State v. Pooler

2016 Ohio 5099

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: July 25, 2016
• Docket: 8-16-02
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Pooler, 2016-Ohio-5099.]

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

STATE OF OHIO,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 8-16-02

v.

JERROD E. POOLER, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Bellefontaine Municipal Court Trial Court No. 15-TRC-03382

Judgment Reversed

Date of Decision: July 25, 2016

APPEARANCES:

Natalie J. Bahan for Appellant

Joe Bader for Appellee Case No. 8-16-02

ROGERS, J.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Jerrod Pooler, appeals the judgment of the

Bellefontaine Municipal Court convicting him of operating a vehicle under the

influence of alcohol and sentencing him to 180 days in jail. On appeal, Pooler

argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss the charges based

on speedy trial grounds. For the reasons that follow, we reverse the judgment of

the trial court.

{¶2} On August 3, 2015, Pooler was arrested and issued a citation charging

him with one count of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in

violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a), a misdemeanor of the first degree; one count

of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in violation of R.C.

4511.19(A)(2), a misdemeanor of the first degree; one count of driving under an

OVI suspension in violation of R.C. 4510.14, a misdemeanor of the first degree;

one count of violating the lanes of travel in violation of R.C 4511.25, a minor

misdemeanor; and one count of operating a motor vehicle bearing an invalid

license plate or identification mark in violation of R.C. 4549.08, a misdemeanor of

the fourth degree. The charges stemmed from actions taking place during the

early morning hours of August 3, 2015.

{¶3} That same day at approximately 5:44 a.m., Pooler was released on his

own recognizance and was ordered to appear in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court

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at 9 a.m. Pooler appeared in court, but his arraignment was continued until

August 10, 2015. Further, Pooler was remanded to jail on a $5,000 cash or surety

bond.1

{¶4} On August 10, 2015, Pooler was arraigned on all charges and was

appointed counsel. The trial court set a trial date of September 14, 2015, and the

$5,000 cash or surety bond remained in place.

{¶5} Pooler’s counsel filed a request for discovery on September 8, 2015.

He also filed motions to convert the trial date into a pre-trial conference and to

preserve any evidence that same day. The trial court granted both of Pooler’s

motions later that day.

{¶6} On September 14, 2015, the trial court filed an entry scheduling a

change of plea hearing on September 15, 2015.

{¶7} Appearing to reject a plea deal, Pooler was given a new trial date of

November 2, 2015. The same $5,000 cash or surety bond remained.

{¶8} On October 30, 2015, Pooler’s current appellate counsel filed a

motion to substitute as counsel. Likewise, Pooler’s initial counsel filed a motion

to withdraw as counsel in this case. Both motions were granted that afternoon.

1 The record contains no information that explains an increase of bond after the Appellant had appeared as directed while on a recognizance bond.

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{¶9} Pooler made an oral motion to continue the trial, which was granted

by the court on November 4, 2015.2 Thus, the court set the trial for December 23,

2015.

{¶10} On November 6, 2015, Pooler filed a motion to dismiss based on

speedy trial grounds.

{¶11} A hearing was held on November 12, 2015. Present were the trial

judge, Pooler, and his counsel. Pooler’s counsel indicated that the State did not

oppose Pooler’s motion, but the prosecutor did not appear for the hearing. The

court found that several occurrences tolled time for speedy trial purposes,

including the time from the date of his first scheduled arraignment and his actual

arraignment.

{¶12} At the conclusion of the hearing, the court denied Pooler’s motion.

Further, Pooler was released on his own recognizance subject to certain

conditions.

{¶13} The State responded to Pooler’s discovery request on December 18,

{¶14} On December 23, 2015, Pooler pleaded no contest to one count of

operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in violation of R.C.

2 The record does not state the date the oral motion was made.

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4511.19(A)(1)(a), a misdemeanor of the first degree3; and one count of driving

under an OVI suspension in violation of R.C .4510.14, a misdemeanor of the first

degree. The court found Pooler guilty on both charges and sentenced him to 180

days in jail, 90 of which were suspended, fined him $1,000, suspended his driver’s

license for three years, and required him to pay court costs.

