State v. Srp

2012 Ohio 2285

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 23, 2012
• Docket: 26029
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Srp, 2012-Ohio-2285.]

STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS )ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COUNTY OF SUMMIT )

STATE OF OHIO/CITY OF TWINSBURG C.A. No. 26029

Appellee

v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT ENTERED IN THE MICHAEL SRP STOW MUNICIPAL COURT COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO Appellant CASE No. 2010 TRC 4334

DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: May 23, 2012

MOORE, Presiding Judge.

{¶1} Appellant, Michael Srp, appeals from his conviction in the Stow Municipal Court.

This Court affirms.

I.

{¶2} In the early morning hours of May 14, 2010, a police officer with the City of

Twinsburg initiated a traffic stop for a weaving violation. Several sobriety tests were conducted

on the driver, Michael Srp. When he was unable to successfully complete the tests, he was taken

into custody. It was discovered that he had a blood alcohol concentration of .154. Mr. Srp was

cited for operating a vehicle under the influence, operating a vehicle with a prohibited blood

alcohol concentration, and weaving in violation of the Twinsburg Codified Ordinance. Mr. Srp

initially entered a plea of not guilty. He subsequently filed a motion to dismiss for want of

probable cause. After a hearing was held on the motion, and the motion was denied, Mr. Srp

entered a plea of no contest to operating a vehicle under the influence. Pursuant to a plea 2

agreement, the offenses of operating a vehicle with a prohibited blood alcohol concentration and

weaving were merged and dismissed. Mr. Srp was sentenced to 180 days, with 177 of those days

suspended, and was ordered to successfully complete a three-day driving intervention program.

A $1,000 fine was also imposed, with $600 suspended, and a six-month license suspension was

ordered. A stay was granted on the sentence pending appeal.

{¶3} Mr. Srp moved this Court for leave to file a delayed appeal, and the motion was

granted. Mr. Srp raises one assignment of error for our review.

II.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN USING AND FINDING SUPPRESSIBLE FACTS SUFFICIENT BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT TO CONVICT [MR. SRP].

{¶4} Initially, we note that Mr. Srp’s assignment of error provides a roadmap for our

review and, as such, directs our analysis of the trial court’s judgment. Hamlin-Scanlon v. Taylor,

9th Dist. No. 23773, 2008-Ohio-411, ¶ 8; App.R. 16. Mr. Srp makes various arguments in the

body of his brief pertaining to the constitutionality of the weaving ordinance, the alleged

inconsistencies and lack of credibility in the officer’s testimony, and the public policy

surrounding DUI ordinances. Mr. Srp’s assignment of error, however, directs this Court to

analyze the sufficiency of the facts to support his conviction, and we will confine our analysis to

this issue. See id.

{¶5} In his sole assignment of error, Mr. Srp contends that there was insufficient

evidence to convict him for operating a vehicle under the influence. As previously noted, Mr.

Srp pled no contest to operating a vehicle under the influence. The Rules of Criminal Procedure

provide that a “plea of no contest is not an admission of defendant’s guilt, but is an admission of 3

the truth of the facts alleged in the indictment[.]” Crim.R. 11(B). The Ohio Supreme Court has

determined that “[w]here the indictment, information, or complaint contains sufficient

allegations to state a felony offense and the defendant pleads no contest, the court must find the

defendant guilty of the charged offense.” State v. Bird, 81 Ohio St.3d 582 (1998), syllabus,

citing State ex rel. Stern v. Mascio, 75 Ohio St.3d 422, 425 (1996). Thus, “a defendant who has

pled no contest to a charge cannot later challenge his conviction on the grounds that there is

insufficient evidence to support it.” State v. Moore, 9th Dist. No. 21182, 2003-Ohio-244, ¶ 5,

citing State v. Lowe, 2d Dist. Nos. 93-CA-54, 93-CA-55, 1995 WL 127890 (Mar. 24, 1995).

{¶6} Mr. Srp was convicted of driving under the influence in violation of Twinsburg

Codified Ordinance 333.01(A)(1)(a) which provides that “[n]o person shall operate any vehicle

within this Municipality, if, at the time of the operation, * * * [t]he person is under the influence

of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them.” The complaint stated that on May 14,

2010, around 1:31 a.m., a traffic stop was initiated on a black Infiniti at 9224 Darrow Rd. The

driver, Mr. Srp, committed the following offenses: operating a vehicle under the influence of

alcohol/drug of abuse, prohibited blood alcohol concentration of .154 on his breath, and

weaving. The recitation of the facts provided to the court at the plea hearing also indicated that

Mr. Srp was taken into custody for operating a vehicle under the influence after several sobriety

tests were conducted.

{¶7} Because Mr. Srp pled no contest to the complaint, he is now precluded from

challenging the factual merits of the underlying charges. See Bird, 81 Ohio St.3d at 584. The

State fulfilled its obligation by alleging sufficient facts to charge a violation for operating a

vehicle under the influence. See id. By pleading no contest, Mr. Srp admitted the truth of the 4

allegations as set forth in the complaint. See id. at 585. Accordingly, Mr. Srp’s assignment of

error is overruled.

III.

{¶8} Mr. Srp’s sole assignment of error is overruled. The judgment of the Stow

Municipal Court is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Stow Municipal

Court, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy

of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the

period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is

instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the

mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

Costs taxed to Appellant.

CARLA MOORE FOR THE COURT

CARR, J. BELFANCE, J. CONCUR 5

APPEARANCES:

DUANE L. DOYLE, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

DAVID MAISTROS, Attorney at Law, for Appellee.