State v. Short

Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided August 10, 2026·No. 11-25-12·Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT

PAULDING COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 11-25-12

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

v.

OPINION AND

SHELBY LEE BLAKE SHORT, JUDGMENT ENTRY

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Paulding County Municipal Court Trial Court No. CRB2500113

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: August 10, 2026

APPEARANCES:

Brian A. Smith for Appellant

WALDICK, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Shelby Short (“Short”), brings this appeal from the October 1, 2025 judgment of the Paulding County Municipal Court. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

Background

{¶2} Short was charged in the Paulding County Municipal Court with Violating a Protection Order in violation of R.C. 2919.27(A)(2), a first degree misdemeanor. It was alleged that he continued to contact a former girlfriend despite a protection order being in place. Short pled not guilty to the charge.

{¶3} Prior to trial, Short, proceeding pro se, filed a pleading with the court demanding a speedy trial, a jury trial, and demanding that his accuser be present at trial.1 Short ultimately proceeded to a jury trial on August 26, 2025.

{¶4} At trial, the State presented evidence that Short had been in a relationship for approximately six months with a woman named L.H. Eventually, L.H. ended the relationship and told Short not to contact her. Nevertheless, Short continued to contact L.H., so she sought and received a protection order. Short was present for the full hearing on the protection order, and was aware of its contents.

1 The pleading also stated: “I also plea with the Court to get right with God. My God will Judge you. When you are in service to his people it is your duty to be right with him. You don’t get to argue with him on Judgment Day. You are out of your mind if you think that day is not coming for everyone. Christo Rey!”

{¶5} Despite the protection order being in place, Short continued to contact L.H., including contacting her family members. After receiving some concerning messages from Short on June 9, 2025, L.H. went to the police with the messages and Short was ultimately charged with the instant offense. The jury found Short guilty as charged.

{¶6} On October 1, 2025, Short was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail, with 135 of those days suspended. Short was also placed on community control for two years, ordered to pay a fine and court costs, and ordered to complete 20 hours of community service. A judgment entry memorializing his sentence was filed that same day. It is from this judgment that Short appeals, asserting the following assignments of error for our review.

First Assignment of Error

Because the trial court did not make a sufficient inquiry into Appellant’s waiver of counsel, Appellant’s waiver of counsel was not knowingly, voluntarily, or intelligently made, and the trial court erred in granting Appellant’s request to represent himself at trial, in violation of Appellant’s right to counsel under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution.

Second Assignment of Error

Because the jury lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice in convicting Appellant, Appellant’s conviction for Violating a Protection Order was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

Third Assignment of Error

Because the trial court acted in [an] arbitrary, unconscionable, and unreasonable manner in sentencing Appellant, the trial court’s sentence of Appellant constituted an abuse of discretion.

First Assignment of Error

{¶7} In his first assignment of error, Short argues that his waiver of counsel was not made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently.

Relevant Authority

{¶8} The Sixth Amendment right to counsel extends to misdemeanor cases that can result in the imposition of a jail sentence. State v. Wilson, 2018-Ohio-2805,

¶ 5 (3d Dist.). However, a criminal defendant has “an independent constitutional right of self-representation and . . . may proceed to defend himself without counsel when he voluntarily, and knowingly and intelligently elects to do so.” State v. Gibson, 45 Ohio St.2d 366 (1976). These Sixth Amendment rights are embodied in Crim.R. 44, which reads, in pertinent part, as follows:

(B) Counsel in petty offenses. Where a defendant charged with a petty offense is unable to obtain counsel, the court may assign counsel to represent the defendant. When a defendant charged with a petty offense is unable to obtain counsel, no sentence of confinement may be imposed upon the defendant, unless after being fully advised by the court, the defendant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waives assignment of counsel.

(C) Waiver of counsel. Waiver of counsel shall be in open court and the advice and waiver shall be recorded as provided in Rule 22. In addition, in serious offense cases the waiver shall be in writing.

{¶9} Criminal Rule 44 makes it clear that the waiver of the right to counsel “cannot be presumed from a silent record.” State v. Miyamoto, 2006-Ohio-1776, ¶ 14 (3d Dist.). “In order to establish an effective waiver of right to counsel, the trial court must make sufficient inquiry to determine whether the defendant fully understands and intelligently relinquishes that right.” Gibson at paragraph two of the syllabus. Importantly, however, in “petty offense” cases, like the case sub judice, the waiver of counsel does not need to be in writing. See Crim.R. 2(C), (D); State v. Boatwright, 2020-Ohio-5068, ¶ 12 (7th Dist.)

{¶10} Before a defendant can waive the right to counsel, the trial court must be satisfied that the defendant made an intelligent and voluntary waiver of the right knowing that he will have to represent himself. Id. at ¶ 10. Further, the court should inform the defendant of the dangers inherent in self-representation.

{¶11} Finally, we note that the State generally bears the burden of overcoming presumptions against a valid waiver. Wilson, supra, at ¶ 6. We conduct a de novo review of whether a defendant knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to counsel. State v. Beightler, 2019-Ohio-4522, ¶ 23 (3d Dist.).

Analysis

{¶12} In order to address whether Short made a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver of his right to counsel, we must review the dialogue between Short

and the trial court that occurred prior to trial. On the morning of trial, prior to voir dire, the trial court addressed Short, and the following exchange occurred.

THE COURT: . . . And, Mr. Short, you’re representing yourself; is that correct?

MR. SHORT: Yes.

THE COURT: All right. So several things we’re going to cover before we start to bring the jury in for selection.

The charge against you, Mr. Short, is violating a protection order.

[The court discusses the charge and potential penalties with Short at length.]

...

Okay. There are many technical problems that you may encounter today. You are held to the same standard as any attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio.

You must follow the rules of court and the Rules of Criminal Procedure.

There are many risks involved in self-representation. It is never recommended due to the many technical problems and complex rules to be followed in a jury trial that you represent yourself.

Again, you are held to the same standard as any lawyer who might appear in a similar manner representing a client. You must become familiar with the Rules of Evidence, Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the local rules. The court expects you to known and to follow those rules.

Further, the court will not advised you about these matters and you are expected to know and follow those rules without guidance from the court.

You must conduct yourself in a professional and respectful manner to the court, to the State, and to all the witnesses at all times in this case. You are advised if you do not conduct yourself in such a manner, the court may revoke your right to self-representation or may take further action as may be necessary.

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