State v. McLellan

2026 Ohio 402
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 9, 2026
Docket1-24-61
StatusPublished

This text of 2026 Ohio 402 (State v. McLellan) 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. McLellan, 2026 Ohio 402 (Ohio Ct. App. 2026).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. McLellan, 2026-Ohio-402.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT ALLEN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 1-24-61 PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

v.

MARCUS R. E. MCLELLAN, OPINION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. CR2024 0071

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: February 9, 2026

APPEARANCES:

Chima R. Ekeh for Appellant

John R. Willamowski, Jr. for Appellee Case No. 1-24-61

MILLER, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Marcus R. McLellan (“McLellan”), appeals the

September 27, 2024 judgment entry of sentence of the Allen County Court of

Commons Pleas. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

Factual Background

{¶2} On March 14, 2024, the Allen County Grand Jury indicted McLellan

on three counts: Count One of aggravated possession of drugs in violation of R.C.

2925.11(A), (C)(1)(c), a second-degree felony; Count Two of possession of cocaine

in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), (C)(4)(c), a third-degree felony; and Count Three

of possession of heroin in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), (C)(6)(b), a fourth-degree

felony. On April 17, 2024, McLellan entered a written plea of not guilty.

{¶3} A jury trial was held on August 19-20, 2024. At the trial, Patrolman

Garrett Weekly (“Patrolman Weekly”), an officer with the Lima Police Department,

testified that on July 20, 2023, he was off-duty running errands when he observed

two individuals in a vehicle in the parking lot of a local business “nodding off” and,

from his law-enforcement experience, appearing to be under the influence of drugs.

Due to his concern that the driver of the vehicle was impaired, Patrolman Weekly

contacted the Lima Police Department dispatch and relayed his concerns. As

uniformed officers were en route, Patrolman Weekly observed the vehicle drive out

of the parking lot onto a main thoroughfare and pull into the parking lot of a nearby

-2- Case No. 1-24-61

gas station. Patrolman Weekly followed the vehicle and maintained visual contact

of the vehicle until uniformed officers arrived on the scene.

{¶4} Patrolman Logan Patton (“Patrolman Patton”) arrived at the scene,

followed several minutes later by Patrolman Jacob Mortimer (“Patrolman

Mortimer”). Patrolman Patton testified that he approached the vehicle and made

contact with the driver, whom he identified as McLellan. Patrolman Patton recalled

approaching the vehicle, which had its front driver-side window down, and observed

a tray on McLellan’s lap with a rock-like substance, which Patrolman Patton

suspected of being methamphetamine. According to Patrolman Patton, McLellan

and the vehicle’s passenger, Trevor King (“King”), were both unable to remain still

and appeared unable to control their movements, making it clear to Patrolman Patton

that the vehicle occupants were under the influence of narcotics.

{¶5} Patrolman Patton removed McLellan from the car and observed a black

bag on the floorboard by his feet. Patrolman Patton then searched McLellan’s

person and located a clear plastic baggie containing a white-powdery substance that

Patrolman Patton suspected of being cocaine or fentanyl.

{¶6} Patrolman Mortimer removed King from the vehicle. King gave

Patrolman Mortimer consent to search his pockets, and Patrolman Mortimer located

a bindle—a small, folded piece of paper containing a small amount of narcotics,

inside a pack of cigarettes.

-3- Case No. 1-24-61

{¶7} Then, Patrolman Patton utilized his canine partner, Roscoe, to conduct

a canine sniff for the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Roscoe immediately

indicated for the presence of narcotics on the driver-side door, where a black Adidas

bag was located.

{¶8} Inside the black Adidas bag, officers located a baggie with a white rock

and 21 baggies containing a white substance. Officers suspected the large white

rock of being crack cocaine and suspected the 21 smaller bags contained

methamphetamine. Heroin was also located in the black Adidas bag.

{¶9} Patrolman Mortimer confirmed that the large bag of narcotics was

found inside a black Adidas bag located on the driver-side floorboard where

McLellan had been seated. Patrolman Mortimer denied that any narcotics were

recovered from the passenger-side of the vehicle. Patrolman Patton’s and Patrolman

Mortimer’s body-worn camera footage were played for the jury, and the video was

consistent with the officers’ testimony.

{¶10} Investigator Aaron Montgomery (“Investigator Montgomery”) with

the Lima Police Department interviewed McLellan several days after his arrest on

the instant charges, and a recording of that interview was played for the jury. In the

interview, when Investigator Montgomery asked McLellan if the drugs were his,

McLellan gave a subtle nod, which Investigator Montgomery perceived to be

McLellan confirming possession of the drugs. Then, Investigator Montgomery and

-4- Case No. 1-24-61

McLellan discussed where McLellan can get methamphetamine and fentanyl and

the amounts that he is able to procure.

{¶11} The State rested, and then the defense rested without calling witnesses

or introducing evidence.

{¶12} After deliberation, the jury found McLellan guilty of all counts. The

trial court accepted the jury’s verdict and found McLellan guilty thereof. The matter

was continued for sentencing.

{¶13} On September 26, 2024, the trial court sentenced McLellan to an

indefinite prison term of 4 years to 6 years on Count One, 24 months in prison on

Count Two, and 12 months in prison on Count Three. The court ordered the

sentences for Counts One and Two be served consecutively for an aggregate term

of six to eight years in prison.

{¶14} McLellan filed a timely appeal and raises three assignments of error

for our review. For ease of discussion, we elect to address McLellan’s second and

third assignments of error together.

First Assignment of Error

Appellant was denied his right to a speedy trial.

{¶15} In his first assignment of error, McLellan argues that his speedy trial

rights were violated. Specifically, he argues that the trial court should have

dismissed his case on the basis that he was not brought to trial within the statutory

timeframe. For the reasons that follow, we disagree.

-5- Case No. 1-24-61

Standard of Review

{¶16} “[S]peedy trial issues present mixed questions of law and fact.” State

v. Marr, 2018-Ohio-5061, ¶ 15 (3d Dist.). “[W]e apply a de novo standard of review

to the legal issues but give deference to any factual findings made by the trial court.”

Id.

Applicable Law

{¶17} “‘An accused is guaranteed the constitutional right to a speedy trial

pursuant to the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution

and Ohio Constitution, Article I, Section 10.’” State v. Irish, 2019-Ohio-2765, ¶ 11

(3d Dist.), quoting State v. Dahms, 2017-Ohio-4221, ¶ 102 (3d Dist.). “‘The proper

standard of review in speedy trial cases is to simply count the number of days

passed, while determining to which party the time is chargeable, as directed in R.C.

2945.71 and 2945.72.’” Dahms at ¶ 102, quoting State v. Ferguson, 2016-Ohio-

8537, ¶ 12 (10th Dist.).

{¶18} “R.C. 2945.71 provides the timeframe for a defendant’s right to a

speedy trial based on the level of the offense.” State v.

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Bluebook (online)
2026 Ohio 402, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mclellan-ohioctapp-2026.