State v. Dingman

2024 Ohio 3327

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: August 30, 2024
• Docket: 2024-CA-14
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Dingman, 2024-Ohio-3327.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT GREENE COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO : : Appellee : C.A. No. 2024-CA-14 : v. : Trial Court Case No. 23 CRB 01370 : ERIC SHAWN DINGMAN : (Criminal Appeal from Municipal Court) : Appellant : :

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OPINION

Rendered on August 30, 2024

THOMAS W. KIDD, JR., Attorney for Appellant

DANIELLE E. SOLLARS, Attorney for Appellee

.............

LEWIS, J.

{¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant Eric Shawn Dingman appeals from a judgment of the

Xenia Municipal Court convicting him of theft. The court sentenced him to 180 days in

jail, placed him on probation for two years, and ordered him to pay restitution, a fine, and

court costs. For the following reasons, we will modify the judgment to remove his jail -2-

sentence and probation, and the judgment will be affirmed as modified.

I. Facts and Course of Proceedings

{¶ 2} On October 26, 2023, Dingman was charged with one count of theft, a first-

degree misdemeanor in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A). He was appointed trial counsel

through the Greene County Public Defender’s Office. On November 14, 2023,

Dingman’s trial counsel filed a notice of appearance, a motion for discovery, and a waiver

of Dingman’s right to a speedy trial. On that same day, the trial court scheduled a pretrial

hearing for January 12, 2024.

{¶ 3} At the pretrial hearing, Dingman’s trial counsel informed the court that

Dingman no longer wanted her to represent him. The trial court allowed counsel to

withdraw from representing Dingman.

{¶ 4} On January 16, 2024, the trial court issued an order setting February 14,

2024, as the trial date. On February 6, 2024, Dingman sent an email to the court with

the subject line of “Requesting to Postpone Trial hearing date.” The body of the email

stated, in pertinent part: “I am Pro Se and i need some time to prepare for court.

February 14 is too soon and i will not be ready. I am indigent and have to get some

things together if we can please postpone it so i can be prepared it would be greatly

appreciated. I have already waived speedy and thank you in advance for the

consideration.” The trial court denied the request for a continuance, noting that the case

had been pending since November 2023.

{¶ 5} On February 7, 2024, Dingman sent another email to the trial court, stating -3-

in pertinent part:

Your Honor, I, as the attorney representing myself (pro se), must

bring to the court’s attention a matter of grave concern regarding the failure

of both the prosecution and law enforcement to secure a pivotal video

evidence that could exonerate me.

Tim Hortons captured the alleged theft on video record and the police

were made aware that there was a video of the incident and the video was

never retrieved. I am requesting the matter be handled appropriately so as

to not violate my constitutional rights and preserve the integrity of our justice

system. Ascertaining respect for the law.

{¶ 6} The bench trial proceeded on February 14, 2024. Prior to receiving any

testimony, the trial court allowed Dingman to explain what he was requesting in his

February 7, 2024 email to the court. The State then explained that it did not have

possession of any video recording from Tim Hortons.

{¶ 7} Joshua Carl testified first at the trial. Trial Tr. 6-25. On October 5, 2023,

he was a manager of a Tim Hortons restaurant in Xenia, Ohio. He rode his bicycle to

and from work. Carl had painted his bicycle very distinctive colors. He knew Dingman,

and they had previously hung out together. Dingman stopped at Tim Hortons on October

5, 2023, and Carl gave him a sandwich and a drink. A little later that day, during a break

at work, Carl noticed that his bicycle was gone. He suspected that Dingman had taken

the bicycle, because no other customer had come into the restaurant since Dingman left.

Carl sent a message to Dingman through Facebook Messenger asking if he had taken -4-

Carl’s bicycle. According to Carl, Dingman responded that “he had it because he wanted

to verify that it wasn’t his friend Jessica’s bike and I was not getting my bike until he had

verified that it wasn’t his friend Jessica’s.” Id. at 14. Carl read some of the messages

between him and Dingman into the record at trial. Dingman told Carl that he would get

his bicycle back when Dingman received confirmation that it was Carl’s bicycle. When

Dingman refused to return the bicycle, Carl called the police and filed a police report.

{¶ 8} On cross-examination, Carl testified that he had never seen a video recording

of the events that occurred at Tim Hortons on October 5, 2023, because he did not have

the passcode to view any of the video recordings at that location; only the general

manager did. Carl testified that he had told the police there was a video, but the general

manager never retrieved the video. Carl stated that he and Dingman were friends. Carl

estimated the value of his bicycle at $150 or $175.

