State v. Haas

2021 Ohio 4346
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in State v. Haas. Read the opinion of the Court — 2021 Ohio 2864
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided December 10, 2021·No. F-20-011·Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Haas, 2021-Ohio-4346.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT FULTON COUNTY

State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. F-20-011

Appellee Trial Court No. 20CR000009

v.

Shannon L. Haas DECISION AND JUDGMENT

Appellant Decided: December 10, 2021

*****

Scott A. Haselman, Fulton County Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

Karin L. Coble, for appellant.

DUHART, J.

{¶ 1} This is an appeal filed by appellant, Shannon Haas, from the August 12,

2020 judgment of the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas, denying her motion to

suppress. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the trial court’s judgment. {¶ 2} Haas sets forth one assignment of error:

[Haas]’s statements made to both her supervisor and a sheriff’s

deputy were compelled in violation of the Fifth Amendment, pursuant to

Garrity v. New Jersey.

Background

{¶ 3} At all times relevant, Haas was a social worker at Fulton County Job and

Family Services (“FCJFS”), employed as an ongoing worker responsible for Fulton

County Children’s Services (“FCCC”) cases.

{¶ 4} On February 12, 2018, Haas signed a form entitled Confidentiality

Agreement (“Agreement”). By signing the Agreement, Haas acknowledged that she read

and understood FCJFS’s procedure for confidentiality. The Agreement provided, inter

alia, “[y]ou may not operate or permit operation of ODJFS [Ohio Department of Job and

Family Services] or State Data Center equipment for personal business * * * [and] * * *

[y]ou must report violation of confidentiality to their [sic] immediate leader.”

{¶ 5} On May 7, 2019, Haas signed a form entitled Ohio Department of Job and

Family Services Code of Responsibility (“Code”), representing that she had “read,

underst[ood] and will comply with this ODJFS Code.” The Code provided, inter alia:

Security and confidentiality are a matter of concern for all users of the * * *

(ODJFS) information systems and all other persons who have access to

ODJFS confidential data. Each person that is entrusted with an authorized

2. ID to access ODJFS systems, holds a position of trust relative to this

information and must recognize the responsibilities entrusted to him/her in

preserving the security and confidentiality of this information. * * *

An authorized user’s conduct either on or off [of] the job may threaten the

security and confidentiality of this information. It is the responsibility of

every user to know, understand and comply with the following:

***

2. I will not make or permit unauthorized uses of any information

maintained by ODJFS, regardless of the medium in which it is kept.

3. I will only access information about recipients of ODJFS benefits or

services, or about ODJFS employees, that is collected and maintained on

ODJFS or state computer systems for those purposes authorized by ODJFS,

and as directly related to my official job duties and work assignments for,

and on behalf of, ODJFS * * *.

8. I will not violate rules and/or regulations concerning access and/or

improperly use security entry cards or codes for controlled areas.

10. I will immediately report any violation of this code of responsibility to

my supervisor and/or the OIS Access Control Unit.

3. ***

In addition to applicable sanctions under federal and state regulations,

violations of this policy will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and

may result in disciplinary action up to and including removal.

{¶ 6} In December 2019, Amy Metz-Simon, the Director of FCJFS, was contacted

by the Director of Lucas County Children’s Services (“LCCS”). Simon was advised

Haas may have used the Job and Family Services computer system to access an allegation

in an open case made against Haas and her family. Simon called Maurine Clymer,

Haas’s supervisor, and told Clymer to bring Haas to the conference room at FCCC for a

meeting.

{¶ 7} Simon met with Haas and Clymer. Simon asked Haas if she had accessed

her own children’s services case through the State Automated Child Welfare Information

System (“SACWIS” or “state system”). Haas denied doing so. Simon informed Haas

that, according to Lucas County, Haas accessed the state system eight times. Haas then

admitted she might have accessed the state system once.

{¶ 8} Clymer had not known Haas had an open investigation or that Haas had

accessed the system. Clymer asked why Haas had not made her aware that there was an

open investigation, and Haas responded she was afraid she would be fired and she knew

the allegation was not true.

4. {¶ 9} Simon stated she would follow up with administration in order to determine

how to proceed. Simon was told county breaches of the state system had to go through

local law enforcement, so ultimately, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office was notified.

{¶ 10} Deputy Matt Smithmyer of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office called Haas

at FCJFS, and explained to her that he was made aware of the situation where

information was accessed from the state system. He told Haas that he would like her to

come and talk to him. On January 6, 2020, Haas arrived at the sheriff’s office and

Deputy Smithmyer advised her she was not under arrest, she was free to leave and she

did not have to answer any questions. Haas was interviewed for twenty-five to thirty

minutes by the deputy.

{¶ 11} On January 14, 2020, Haas was indicted by the Fulton County Grand Jury

on two counts of unauthorized use of computer, cable, or telecommunication property in

violation of R.C. 2913.04(B), fifth degree felonies. Thereafter, she pled not guilty.

{¶ 12} On June 8, 2020, Haas filed a motion to suppress statements. On July 27,

2020, the state filed a response. A hearing on the motion was held on August 5, 2020,

and three witnesses were called to testify: Director Simon; Supervisor Clymer; and

Deputy Smithmyer. On August 12, 2020, the trial court denied the motion to suppress.

{¶ 13} On August 20, 2020, Haas pled no contest to one count of unauthorized use

of computer, cable, or telecommunication property in violation of R.C. 2913.04(B), a

fifth degree felony. The trial court accepted the plea and found Haas guilty. On

5. November 4, 2020, Haas was sentenced. Haas appealed the denial of her motion to

suppress.

Motion to Suppress

{¶ 14} In Haas’s motion, she sought to have the trial court suppress the statements

she made to her employer and to law enforcement, as she claimed the statements were

taken in violation of her rights under Garrity v. State of N.J., 385 U.S. 493, 87 S.Ct. 616,

17 L.Ed.2d 562 (1967). She claimed her confessions were improperly secured in

violation of the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States

Constitution, as the confessions were not voluntary. In support, Haas cited to State v.

Sess, 136 Ohio App.3d 689, 692, 737 N.E.2d 969 (1st Dist.1999), where the court stated:

As recognized by the Supreme Court of the United States in Garrity v. New

Jersey, if a public employee is forced to make the Hobson’s choice of

answering questions that may incriminate him or of forfeiting his job,

statements made pursuant to such questioning are not voluntary and cannot

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