State v. Minshall

2024 Ohio 1035
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 18, 2024
Docket23CA5
StatusPublished

This text of 2024 Ohio 1035 (State v. Minshall) 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. Minshall, 2024 Ohio 1035 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Minshall, 2024-Ohio-1035.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT MEIGS COUNTY

State of Ohio, : Case No. 23CA5

Plaintiff-Appellee, : DECISION AND v. : JUDGMENT ENTRY

Thomas Minshall, : RELEASED 3/18/2024 Defendant-Appellant. :

______________________________________________________________________ APPEARANCES:

Christopher Bazeley, Cincinnati, Ohio, for appellant.

James K. Stanley, Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney, Pomeroy, Ohio, for appellee. ______________________________________________________________________ Hess, J.

{¶1} Thomas Minshall appeals from a judgment of the Meigs County Court of

Common Pleas convicting him, following his guilty plea, of one count of nonsupport of

dependents in violation of former R.C. 2919.21(B) (now R.C. 2919.21(B)(1)(a)).1 In his

sole assignment of error, Mr. Minshall asserts that the trial court’s determination of the

amount of restitution is contrary to law. For the reasons which follow, we overrule the

assignment of error and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

1 The indictment and sentencing entry describe the offense as nonsupport or contributing to the nonsupport

of dependents. However, a violation of R.C. 2919.21(B) (both the current version and the version in effect at the time of the indictment) constitutes the offense of nonsupport of dependents. R.C. 2919.21(G)(1); 2015 H.B. No. 64. Meigs App. No. 23CA5 2

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶2} On December 6, 2017, Mr. Minshall was indicted on one count of non-

support of dependents in violation of former R.C. 2919.21(B), a fifth-degree felony. On

December 20, 2017, Mr. Minshall did not appear at the arraignment hearing, and the trial

court issued a bench warrant. On February 7, 2018, the court issued an entry stating that

it appeared the sheriff had not served Mr. Minshall or brought him before the court, so the

court continued the case “off docket” until such time as the sheriff served the warrant and

brought Mr. Minshall before the court. On February 13, 2023, Mr. Minshall was served.

On February 15, 2023, the court conducted the arraignment hearing, and Mr. Minshall

pled not guilty. In July 2023, he changed his plea to guilty. The court accepted the plea

and found him guilty.

{¶3} On September 7, 2023, the trial court conducted a restitution and

sentencing hearing. The parties agreed that Mr. Minshall had to pay restitution but did not

agree on the amount. The dispute centered on whether Mr. Minshall was entitled to a

credit against the child support arrears in connection with a “prevailing wage check” which

was addressed in court orders in domestic relations proceedings between Mr. Minshall

and his former wife, Lisa Minshall.

{¶4} Four exhibits were admitted. Exhibit 1 is a July 8, 2002 entry from the

common pleas court in Case No. 01-DR-090, and the caption indicates that Ms. Minshall

is the petitioner, and Mr. Minshall is the respondent. The entry states that the Ohio

Department of Commerce-Division of Administration is ordered “to withhold $3,364.49

from the approximate $11,255.00 lump-sum check for Thomas Minshall and remit this Meigs App. No. 23CA5 3

amount to the Meigs County Child Support Enforcement Agency * * *. The amount

against Thomas Minshall’s arrearage [sic].”

{¶5} Exhibit 2 is a September 17, 2002 entry from the common pleas court with

an incomplete case number on it of “02-DR-.” The caption indicates that Ms. Minshall is

the plaintiff, and Mr. Minshall is the defendant. The entry states that on August 26, 2002,

the court conducted a hearing at which the parties “addressed the issue of Defendant’s

prevailing wage check in the amount of $11,255.57.” The entry states that “Defendant

shall sign his prevailing wage check, which shall be held in trust by Plaintiff’s counsel,”

Denise L. Bunce. The entry states that “[a]fter the transfer of the check, Plaintiff’s counsel

shall pay Defendant $1,000.00, to be used, at his discretion, to obtain an attorney.” The

entry states that “Plaintiff’s counsel shall also pay Plaintiff $4.079.90 [sic], which

represents Defendant’s child support arrearages as of August 19, 2002 in Case No. 01-

DR-090.” The entry further states that “Plaintiff’s counsel shall maintain the remaining

prevailing wage monies in her trust account until further order of this Court.”

{¶6} Exhibit 3 is a January 10, 2003 final decree of divorce from the common

pleas court in Case No. 02-DR-087. The case caption indicates that Ms. Minshall is the

plaintiff, and Mr. Minshall is the defendant. The decree states that the final divorce hearing

occurred on December 16, 2002, that “[c]ounsel for Plaintiff advised the Court that the

parties had reached an agreement on all the outstanding issues of the marriage,” and

that the court “adopted the same into its findings and orders, with a few minor changes

as indicated” in the decree. The decree states that “[t]he court finds that the parties have

$6175.62 remaining from a prevailing wage check received during the marriage.” The

decree states the parties agreed Ms. Minshall would receive $4,139.97—$1,430.97 for Meigs App. No. 23CA5 4

“Defendant’s child support arrears as of 12-13-02,” $1909.00 for “Defendant’s share of

house payments,” and $800.00 for “[r]epayment to Plaintiff for cost of computer.” The

decree states that “[t]he parties also agreed that Defendant would receive $1000.00 from

the prevailing wage check, with a remainder of $1035.65.” The decree further states:

The parties agreed that Plaintiff would receive the remaining balance for Defendant’s payment of future child support for the minor child. However, the Court modified their agreement, as it finds that Defendant may have a tax liability from the prevailing wage check. Therefore, the remaining monies may be paid for Defendant’s child support obligation, if, after his 2002 tax return is prepared, no additional tax liability is determined. However, if Defendant does have a tax liability, the remaining money may be used to pay his taxes.

[Id.] The decree states that Plaintiff’s counsel is “authorized to transfer $4139.97 to

Plaintiff from the remaining monies in counsel’s trust account, for the items listed in this

Court’s Findings” and “to release $1000.00 to Defendant as his share of the remaining

prevailing wage monies.” The court ordered Mr. Minshall to immediately prepare his 2002

tax return, claim the prevailing wage check as income, and give Plaintiff’s counsel a copy

of the return “to establish any tax liability based on his prevailing wage check.” The court

authorized Plaintiff’s counsel to “transfer that amount, up to $1035.65, to the Internal

Revenue Service and/or the State of Ohio, on Defendant’s behalf.” The decree indicates

that at the time of the final divorce hearing, Ms. Minshall was still represented by Attorney

Bunce, and Mr. Minshall was unrepresented.

{¶7} Exhibit 4 is copies of three checks from the Denise L. Bunce, Attorney at

Law Trust Account. [Ex. 4] The first check, dated December 20, 2002, is payable to Mr.

Minshall in the amount of $1,000. The “For” line on the check is blank. The second check,

also dated December 20, 2002, is payable to Ms. Minshall in the amount of $3,739.97.

The “For” line on the check appears to state “amt due less atty fees.” The third check, Meigs App. No. 23CA5 5

dated January 24, 2003, is payable to Mr. Minshall in the amount of $1,035.65. The “For”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2024 Ohio 1035, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-minshall-ohioctapp-2024.