{¶15} Pooler filed this timely appeal, presenting the following assignment

of error for our review.

Assignment of Error

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS DUE TO A VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL.

{¶16} Before we address the merits of Pooler’s appeal, we must first briefly

address the State’s argument that the appeal should be dismissed due to the

defective notice of appeal. The State argues that the appeal should be dismissed

because Pooler’s notice of appeal only lists the entry of conviction and sentence as

the judgment from which he appeals and not the entry denying Pooler’s motion to

dismiss.

{¶17} App.R. 3(D) provides that a “notice of appeal shall specify the party

or parties taking the appeal; shall designate the judgment, order or part thereof

3 In the entry of conviction and sentence dated December 23, 2015, it states that Pooler pleaded guilty to this charge and the court made a finding of no contest. On February 9, 2016, the court filed a nunc pro tunc order correcting the error. The new entry states that Pooler entered a plea of no contest and was found guilty.

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appealed from; and shall name the court to which the appeal is taken. * * *”

(Footnote omitted.) “ ‘[An appellate court] ha[s] jurisdiction to review

assignments of error stemming only from the judgment subject of the notice of

appeal.’ ” State v. Walden, 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-15-13, 2016-Ohio-258, ¶ 24,

quoting State v. Thompkins, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 07AP-74, 2007-Ohio-4315, ¶

7, citing App.R. 3(D).

{¶18} The problem with the State’s argument is that the trial court’s entry

denying Pooler’s motion to dismiss was not a final appealable order because it was

not followed by a nolle prosequi. See City of Middletown v. Jackson, 8 Ohio

App.3d 431, 432 (12th Dist.1983). Rather, it was merely an interlocutory order.

See id. The only final appealable order was the formal entry of conviction and

sentence. Thus, Pooler’s notice of appeal was sufficient as he is challenging his

conviction and sentence based on an error by the trial court (denying his motion to

dismiss).

{¶19} In his sole assignment of error, Pooler argues that the trial court erred

by denying his motion to dismiss the charges based on speedy trial grounds. We

agree.

{¶20} Our standard of review upon an appeal raising a speedy trial issue is

to count the expired days as directed by R.C. 2945.71, et seq. State v. DePue, 96

Ohio App.3d 513, 516 (4th Dist.1994); see also State v. King, 3d Dist. Marion No.

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9–06–18, 2007–Ohio–335, ¶ 30; State v. West, 3d Dist. Auglaize No. 2–06–04,

2006–Ohio–5834, ¶ 24. If any ambiguity exists, we construe the record in favor of

the accused. See State v. Singer, 50 Ohio St.2d 103, 109 (1977); State v. Mays, 108

Ohio App.3d 598, 609 (8th Dist.1996). The computation of time for criminal

statutes is governed by Crim.R. 45, which provides, “In computing any period of

time prescribed * * * by any applicable statute, the date of the act or event from

which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last

day of the period so computed shall be included * * *.” The date of the arrest is

not included for the purpose of calculating time under the statutes for a speedy

trial. State v. Huston, 3d Dist. Wyandot Nos. 16–05–23, 16–05–24, 2006–Ohio-

6857, ¶ 7. “[E]ach day during which the accused is held in jail in lieu of bail on

the pending charge shall be counted as three days.” R.C. 2945.71(E).

{¶21} Under the applicable statutory speedy trial provision, R.C.

2945.71(B)(2), a person charged with a misdemeanor of the first or second degree

shall be brought to trial within 90 days after the person’s arrest.4 R.C. 2945.71(E)

counts each day a defendant is held in jail in lieu of bail as three. Upon a motion

made prior to or at the trial, “a person charged with an offense shall be discharged

if he is not brought to trial within the time required by sections 2945.71 and

4 Although Pooler was also charged with a misdemeanor of the fourth degree and a minor misdemeanor, which have shorter speedy trial times, a defendant “shall be brought to trial on all of the charges within the time period required for the highest degree of offense charged[.]” R.C. 2945.71(D). Thus, because Pooler was charged with multiple misdemeanors of the first degree, the 90-day period is appropriate.

