State v. Ngiraingas, Unpublished Decision (12-29-2005)

2005 Ohio 7058
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 29, 2005
DocketNo. 2004-A-0034.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 2005 Ohio 7058 (State v. Ngiraingas, Unpublished Decision (12-29-2005)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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State v. Ngiraingas, Unpublished Decision (12-29-2005), 2005 Ohio 7058 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Appellant, Yoich Ngiraingas, appeals from judgment entries of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, denying his motion to suppress and convicting him of two counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of abduction. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

{¶ 2} On November 23, 2003, the Ashtabula County Grand Jury indicted appellant on two counts of aggravated robbery, each count a first degree felony in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), and two counts of abduction, each a third degree felony in violation of R.C. 2905.02(A)(2). Each count included a gun specification. At his arraignment, appellant pleaded not guilty to the foregoing charges.

{¶ 3} Appellant moved to suppress evidence and statements which were made on the date of his arrest. Specifically, appellant maintained that any statements he made just prior to his arrest were involuntary and, therefore, inadmissible. He further argued that a rifle seized from his apartment was inadmissible, as the rifle's seizure was the result of an improper warrantless search.

{¶ 4} The trial court held a suppression hearing. During the suppression hearing, Patrolman Michael Offensend ("Ptlm. Offensend") and Patrolman Daniel Patriarco ("Ptlm. Patriarco"), of the North Kingsville Police Department, were the sole witnesses to testify. Pltm. Offensend testified that on September 28, 2003, he was dispatched to appellant's apartment in response to appellant's 911 phone call. The dispatcher informed Ptlm. Offensend that appellant claimed he had been threatened by two men and was in his apartment with a rifle for protection.

{¶ 5} When Ptlm. Offensend arrived at the scene, he confronted Daniel Pole, Jr., ("Daniel") near appellant's apartment. Daniel alleged that appellant had just robbed him and his friend Victor DeLion ("Victor"). Ptlm. Offensend then proceeded to appellant's apartment to obtain his statement.

{¶ 6} Ptlm. Offensend testified that he saw appellant standing in the window of his apartment holding a broomstick. Before entering the apartment to discuss appellant's 911 call, Ptlm. Offensend asked appellant where the rifle was. Appellant replied that the rifle was in his apartment. Ptlm. Offensend entered the apartment, and Ptlm Patriarco arrived at the scene to assist him. While Ptlm. Offensend spoke with appellant about the 911 call, he observed, in plain view, appellant's rifle. Ptlm. Patriarco retrieved and secured the rifle. Appellant told Ptlm. Offensend that he had called 911 because he felt threatened by Daniel and Victor, and used his rifle for protection. Appellant also provided Ptlm. Offensend with a written statement as to his version of the events which resulted in his 911 call

{¶ 7} Both Ptlm. Offensend and Ptlm. Patriarco testified that it appeared appellant had been drinking. However, they further stated that appellant was able to comprehend their questions and was able to provide them with a complete oral and written statement regarding his description of what happened on the morning of the offenses.

{¶ 8} Following the hearing, the court denied appellant's motion to suppress as to appellant's written and oral statements. The court found that appellant had initiated the contact with the patrolmen, that appellant was not in custody at the time of his oral or written statements, and that appellant's oral and written statements were voluntary.

{¶ 9} The trial court, however, sustained appellant's motion to suppress with respect to the patrolmen's seizure of the rifle. The court reasoned that because the patrolmen's seizure of the weapon was predicated upon safety concerns rather than criminal activity, the seizure was improper. Thus, the court found that the physical evidence of the rifle was inadmissible.

{¶ 10} A jury was impaneled and this matter was set for an April 21, 2004 jury trial. On April 21, 2004, just prior to the commencement of trial, appellant requested a continuance to obtain new counsel to replace his court appointed counsel.

{¶ 11} The court ultimately denied appellant's continuance. In doing so, the court stated that appellant had sufficient time to request a continuance to obtain new counsel prior to the day of trial. Also, the court stated that it would be unreasonable to grant appellant's continuance, based upon the absence of any formal entry of appearance by appellant's new counsel and the costs incurred by the state in preparing to go forward with trial on that day.

{¶ 12} During trial, Daniel and Victor testified as to the events of September 28, 2003. Both men testified that on that day they met appellant at a party. At approximately 4:00 a.m., Daniel and Victor left the party, and appellant asked if they could give him a ride to his apartment. They agreed to give appellant a ride to his apartment.

{¶ 13} Daniel and Victor testified that when they arrived at appellant's apartment he instructed them to wait in the car while he retrieved money for gas. Their testimony further disclosed that, upon his return, appellant was carrying a rifle. Appellant pointed the rifle at Daniel and Victor and ordered them to throw their money, identification, and the keys out the car's window. Daniel tossed his identification and the car keys out the window, but explained to appellant that he had no money. Victor threw $100 out the window, but informed appellant that he had no identification.

{¶ 14} Appellant ordered Daniel and Victor in and out of the car, on multiple occasions, by gun point. Daniel testified that during the robbery appellant showed them the bullets in the rifle's ammunition clip. He further testified that he heard a bullet being chambered and that appellant threatened to shoot one of them if they tried to escape.

{¶ 15} At some point, appellant ordered the men to follow him to his apartment. When appellant turned his back, Victor ran toward the street to flag down a driver. The driver testified that he saw Victor running toward his car yelling for help and shouting that a man had a gun. The driver stated that he stopped to help and Victor appeared scared and nervous.

{¶ 16} Despite Victor's escape, appellant continued toward his apartment. Daniel proceeded to cautiously walk away from appellant in the direction of some nearby houses.

{¶ 17} Ptlm. Offensend and Ptlm. Patriarco testified regarding their involvement in this incident. They testified as to appellant's oral statement, and appellant's written statement, which was formally admitted as an exhibit.

{¶ 18} Finally, appellant testified with regards to his version of the events of September 28, 2003. He stated that Victor and Daniel provided him with a ride to his apartment after the party. Victor and Daniel were in the front of the car while appellant was in the back. Appellant testified that as they were driving to his apartment, Victor and Daniel began to speak in Spanish, and appellant believed that threatening language was being used.

{¶ 19} Upon arriving at appellant's apartment, appellant maintained that he heard the click of a gun. Appellant testified that he proceeded to reach over the front seat and remove the car's key from the ignition. He stated that he then exited the car and began to run to his apartment.

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Bluebook (online)
2005 Ohio 7058, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-ngiraingas-unpublished-decision-12-29-2005-ohioctapp-2005.