State v. Ellis-Byrom

2020 Ohio 6693

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: December 14, 2020
• Docket: 2020CA00112
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Ellis-Byrom, 2020-Ohio-6693.]

COURT OF APPEALS STARK COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO JUDGES: Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee Hon. John W. Wise, J. Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. -vs- Case No. 2020CA00112 D’MARKUS ELLIS-BYROM

Defendant-Appellant O P I N IO N

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Appeal from the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2019-CR-0930

JUDGMENT: Dismissed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: December 14, 2020

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

JOHN D. FERRERO AZUREL BEY Prosecuting Attorney 1916 – 7th Street, N.W. Stark County, Ohio Canton, Ohio 44708

KATHLEEN O. TATARSKY Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Appellate Section 110 Central Plaza, South, Ste. #510 Canton, Ohio 44702-1413 Stark County, Case No. 2020CA00112 2

Hoffman, P.J. {¶1} Defendant-appellant D’Markus Daechaun Ellis-Byrom aka Emmanuela

Omega El Bey appeals his convictions and sentence entered by the Stark County Court

of Common Pleas, on one count of having weapons while under disability and one count

of carrying a concealed weapon, following Appellant’s guilty plea. Plaintiff-appellee is

the state of Ohio.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

{¶2} On May 3, 2019, a Canton Police Officer and the Crisis Intervention Team

were dispatched to the McKinley Monument in response to reports of an individual who

was shouting and causing a disturbance. When the officers arrived, they made contact

with the individual, who was subsequently identified as Appellant. Police located a

loaded, operable firearm in Appellant’s pocket

{¶3} On May 31, 2019, the Stark County Grand Jury indicted Appellant on one

count of having weapons while under disability, a violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2), a

felony of the third degree; and one count of carrying a concealed weapon, in violation

of R.C. 2923.12(A)(2), a felony of the fourth degree. Appellant entered a plea of not

guilty to the Indictment at his arraignment on June 7, 2019. The trial court scheduled

a pretrial hearing for June 17, 2019.

{¶4} Appellant appeared before the trial court on June 17, 2019, withdrew his

former plea of not guilty, and entered a plea of guilty to the charges. Appellant executed

a Crim. R. 11 form. Following a Crim. R. 11 colloquy with Appellant, the trial court found

Appellant understood the nature of the charges against him and the potential penalties,

was adequately represented by counsel, and freely and voluntarily entered the guilty. Stark County, Case No. 2020CA00112 3

{¶5} The trial court accepted his plea and found him guilty of both charges. The

trial court ordered a presentence investigation and made a referral to SRCCC (Stark

Regional Community Correction Center) and the H.O.P.E. program (Helping Offenders

Psychologically and Emotionally). At the end of the hearing, Appellant advised the trail

court he was a Moorish American National and “commanded” the trial court to set him

free “immediately”. Transcript of June 17, 2019 Plea Hearing at 16.

{¶6} After Appellant failed to appear for his presentence investigation hearing,

the trial court issued a capias for his arrest on July 22, 2019. Appellant was arrested

on June 25, 2020. The trial court conducted a sentencing hearing on July 14, 2020,

and imposed an aggregate prison term of eighteen months. The trial court advised

Appellant it would consider judicial release after Appellant served 90 days.

{¶7} It is from his convictions and sentence Appellant appeals, raising the

following as error:

A. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY CONVICTING THE APPELLANT

OF CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS AND CARRYING WEAPONS

UNDER DISABILITY AS IT WAS AN INFRINGEMENT OF MULTIPLE

UNHAMPERED, CONSTITUTIONALLY SECURED PROTECTIONS.

a. AMENDMENT IV OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REPUBLIC, ARTICLE I §XIV OF THE

OHIO CONSTITUTION

b. AMENDMENT V OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE Stark County, Case No. 2020CA00112 4

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REPUBLIC, ARTICLE I § XVI OF THE

c. ARTICLE VI OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA REPUBLIC

i. THE TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP

A. NATIONALITY

B. THE PLEA BARGAIN CONTRACT BETWEEN THE APPELLANT

AND THE STATE OF OHIO IS VOID.

a. DURESS

b. LACK OF CONSIDERATION

C. THE SENTENCE GIVEN TO THE APPELLANT IS CONTRARY

TO LAW.

{¶8} Before resolving the merits of this appeal, we must address the preliminary

issue of whether this appeal was properly filed on Appellant’s behalf. Stark County, Case No. 2020CA00112 5

{¶9} R.C. 4705.01 provides, in pertinent part:

No person shall be permitted to practice as an attorney and counselor

at law, or to commence, conduct, or defend any action or proceeding in

which the person is not a party concerned, either by using or subscribing

the person's own name, or the name of another person, unless the person

has been admitted to the bar by order of the supreme court in compliance

with its prescribed and published rules * * *

{¶10} Although Appellant has the right to represent himself, he does not have

the right to have a non-attorney advise him or file anything on his behalf. Only a licensed

attorney may file pleadings on behalf of another in court. R.C. 4705.01; State ex rel.

Army of Twelve Monkeys v. Warren Cty. Ct. of Common Pleas, 156 Ohio St.3d 346,

2019-Ohio-901, 126 N.E.3d 1113, ¶ 5 (Citation omitted).

{¶11} When a non-attorney files a notice of appeal and attempts to prosecute the

appeal in court as counsel on behalf of another, such constitutes the unauthorized

practice of law for which the pleadings filed should be stricken and the proceeding thus

attempted dismissed. Bank of New York v. Miller, 185 Ohio App.3d 163, 2009-Ohio-

6117, 923 N.E.2d 651, ¶ 13 (5th Dist.)

{¶12} The Notice of Appeal filed on Appellant’s behalf was signed by Azurel Bey.

Appellant’s Brief to this Court was also signed by Azurel Bey as “Authorized

Representative.” However, Azurel Bey is not a licensed attorney; therefore, may not Stark County, Case No. 2020CA00112 6

represent Appellant in this matter.

{¶13} Because Azurel Bey’s actions on behalf of Appellant constitute the

unauthorized practice of law, we dismiss this appeal.

{¶14} The Appeal is dismissed.

By: Hoffman, P.J. Wise, John, J. and Baldwin, J. concur