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2945.72 of the Revised Code.” R.C. 2945.73(B). However, R.C. 2945.72 allows

for an extension of the time that the accused must be brought to trial under certain

circumstances. This includes “[a]ny period of delay necessitated by reason of a *

* * motion, proceeding, or action made or instituted by the accused.” R.C.

2945.72(E).

{¶22} Pooler was arrested on August 3, 2015, released on his own

recognizance, appeared in court, and was later remanded to jail in lieu of bond that

same day. For the purposes of calculation, this day is excluded. The speedy trial

clock began on August 4, 2015. Because Pooler remained in jail until mid-

November 2015, the State was required to bring Pooler to trial within 30 days,

which would have expired on September 2, 2015. Pooler’s motion to dismiss was

filed on November 6, 2015. Since this was clearly beyond the statutory limit,

Pooler’s motion should have been granted unless certain actions tolled the speedy

trial clock beyond that date.

{¶23} Pooler argues that the first action, which would have tolled time, was

his initial counsel’s discovery request filed on September 8, 2015. Because this

was filed after the time for which the State was required to bring him to trial,

Pooler argues that this action cannot be said to have tolled the speedy trial clock.

We agree. Since the clock expired on September 2, 2015 (meaning the last day

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the State could have tried Pooler), some action between August 4 and September

2, 2015 must have occurred to have tolled time.

{¶24} Here, the State failed to present any argument as to why the clock

was tolled during this period. At the speedy trial hearing, the court found that the

time between August 4 and August 10, 2015 was tolled because Pooler asked for

his arraignment to be continued and, therefore, this period was not chargeable to

the State. We disagree.

{¶25} Nothing in the record itself, other than the trial court’s statement at

the hearing, establishes that the continuance of the arraignment was made at

Pooler’s request. Again, if any ambiguity exists, we construe the record in favor

of the accused. See Singer, 50 Ohio St.2d at 109. The entry continuing the

arraignment does not include any language as to who requested the continuance.

Thus, this action is not charged to Pooler.

{¶26} However, this does not end the analysis as the clock will be tolled for

“the period of any reasonable continuance granted other than upon the accused’s

own motion[.]” (Emphasis added.) R.C. 2945.72(H). “To satisfy that standard,

‘when sua sponte granting a continuance under R.C. 2945.72(H), the trial court

must enter the order of continuance and the reasons therefor by journal entry prior

to the expiration of the time limits prescribed in R.C. 2945.71 for bringing a

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defendant to trial.’ ” (Emphasis sic.) State v. Ramey, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2010 CA

19, 2012-Ohio-6187, ¶ 12, quoting State v. Mincy, 2 Ohio St.3d 6, 9 (1982).

{¶27} This court has recently found that when the trial court fails to provide

its reasoning for granting a continuance, which is not on behalf of the defendant,

that time is charged against the State. State v. Shafer, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-14-28,

2015-Ohio-2469, ¶ 15, citing State v. Hohenberger, 189 Ohio App.3d 346, 2010-

Ohio-4053, ¶ 47 (6th Dist.) Therefore, we find that the time between August 4

and August 10, 2015 is charged against the State.

{¶28} No other events occurred that would have tolled time before it

expired on September 2, 2015. Thus, there is no need to discuss later events as the

clock had already expired. Specifically, 35 days were chargeable against the State

as of September 8, 2015. Because Pooler was in jail for all 35 days, the total, for

speedy trial purposes, becomes 105, which is 15 days more than the statutory limit

of 90. Therefore, Pooler’s speedy trial rights were violated.

{¶29} Accordingly, we sustain Pooler’s sole assignment of error.

{¶30} Having found error prejudicial to the appellant, in the particulars

assigned and argued, we reverse the judgment of the trial court.

SHAW, P.J. and WILLAMOWSKI, J., concur.

/jlr

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