State v. Engle

917 N.E.2d 817, 183 Ohio App. 3d 488, 2009 Ohio 1944
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 17, 2009
DocketNo. 22455.
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 917 N.E.2d 817 (State v. Engle) 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
State v. Engle, 917 N.E.2d 817, 183 Ohio App. 3d 488, 2009 Ohio 1944 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009).

Opinion

Grady, Judge.

{¶ 1} Defendant, Raymond Engle, was indicted for the offenses of burglary, R.C. 2907.05(A)(5), and gross sexual imposition, R.C. 2911.12(A)(1). The charges arose from events that allegedly took place on March 24, 2007, when an unknown *489 man broke into C.M.’s apartment during the early morning hours and assaulted her. Defendant, who lived nearby, was taken into custody shortly after. C.M. identified defendant as the perpetrator in both a one-man show-up that night and from a photospread she was shown two days later.

{¶ 2} Counsel appointed to represent defendant moved to suppress C.M.’s identification of defendant. Defendant thereafter moved to represent himself. Following a hearing, the court granted defendant’s motion to represent himself. Defendant represented himself at the hearing on the motion to suppress, which the court denied. Defendant also represented himself at his trial.

{¶ 3} The jury returned verdicts finding defendant guilty of the charges on which he was indicted. The court imposed consecutive prison terms of eight years for burglary and eighteen months for gross sexual imposition. Defendant appeals.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

{¶ 4} “The trial court erred in failing to obtain a valid waiver of appellant’s right to counsel.”

{¶ 5} Crim.R. 44(C) provides:

{¶ 6} “Waiver of counsel shall be in open court and the advice and waiver shall be recorded as provided in Rule 22. In addition, in serious offense cases the waiver shall be in writing.”

{¶ 7} In State v. Dyer (1996), 117 Ohio App.3d 92, 95, 689 N.E.2d 1034, we wrote:

{¶ 8} “Courts are to indulge every reasonable presumption against the waiver of a fundamental constitutional right including the right to be represented by counsel. In re East (1995), 105 Ohio App.3d 221, 224, 663 N.E.2d 983, 985, quoting Brewer v. Williams (1977), 430 U.S. 387, 97 S.Ct. 1232, 51 L.Ed.2d 424; Garfield Hts. v. Brewer (1984), 17 Ohio App.3d 216, 217, 17 OBR 458, 459-460, 479 N.E.2d 309, 311-312. Therefore, a waiver may not be presumed from a silent record. East at 224, 663 N.E.2d at 985, citing Carnley v. Cochran (1962), 369 U.S. 506, 82 S.Ct. 884, 8 L.Ed.2d 70. Rather, the waiver must affirmatively appear in the record. Id., citing State v. Haag (1976), 49 Ohio App.2d 268, 3 O.O.3d 301, 360 N.E.2d 756, and Cleveland v. Whipkey (1972), 29 Ohio App.2d 79, 58 O.O.2d 86, 278 N.E.2d 374; Brewer, 17 Ohio App.3d at 217, 17 OBR at 459-460, 479 N.E.2d at 311-312. The state bears the burden of overcoming presumptions against a valid waiver.”

{¶ 9} In Von Moltke v. Gillies (1948), 332 U.S. 708, 723-724, 68 S.Ct. 316, 92 L.Ed. 309, the Supreme Court held:

*490 {¶ 10} “We have said: ‘The constitutional right of an accused to be represented by counsel invokes, of itself, the protection of a trial court, in which the accused— whose life or liberty is at stake — is without counsel. This protecting duty imposes the serious and weighty responsibility upon the trial judge of determining whether there is an intelligent and competent waiver by the accused.’ [Johnson v. Zerbst (1938), 304 U.S. 458, 465, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 82 L.Ed. 1461.] 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. The fact that an accused may tell him that he is informed of his right to counsel and desires to waive this right does not automatically end the judge’s responsibility. To be valid such waiver 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. A judge can make certain that an accused’s professed waiver of counsel is understandingly and wisely made only from a penetrating and comprehensive examination of all the circumstances under which such a plea is tendered.” (Citations omitted.)

{¶ 11} A hearing on defendant’s motion to represent himself was held on May 4, 2007. A video transcript of the hearing was filed. A typed copy of that record is attached to the state’s brief. App.R. 9(A). The court’s entire colloquy with defendant regarding his motion, beginning with the court’s comment, states:

{¶ 12} “The Court is cognizant of Faretta v. California [(1948), 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562] which allows for a defendant to represent himself if he knowingly and intelligently waives, on the record, his right to counsel. And the Court has an obligation to make a determination about whether Defendant is, in fact, able to represent himself.

{¶ 13} “Mr. Engle, you filed your motion to represent yourself pro se and not utilize the services of Mr. Goraleski. Have you discussed this with Mr. Goraleski?

{¶ 14} “THE DEFENDANT: Yes, I have.

{¶ 15} “THE COURT: And Mr. Goraleski is a senior lawyer in the Public Defender’s Office, a very experienced lawyer.

{¶ 16} “Knowing that, do you wish to proceed on your motion to represent yourself?

{¶ 17} “THE DEFENDANT: True.

{¶ 18} “THE COURT: Mr. Engle, how old are you?

*491 {¶ 19} “THE DEFENDANT: I’ll be 53 this year, sir. .

{¶ 20} “THE COURT: How much schooling have you had?

{¶ 21} “THE DEFENDANT: I’ve got about five years of college right now. So I’ve got — I’ve probably got 235 credit hours.

{¶ 22} “THE COURT: Okay.

{¶ 23} “THE DEFENDANT: Yeah.

{¶ 24} “THE COURT: And have you ever represented yourself in any other proceeding other than this—

{¶ 25} “THE DEFENDANT: Yes, I have.

{¶ 26} “THE COURT: And what is that? When did you do that? What kind of case?

{¶ 27} “THE DEFENDANT: It was, I’m going to say in December of ’93.

{¶ 28} “THE COURT: Here in Montgomery County?

{¶ 29} “THE DEFENDANT: Greene County.

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Bluebook (online)
917 N.E.2d 817, 183 Ohio App. 3d 488, 2009 Ohio 1944, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-engle-ohioctapp-2009.