State v. McManes

2024 Ohio 438
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided February 8, 2024·No. CT2023-0054·Published

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO JUDGES:

Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.

Plaintiff-Appellee Hon. John W. Wise, J.

Hon. Andrew J. King, J.

-vs-

Case No. CT2023-0054

RONALD McMANES, JR.

Defendant-Appellant OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. CR2023-0172

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: February 8, 2024

APPEARANCES: For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

RONALD L. WELCH APRIL F. CAMPBELL PROSECUTING ATTORNEY 545 Metro Place South JOHN CONNOR DEVER Suite 100 ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR Dublin, Ohio 43017 27 North Fifth Street, P. O. Box 189 Zanesville, Ohio 43702

Wise, J.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Ronald McManes, Jr. appeals his conviction and sentence of one count of having weapons under disability and one count of aggravated possession of drugs. Plaintiff-Appellee is the State of Ohio. For the reasons that follow we affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY Traffic Stop

{¶2} On March 5, 2023, Deputy Sheriff Graham Schaumleffel was dispatched to 54 Ann Circle, Muskingum County, Ohio for a report of a stolen motor vehicle. There, he met with a Peter Huff who reported that his truck was stolen. Huff gave a description of the truck including the license plate number and possible suspect and the Deputy Sheriff put out a BOLO alert for the truck. Tr. II, 257-259. About an hour later, Lieutenant Wade Kanavel saw the truck coming across the Philo bridge continuing southbound on Front Street. There were two males in the front seat, and he recognized the driver, Nicholas Locke, who had some outstanding warrants. Kanavel called for backup and made the traffic stop. Tr. II, 311.

{¶3} Kanavel ordered the driver, Nicholas Locke, out of the truck, put him in handcuffs and placed him in the back seat of his patrol car. He then ordered the front seat passenger, Ronald McManes, Jr., out of the truck and placed him in handcuffs. Tr. II, 312.

Search of truck

{¶4} Kanavel quickly searched the truck for contraband and found five rounds of live ammunition on the floorboard underneath the front passenger seat, Tr. II, 314, 318.

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Deputy Zachary Keylor joined the search, moved the driver’s seat back and saw a .357 magnum silver Taurus revolver laying between the passenger’s seat and the driver’s seat. Tr. II, 267, State’s Exh. 25. The cylinder was empty. Tr. II, 302. Later, a box of ammunition for the revolver was found in the truck. Tr. II, 303.

Investigation

{¶5} McManes was searched, and a Nissan key fob with six keys attached and a folded-up gum wrapper were found in his right jacket pocket. Tr. II, 316. The gum wrapper was opened and a small amount of a white crystal substance was found, later identified as 0.15 grams of methamphetamine. Tr. II, 314, 334, State’s Exh. 29.

{¶6} McManes denied that the Taurus revolver was his, stating that he was a convicted felon and would not have entered the truck if he knew a gun was in it. Tr. II, 318. The serial number from the revolver was run through a nationwide database, and it was learned that the revolver was reported stolen out of Licking County in 2020. Tr. II, 315. McManes also denied that the methamphetamine was his and that someone else was wearing the jacket the previous day. Tr. II, 319.

{¶7} Nicholas Locke testified at trial that the revolver and ammunition belonged to McManes, Tr. II, 216.

Indictment and Trial

{¶8} On March 15, 2023, the Muskingum County Grand Jury indicted Appellant, Ronald McManes, Jr., on two counts of receiving stolen property, a violation of R.C. 2913.51 [F4), one count of having weapons under disability, a violation of R.C. 2923.13 [F3], one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a violation of R.C. 2925.11 [F5] and one count of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, a violation of R.C. 2923.16

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[F4]. The receiving stolen property and aggravated possession of drugs counts attached a one-year firearm specification, R.C. 2941.141(A). Nicholas Locke was indicted as a co- defendant on several of the same charges. Indictment, March 15, 2023.

{¶9} McManes pleaded not guilty, and the case proceeded in the Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, Judge Cottrill presiding. By judgment entry dated March 23, 2023, the case was set for trial on May 16, 2023. The judgment entry also stated that all pre-trial motions were to be filed no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the first day of trial. Local Crim.R. 6 also required that all requests for continuances must be made fourteen (14) days before the scheduled trial date.

{¶10} McManes was determined to be indigent, and an attorney was appointed to represent him. Journal Entry March 23, 2023. McManes’ court appointed attorney filed various pleadings on his behalf.

{¶11} On April 20, 2023, Attorney Samuel Shamansky filed a notice of appearance, apparently being privately retained by McManes.

{¶12} On May 9, 2023, Attorney Shamansky filed a motion to continue the trial claiming that he was scheduled to appear as counsel in a murder trial in Franklin County that had been scheduled since November 10, 2022. The motion stated the state did not object to the continuance, and that McManes would sign a waiver of his right to a speedy trial prior to the pretrial conference set for 11:00 am that day. The motion and subsequent waiver apparently signed by Appellant contains the names of both Attorney Shamansky and Attorney Lucas D. Trott Motion, May 9, 2023; Waiver, May 9, 2023. 1 The motion to

1 Appellant has not provided this Court with a copy of the transcript of any pretrial hearing.

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continue was overruled by the trial court, and the jury trial began on May 16, 2023. Attorney Lucas D. Trott represented McManes.

{¶13} McManes registered no objection to his representation by Attorney Trott and no renewed motion to continue the trial, either oral or written, appears in the record.

{¶14} Six witnesses testified on behalf of the state, including Nicholas Locke who, on May 8, 2023, pleaded guilty to several counts including receiving stolen property for the theft of the truck, Tr. II 238. One rebuttal witness was called by the state. Two witnesses testified on behalf of Appellant.

{¶15} After hearing the evidence and receiving instructions from the trial court, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty to one count of weapons while under disability and one count of aggravated possession of drugs. McManes was found not guilty of the remainder of the indicted charges, including the firearm specification and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. The receiving stolen property counts were dismissed by the state.

{¶16} On July 10, 2023, McManes returned to the trial court for sentencing. When asked if he was being represented by Attorney Lucas Trott, McManes replied that he was. Tr., Sentencing, 3. Attorney Trott then explained that while Appellant still maintained his innocence, he admitted to a drug problem. Tr., Sentencing, 8. When asked by the trial court whether he had anything to say, McManes replied that he didn’t know the gun was in the truck and didn’t know his nephew had stolen the truck. Tr., Sentencing, 10. He made no statement concerning his conviction of aggravated possession of drugs.

{¶17} The trial court then reiterated his convictions – having a weapon while under disability and aggravated possession of drugs. The court then said: “Again, you were found guilty at trial. Clearly you take no responsibility because you’re still maintaining your innocence here today. I’ll also note I’ve received the presentence investigation. I have reviewed it thoroughly”. Sentencing Tr. 11.

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State v. McManes, 2024 Ohio 438 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).

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