{¶ 9} Xenia Police Officer Jordan Robinson testified next at the trial. Id. at 25-31.

Around 6:19 p.m. on October 5, 2023, he was dispatched to a Tim Hortons restaurant in

Xenia to investigate a bicycle theft. Carl explained to him what had happened with his

bicycle. According to Officer Robinson, Carl stated that there was a video recording

system at Tim Hortons, but when Officer Robinson contacted the general manager, the

store did not have a copy of the video for him. Carl also showed Officer Robinson the

Facebook Messenger conversation between Carl and Dingman.

{¶ 10} Dingman testified last at trial. Id. at 31-38. He explained that he had

stopped by Tim Hortons on October 5, 2023, to get something to eat. Carl asked how

he was doing, and Dingman told him that he had just gotten out of prison and was -5-

homeless. Carl gave Dingman a meal and did not charge him for it. When he left the

restaurant, Dingman saw “Ernie,” a friend of Dingman’s father. According to Dingman,

Ernie took Carl’s bicycle. Ernie told Dingman that the bicycle belonged to a woman

named Jessica. Dingman later told Carl that he would get the bicycle back from Ernie if

Carl could convince him that the bicycle did not belong to Jessica.

{¶ 11} The trial court found Dingman guilty of one count of theft in violation of R.C.

2913.02(A), a first-degree misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced Dingman to 180 days

in jail but suspended 150 days of the sentence contingent on Dingman’s successful

completion of two years of probation. The court also ordered Dingman to pay a $250

fine, $150 in restitution to the victim, and court costs. Dingman filed a motion for a new

trial, which the trial court denied. Dingman filed a timely notice of appeal from his

judgment of conviction.

II. Dingman Did Not Make A Knowing, Intelligent, and Voluntary Waiver of His

Constitutional Right to Counsel

{¶ 12} Dingman’s first assignment of error states:

THE APPELLANT’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL,

WHICH IS GUARANTEED BY THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH

AMENDMENTS, WAS VIOLATED WHEN THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO

ENSURE THE APPELLANT KNOWINGLY, INTELLIGENTLY AND

VOLUNTARILY WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL.

{¶ 13} Dingman argues that the record does not establish that he knowingly, -6-

intelligently, and voluntarily waived his right to counsel in open court. Therefore,

Dingman contends that the trial court was precluded from sentencing him to a period of

confinement. The State responds that, “[w]hile it is undisputed that the record contains

no written waiver of counsel, a review of the totality of the record shows that Appellant

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his right to counsel and desired to

represent himself in this matter.” Appellee’s Brief, p. 4. We disagree.

{¶ 14} “We conduct a de novo review to determine, based on the totality of the

circumstances, whether a defendant voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waived his

right to counsel.” State v. Simkins, 2019-Ohio-4369, ¶ 15 (2d Dist.), citing State v.

Perdue, 2010-Ohio-565, ¶ 33 (2d Dist.). Pursuant to the Sixth and Fourteenth

Amendments to the United States Constitution and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio

Constitution, a criminal defendant has the right to assistance of counsel for his defense.

Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 344-345 (1963); State v. Martin, 2004-Ohio-5471,

¶ 22. The right to counsel applies in misdemeanor cases, including cases involving petty

offenses, that result in imprisonment. Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. 25, 37-40 (1972);

Perdue at ¶ 33. “This principle has been expanded to cases involving a suspended

sentence, capable of subsequent revocation, resulting in incarceration.” State v. Davis,

2009-Ohio-4786, ¶ 32 (2d Dist.), citing Alabama v. Shelton, 535 U.S. 654 (2002).

{¶ 15} Criminal defendants also have a corresponding right to self-representation.

Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 819 (1975); Martin at ¶ 23. “Accordingly, defendants

may defend themselves without the benefit of counsel when they knowingly, intelligently,

and voluntarily elect to do so.” State v. Conard, 2024-Ohio-1906, ¶ 12 (2d Dist.), citing -7-

State v. Wilson, 2020-Ohio-2962, ¶ 41 (2d Dist.).

{¶ 16} Crim.R. 2(D) defines a “petty offense” as “a misdemeanor other than a

serious offense.” Under Crim.R. 2(C), a “serious offense” is “any felony, and any

misdemeanor for which the penalty prescribed by law includes confinement for more than

six months.” Where, as here, a defendant is charged with a “petty offense,” Crim.R.

