State v. Heyden

610 N.E.2d 1067, 81 Ohio App. 3d 272, 1992 Ohio App. LEXIS 203
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 22, 1992
DocketNo. 15097.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 610 N.E.2d 1067 (State v. Heyden) 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. Heyden, 610 N.E.2d 1067, 81 Ohio App. 3d 272, 1992 Ohio App. LEXIS 203 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

Cacioppo, Judge.

On March 10, 1989, John Heyden, defendant-appellant, returned to his home, after running several errands, and noticed a strange smell in his house. Heyden believed the smell came from his damaged water heater. He drove to a pay telephone and called his insurance agent, who suggested that Heyden also telephone the fire department. When Heyden returned to his home, almost an hour later, the house was in flames.

After the fire was extinguished, investigators searched the home. As a result of the investigation, it was determined that the fire was deliberately started. Investigators noted an unusual bum pattern, which suggested the use of an accelerant, such as alcohol or kerosene. One investigator discovered a container filled with kerosene and a brush in a garage located near the house. A charred paper bag was also found in Heyden’s car.

Heyden was indicted on July 12, 1990 on one count of arson in violation of R.C. 2909.03(A)(2). Heyden was subsequently indicted on a supplemental indictment on one count of aggravated arson in violation of R.C. 2909.02(A)(1). The supplemental indictment was served on Heyden on March 4, 1991, the morning of his scheduled trial on the charge of arson.

Heyden objected to going forward on the supplemental indictment. The court overruled the objection. Heyden was subsequently found guilty on both counts.

Heyden appeals raising three assignments of error.

Assignment of Error No. I

“The trial court committed error in overruling defendant-appellant’s objection to the supplemental indictment and compelling him to be tried on the same date that he was served with the supplemental indictment in violation of defendant-appellant’s due process rights guaranteed under the Fifth and *275 Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution and Ohio Revised Code Section 2941.49.”

Heyden asserts in his first assignment of error that the court erred by allowing him to be tried on one count of aggravated arson when he was served with the indictment on the morning of trial. We do not agree. As a preliminary matter, we note that Heyden properly objected, thus preserving this issue for our review. Crim.R. 12(B)(2).

Appellant asserts that service of the indictment is controlled by R.C. 2941.49, which states:

“Within three days after the filing of an indictment for felony and in every other case when requested, the clerk of the court of common pleas shall make and deliver to the sheriff, defendant, or the defendant’s counsel, a copy of such indictment. The sheriff, on receiving such copy, shall serve it on the defendant. A defendant, without his assent, shall not be arraigned or called on to answer to an indictment until one day has elapsed after receiving or having an opportunity to receive in person or by counsel, a copy of such indictment.”

This section makes clear that a defendant shall not be arraigned on an indictment until one day after receiving, in person or through counsel, a copy of the indictment.

In the case at bar, Heyden received a copy of the indictment on the morning of March 4,1991. Counsel objected to going forward with arraignment, which the court overruled. The court then read the indictment to Heyden and entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf because he refused to plead. On the same day, the jury was impaneled and the trial began. These events took place before one day had elapsed after Heyden received the indictment, in violation of R.C. 2941.49.

Appellee argues that Heyden’s reliance on R.C. 2941.49 is misplaced. According to the state, Crim.R. 10 1 has superseded R.C. 2941.49. Therefore, according to the state, a defendant may be arraigned immediately upon being served with his indictment.

*276 We must decide whether R.C. 2941.49 has been superseded by Crim.R. 10. To resolve this conflict, we must look to the Ohio Constitution, namely, Section 5(B), Article IV, which states:

“The supreme court shall prescribe rules governing practice and procedure in all courts of the state, which rules shall not abridge, enlarge, or modify any substantive right. * * * All laws in conflict with such rules shall be of no further force or effect after such rules have taken effect.” (Emphasis added.)

If a rule and statute are in conflict, the rule supersedes the statute on procedural matters, and the statute supersedes the rule on substantive issues.

When a court is faced with deciding whether the rule or statute is applicable, it must first decide whether the two are in conflict. If no conflict exists, then both the rule and statute are applicable. See, e.g., State v. Tate (1979), 59 Ohio St.2d 50, 54, 13 O.O.3d 36, 38, 391 N.E.2d 738, 740.

Heyden contends that Crim.R. 10 and R.C. 2941.49 are not in conflict. According to Heyden, because the rule is silent as to any time period, the statute remains in effect and the one-day provision is applicable. On the other hand, the state asserts that the Criminal Rule regarding indictment conflicts with R.C. 2941.49. The state also argues that service of an indictment is a procedural matter, and, therefore, the statute is superseded by the rules, pursuant to Section 5(B), Article IV, Ohio Constitution.

After reviewing both Crim.R. 10 and R.C. 2941.49, we find that the two are in conflict. The clear meaning of Crim.R. 10 is that arraignment may immediately follow service of the indictment. This is in direct conflict with R.C. 2941.49’s mandate that one day must pass prior to arraignment. Therefore, we must determine whether the one-day provision of R.C. 2941.49 is substantive or procedural.

After reviewing several cases, we conclude that R.C. 2941.49 affords a procedural right. In Smith v. State (1838), 8 Ohio 294, the Supreme Court of Ohio considered a similar provision. The statute in question in Smith required service of the indictment twelve hours before trial. The court held that “ * * * the statute requiring a copy of the indictment to be furnished the accused twelve hours before trial is merely a directory provision. It refers only to the time of trial — it shall not be until twelve hours after the copy * * * [is served].” (Emphasis sic.) Id. Likewise, in Fouts v. State (1857), 8 Ohio St. 98, the court considered a statute similar to that reviewed in Smith, supra. In Fouts, the Supreme Court held that the provision requiring service at least twelve hours before trial “is directory as to a duty to be performed on the part of the state, preliminary to the trial.” 8 Ohio St. at 102. See, also, *277 Dinsmore v. Alvis (1950), 88 Ohio App. 32, 35-36, 43 O.O. 397, 398, 96 N.E.2d 427, 429.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Weber
707 N.E.2d 1178 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1997)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
610 N.E.2d 1067, 81 Ohio App. 3d 272, 1992 Ohio App. LEXIS 203, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-heyden-ohioctapp-1992.