the criminal rule invites reversal. State v. Richter, 92 Ohio App.3d 395, 399, 635 N.E.2d 1295, (6th Dist.1993).

LEGAL ANALYSIS

{¶5} While Appellant’s arguments relate specifically to an alleged violation of Crim.R. 10(C), in essence, he challenges the knowing, voluntary, and intelligent nature of his plea based on alleged defective arraignment procedure. Crim.R. 11(E) details the conditions under which a court may accept a guilty or no contest plea in misdemeanor cases. State v. Newman, 4th Dist. Scioto Nos. 97CA2507, 97CA2525, 1998 WL 151386 (April 3, 1998), *3. The rule provides in pertinent part:

“In misdemeanor cases involving petty offenses the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or no contest, and shall not accept such plea without first informing the defendant of the effect of the pleas of guilty, no contest, and not guilty.

The rule requires that the record affirmatively demonstrate that a plea of no contest was entered voluntarily, intelligently, and knowingly. Newman, supra, citing State v. Joseph, 44 Ohio App.3d 212, 213, 542 N.E.2d 690, 691(1988). In order to comply with the rule, the trial court must engage the defendant in a “meaningful dialogue.” Id.; State v. Luhrs, 69 Ohio App.3d 731, 591 N.E.2d 1251 (1990) (lack of dialogue of any kind between trial court and defendant personally at time of no contest plea accepted required reversal.) The failure to substantially comply with

Crim.R. 11 constitutes reversible error. See, e.g., State v. Mascaro, 81 Ohio App.3d 214, 610 N.E.2d 1031 (9th Dist. 1991); Eastlake v. DeNiro, 21 Ohio App.3d 102, 487 N.E.2d 324 (11th Dist. 1984); State v. Hays, 2 Ohio App.3d 376, 442 N.E.2d 127 (1st Dist. 1982).

{¶6} By way of an affidavit attached to his brief, Appellant advises he watched an arraignment video while he was jailed with five other people. The affidavit further informs that he was unable to make a phone call from the jail to call a lawyer or his father, and he was very confused about his rights. Appellant argues the trial court failed to fully inform Appellant of his Crim.R. 10(C) rights, and at no time did the Court inform Appellant that he had a right to post bond and to be released the same day. Appellant further asserts it is clear that he was mostly concerned with being able to return to work on the following Monday. Appellant argues that the law requires the trial judge to conduct an individualized inquiry to determine if the defendant actually understood his rights before accepting a plea, and that the transcript shows there was no meaningful dialogue between the court and him. Appellant concludes he had little option other than to plead or lose his job. The State concedes that the trial court did not give an explicit “word for word” explanation of the right to bail, but argues there was no showing of a prejudicial effect.

{¶7} We first observe this Court cannot consider Appellant’s affidavit attached to his brief, as it is evidence that was not made part of the record below and has not been made part of the record on appeal. App.R. 9 and App.R. 12(A)(1)(b). See Didonato v. Didonato, 9th Dist. Medina No. 2645-M, 1998 WL 18698, (Feb.11, 1998), Fn.2. We therefore turn our attention to the arraignment procedures outlined in Crim.R. 10.

{¶8} Pursuant to Crim.R. 10(D) a trial court may conduct joint arraignments of multiple defendants by providing a general announcement of their rights as prescribed. State v. Bowers, 3rd Dist. Union No. 14-11-12, 2012-Ohio-1585, ¶ 10. Joint arraignments are commonly employed by municipal courts. Katz, Martin, Lipton & Crocker, Baldwin's Ohio Practice Criminal Law 42:6 (2011). Through joint arraignments, trial courts inform defendants both of their constitutional rights as well as the effect of the pleas of no contest, guilty, and not guilty. State v. Jones, 116 Ohio St.3d 211, 2007–Ohio–6093, Fn.3. However, the mere playing of an audio CD does not satisfy the requirement in Crim.R. 10(C) prescribing a determination by the trial court that the defendant actually understood his rights. Gearig, 6th Dist. Williams No. WM-09-012, 2010-Ohio-939, ¶ 14. This provision requires an individualized inquiry. See State v. Donkers, 170 Ohio App.3d 509, 2007-Ohio-1557, 867 N.E.2d 903 (11th Dist.) A “one-sided rights colloquy to all defendants does not provide the discourse required by the rules concerning initial

appearances to ensure comprehension of the rights.” State v. Bayer, 102 Ohio App.3d 172, 180, 656 N.E.2d 1314 (11th Dist.1995)( discourse between court and defendant did not disclose defendant read pamphlet provided by court regarding procedures, that he understood it if he did read it, or if he was literate.)

{¶9} Crim.R. 10 provides in pertinent part:

(C) Explanation of Rights. When a defendant not represented by counsel is brought before a court and called upon to plead, the judge or magistrate shall cause the defendant to be informed and shall determine that the defendant understands all of the following:

(1) The defendant has a right to retain counsel even if the defendant intends to plead guilty, and has a right to a reasonable continuance in the proceedings to secure counsel.

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