44(B) governs the appointment of counsel. Crim.R. 44(B) provides, in pertinent part:

Where a defendant charged with a petty offense is unable to obtain

counsel, the court may assign counsel to represent the defendant. When

a defendant charged with a petty offense is unable to obtain counsel, no

sentence of confinement may be imposed upon the defendant, unless after

being fully advised by the court, the defendant knowingly, intelligently, and

voluntarily waives assignment of counsel.

Further, “[w]aiver of counsel shall be in open court and the advice and waiver shall be

recorded as provided in Rule 22.” Crim.R. 44(C).

{¶ 17} “Courts are to indulge every reasonable presumption against the waiver of

a fundamental constitutional right including the right to be represented by counsel.”

(Citations omitted.) State v. Dyer, 117 Ohio App.3d 92, 95 (2d Dist. 1996). The waiver

must affirmatively appear in the record, and the State bears the burden of overcoming

presumptions against a valid waiver. Id.

{¶ 18} “In order to establish an effective waiver of right to counsel, the trial court

must make sufficient inquiry to determine whether defendant fully understands and

intelligently relinquishes that right.” State v. Gibson, 45 Ohio St.2d 366 (1976), -8-

paragraph two of the syllabus. “To discharge this duty properly in light of the strong

presumption against waiver of the constitutional right to counsel, a judge must investigate

as long and as thoroughly as the circumstances of the case before him demand.” Von

Moltke v. Gillies, 332 U.S. 708, 723-724 (1948). To be valid, a waiver of counsel “ ‘must

be made with an apprehension of the nature of the charges, the statutory offenses

included within them, the range of allowable punishments thereunder, possible defenses

to the charges and circumstances in mitigation thereof, and all other facts essential to a

broad understanding of the whole matter.’ ” Gibson at 377, quoting Gillies at 723.

{¶ 19} There was no discussion at the bench trial regarding Dingman’s waiver of

his right to counsel. At the pretrial hearing, however, the following discussion occurred

on the record:

MS. LENNON: - - Dingman indicated he - - I don’t think he wants me

representing him any longer.

THE DEFENDANT: Your Honor, I’d like to represent myself.

THE COURT: Why do you want to do that?

THE DEFENDANT: Because Ms. Lennon has not even reviewed any of

the facts of the case. There’s a video that’s - - that’s - - was taken at Tim

Hortons that shows me clearly not taking the bicycle that’s in question, and

she says that there is a video of me taking the bicycle and that’s just not

true. I was there. So I don’t believe she has my best interest at heart and

I know I do so I - -

THE COURT: Okay. -9-

THE DEFENDANT: - - I think I’d be better off representing myself. I’ve

represented myself in this court before - -

...

THE COURT: So sir, just let me explain a couple of things to you. You

can still make the decision that you want to make but let me kind of explain,

you know, kind of - - so you have a better understanding of how the process

works.

THE DEFENDANT: I understand pro se, sir.

THE COURT: So you think you’re able to represent yourself. You also

think you’re able to read my mind. Is that what you’re telling me?

Because that’s not at all what I was going to talk to you about. Okay?

THE DEFENDANT: Go ahead, your Honor.

THE COURT: So - - all right. You’ll represent yourself. I - - I was going to

try to explain to you the pitfalls of it and Ms. Lennon - - there’s a time and

place for her to review those types of things and that’s in preparation for

trial. She can’t review what she doesn’t have. But you’re not going to sit

in my courtroom and tell me that I can go ahead. So go on, take him out.

Pretrial Hearing Tr. (Jan.12, 2024), p. 2-4.

{¶ 20} Upon review of the record, the totality of the circumstances reflects that

Dingman did not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his right to counsel prior to

trial. The trial court failed to explain the nature of the charges, the statutory offenses

included within them, the range of allowable punishments, possible defenses to the -10-

charges and circumstances in mitigation thereof, and all other facts essential to a broad

understanding of the whole matter. The transcript from the pretrial hearing reflects

frustration on the part of the trial court when Dingman interrupted the court twice at the

moment when it appeared the trial court was going to explain the potential pitfalls in

proceeding without an attorney. While such frustration may have been understandable,

it did not alleviate the trial court’s duty to conduct a thorough colloquy with Dingman before

allowing him to waive his right to counsel.

