State v. Riddle

2018 Ohio 5216
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 26, 2018
Docket3-18-07
StatusPublished

This text of 2018 Ohio 5216 (State v. Riddle) 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. Riddle, 2018 Ohio 5216 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Riddle, 2018-Ohio-5216.]

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

STATE OF OHIO,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 3-18-07

v.

BILLY J. RIDDLE, II, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Crawford County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. 18-CR-0019

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: December 26, 2018

APPEARANCES:

Adam Charles Stone for Appellant

Ryan M. Hoovler for Appellee Case No. 3-18-07

SHAW, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Billy J. Riddle II (“Riddle”), brings this appeal

from the April 10, 2018, judgment of the Crawford County Common Pleas Court

sentencing him to 30 months in prison after Riddle was found guilty in a jury trial

of Illegal Conveyance of Drugs of Abuse onto the Grounds of a Specified

Government Facility in violation of R.C. 2921.36(A)(2), a felony of the third degree.

On appeal, Riddle argues that the trial court erred by permitting the State to discuss

Riddle’s post-release control violation underlying his initial arrest, and that the trial

court erred in providing a “special” jury instruction beyond the standard Ohio Jury

Instructions regarding a “specified government facility.”

Relevant Facts and Procedural History

{¶2} Lieutenant Craig Moser of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department

was informed that Riddle had a warrant out for his arrest for violating his post-

release control. On January 11, 2018, while Lieutenant Moser and Deputy Brian

Wozniak were on patrol, they conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle wherein Riddle

was a passenger. Riddle readily identified himself, was notified of the warrant, and

was told he was under arrest.

{¶3} Riddle was searched for weapons by both Lieutenant Moser and Deputy

Wozniak at the scene, then placed in the back of Deputy Wozniak’s cruiser and

taken to the Crawford County Jail. Riddle was asked multiple times before he got

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to the jail if he had any illegal drugs on him, and he was warned that if he carried

any drugs into the jail he could face a felony Illegal Conveyance charge. Riddle

repeatedly stated that he did not have any drugs on him.

{¶4} On the ride to the jail, Deputy Wozniak noticed Riddle shifting in the

back of his cruiser. Deputy Wozniak testified that such movement was suspicious,

and he often saw it when people were trying to hide contraband.

{¶5} Upon arrival at the jail, Riddle was taken to a “searching vestibule

inside the jail.” (Tr. at 123). Corrections Officer Jonah Watts testified that when

an inmate was brought into the jail he had to be searched, both his clothes and his

person, and certain medical questions had to be asked to the inmate.

{¶6} Corrections Officer Watts testified that Riddle was searched, that his

jeans were removed, and that in the small front “watch” pocket of Riddle’s jeans

two small “paper bindles” were located. The paper was folded up and dry. Each

paper contained suspected marijuana. When Riddle was asked what the papers

contained, he said it was “probably a blunt.” The suspected marijuana was tested

and found to be marijuana, one paper containing .58 grams and the second

containing .438 grams. Deputy Wozniak and Corrections Officer Watts testified

that the small “watch” pocket in jeans was often used to conceal drugs.

{¶7} As a result of the incident, Riddle was indicted for Illegal Conveyance

of Drugs of Abuse onto the Grounds of a Specified Government Facility in violation

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of R.C. 2921.36(A)(2), a felony of the third degree. Riddle pled not guilty and his

case proceeded to a jury trial.

{¶8} The State presented the testimony of the law enforcement officers

involved, the correctional officer who searched Riddle, and the law enforcement

officer who tested and confirmed that the bindles contained marijuana. Body

camera footage of the traffic stop was also introduced into evidence.

{¶9} Riddle testified on his own behalf, challenging the State’s allegation

that he “knowingly” conveyed the marijuana to the jail. Riddle argued that he had

been wearing the jeans he had on for about a week, ever since he found out there

was a warrant for his arrest. He testified that when he found out about the warrant

he “did what any man with a history that [he had] would do, [he] put on a few layers

of clothes and headed for cover.” (Tr. at 157). Riddle testified that he did not know

the marijuana was in the pocket of his jeans, that he had a lot of things in his pockets.

He testified that if he had known he would have turned the marijuana over to the

police, because he knew possession of a small amount of marijuana was not a

serious crime. Riddle also testified that he was only shifting around in the backseat

of the cruiser on the way to the jail because he was uncomfortable, and it would not

have been possible to reach into the front pocket of his jeans being cuffed behind

his back.

-4- Case No. 3-18-07

{¶10} The jury found Riddle guilty of Illegal Conveyance as indicted, and

the trial court proceeded to sentence Riddle. He was ordered to serve 30 months in

prison on the Illegal Conveyance conviction, consecutive to 500 days for a violation

of his post-release control. A judgment entry memorializing Riddle’s sentence was

filed April 10, 2018. It is from this judgment that Riddle appeals, asserting the

following assignments of error for our review.

Assignment of Error No. 1 The trial court erred in allowing the State to discuss the post release control violation underlying his initial arrest in violation of the prohibitions of Ohio Evid.R. 403 and Ohio Evid.R. 404.

Assignment of Error No. 2 The trial court erred in granting the State’s motion for a special instruction beyond that provided for by the standard Ohio Jury Instructions in reliance upon State v. Rice, 2016-Ohio-8443.

First Assignment of Error

{¶11} In Riddle’s first assignment of error, he argues that the trial court erred

by allowing the State to discuss the fact that there was a warrant out for his arrest

for a post-release control violation. Riddle contends that any testimony regarding

the fact that he was on post-release control and had a warrant out for his arrest for a

potential violation constituted improper character evidence under Evid.R. 404.

Standard of Review

{¶12} A trial court is vested with broad discretion in the admission of

evidence. State v. Plotts, 3d Dist. Van Wert No. 15-10-08, 2011-Ohio-900, ¶ 23,

-5- Case No. 3-18-07

citing Columbus v. Taylor, 39 Ohio St.3d 162, 164 (1988). Its evidentiary rulings

will not form the basis for a reversal on appeal absent a clear abuse of discretion,

which is materially prejudicial to the appellant. Id. citing State v. Maurer, 15 Ohio

St.3d 239, 265 (1984).

{¶13} Evidence Rule 404 reads, in pertinent part,

(A) Character Evidence Generally. Evidence of a person’s character or a trait of character is not admissible for the purpose of proving action in conformity therewith on a particular occasion, subject to the following exceptions:

(1) Character of Accused. Evidence of a pertinent trait of character offered by an accused, or by the prosecution to rebut the same is admissible; however, in prosecutions for rape, gross sexual imposition, and prostitution, the exceptions provided by statute enacted by the General Assembly are applicable.

***

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Related

State v. Morris
2012 Ohio 2407 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2012)
State v. Plotts
2011 Ohio 900 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2011)
Clark v. Grant Med. Ctr.
2015 Ohio 4958 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2015)
State v. Maag, Unpublished Decision (7-25-2005)
2005 Ohio 3761 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2005)
State v. Rice
2016 Ohio 8443 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2016)
State v. Frye
2018 Ohio 894 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2018)
State v. Curry
330 N.E.2d 720 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1975)
State v. Maurer
473 N.E.2d 768 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1984)
City of Columbus v. Taylor
529 N.E.2d 1382 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1988)
Becker v. Lake County Memorial Hospital West
560 N.E.2d 165 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1990)
State v. Lowe
634 N.E.2d 616 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1994)
Kokitka v. Ford Motor Co.
73 Ohio St. 3d 89 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1995)

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2018 Ohio 5216, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-riddle-ohioctapp-2018.