{¶ 21} The question becomes the appropriate remedy for Dingman’s uncounseled

conviction on a petty offense. We have previously held that the remedy in such a case

is to vacate the term of incarceration, including any suspended sentence. Conard, 2024-

Ohio-1906, at ¶ 23 (2d Dist.) (citing other cases). “We have explained that, while the

failure to obtain a valid waiver of counsel as required by Crim.R. 44(B) affects the trial

court’s ability to impose a sentence of confinement, it does not affect the validity of a

defendant’s pleas or its findings on those pleas.” Id., citing State v. Lanton, 2003-Ohio-

4715, ¶ 23 (2d Dist.). Rather, the conviction remains valid. Id.

{¶ 22} As we noted in Conard, “several appellate districts have concluded, based

on State v. Bode, 144 Ohio St.3d 155, 2015-Ohio-1519, 41 N.E.3d 1156, that this

approach is no longer correct.” Id. at ¶ 24. “They hold that the conviction itself is

defective and must be reversed.” Id., citing Euclid v. Hedge, 2022-Ohio-464, ¶ 27 (8th

Dist.), State v. Ott, 2017-Ohio-521, ¶ 8 (9th Dist.), and State v. Wamsley, 2016-Ohio-2885

(5th Dist.). In Conard, we declined to reconsider our position and affirmed Conard’s

conviction but modified his sentence to remove his jail term. Id. at ¶ 26. We will do the -11-

same here.

{¶ 23} The first assignment of error is sustained. The trial court’s sentence of 180

days in jail and all of the conditions upon which 150 days of that sentence were

suspended must be vacated. Accordingly, Dingman’s sentence will be modified to reflect

only the other portions of his sentence, i.e., the fine, restitution, and court costs.

III. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion by Denying Dingman’s Request

for a Continuance

{¶ 24} Dingman’s second assignment of error states:

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING DINGMAN’S MOTION

TO DISMISS [SIC].

{¶ 25} “[T]he grant or denial of a continuance is a matter entrusted to the broad,

sound discretion of the trial judge, and an appellate court may not reverse the denial of

the continuance unless there has been an abuse of discretion.” State v. Miller, 2005-

Ohio-4203, ¶ 45 (2d Dist.), citing State v. Unger, 67 Ohio St.2d 65, 67 (1981). “ ‘Abuse

of discretion’ has been defined as an attitude that is unreasonable, arbitrary or

unconscionable.” AAAA Ents., Inc. v. River Place Community Urban Redevelopment

Corp., 50 Ohio St.3d 157, 161 (1990), citing Huffman v. Hair Surgeon, Inc., 19 Ohio St.3d

83, 87 (1985).

{¶ 26} “ ‘There are no mechanical tests for deciding when a denial of a

continuance is so arbitrary as to violate due process. The answer must be found in the

circumstances present in every case, particularly in the reasons presented to the trial -12-

judge at the time the request is denied.’ ” Unger at 67, quoting Ungar v. Sarafite, 376

U.S. 575, 589 (1964). In evaluating a motion for a continuance, the trial court should

consider (1) the length of the requested delay, (2) whether other continuances have been

requested and granted, (3) the inconvenience to the litigants, witnesses, opposing

counsel, and the court, (4) whether the requested delay is for legitimate reasons or

whether it is dilatory, purposeful, or contrived, (5) whether the defendant contributed to

the circumstance that gives rise to the request for a continuance, and (6) other relevant

factors, depending on the unique facts of each case. Id. at 67-68.

{¶ 27} At the time Dingman requested a continuance of the trial, his case had been

pending for over three months. He did not state in his request how much of a delay he

was requesting. Further, he did not state precisely what he needed the extra time to

accomplish. Rather, he simply stated that he needed “some time to prepare for court.”

But he had had months to prepare for court, including several weeks since he had decided

to proceed pro se and broke ties with his court-appointed attorney. Presumably,

Dingman wanted extra time to obtain a copy of a video recording he believed would

exculpate him, given that he raised this issue at the pretrial hearing and in a February 7,

2024 email to the trial court. But there was no evidence that a video recording actually

existed that captured the events of October 5, 2023, at the Tim Hortons in Xenia, let alone

that such a video recording would exculpate him. Finally, the facts of the case were

relatively straightforward.

{¶ 28} Upon the record before us, we cannot conclude that the trial court abused

its discretion in denying Dingman’s request for a continuance of the trial. The second -13-

assignment of error is overruled.

IV. Conclusion

{¶ 29} Having sustained the first assignment of error, we will modify the trial court’s

judgment to remove the jail sentence, including the suspended portion of that jail

sentence, and the two years of probation. The judgment will be affirmed as modified.

EPLEY, P.J. and HUFFMAN, J., concur.