State v. Wells

2024 Ohio 236
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 24, 2024
Docket2023 CA 0021
StatusPublished

This text of 2024 Ohio 236 (State v. Wells) 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. Wells, 2024 Ohio 236 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Wells, 2024-Ohio-236.]

COURT OF APPEALS COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES: STATE OF OHIO : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J. : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Andew J. King, J. : -vs- : : Case No. 2023 CA 0021 SHAWN H. WELLS : : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Coshocton County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2022 CR 0148

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: January 24, 2024

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

E. MARIE SEIBER KATELYNN R. DAVIS Assistant Coshocton Publilc Defender Assistant Prosecuting Attorney 239 N. Fourth Street 318 Chestnut St. Coshocton, OH 43812 Coshocton, OH 43812 Coshocton County, Case No. 2023 CA 0021 2

Gwin, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant Shawn H. Wells [“Wells”] appeals from the May 25,

2023 and the May 31, 2023 Judgment Entries of the Coshocton County Court of Common

Pleas overruling his motion to suppress evidence.

Facts and Procedural History

{¶2} On December 19, 2022, Wells was indicted with one count of Possession

of a Fentanyl-Related Compound, a felony of the fifth degree in violation of R.C.

2925.11(A)/ 2925.11(C)(11)(a).

{¶3} On April 17, 2023, Wells filed a motion to suppress. [Docket Entry No. 20].

The state responded on May 15, 2023. [Docket Entry No. 23]. On May 18, 2023 a hearing

was held on the motion to suppress. The following evidence was presented during the

hearing on Wells’ motion to suppress1.

{¶4} On July 18, 2022, at approximately 12:55 a.m., Deputy Jeremy Johnson

was on duty as a road patrol officer for the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office when he

came upon an unoccupied pickup truck blocking an alleyway in the City of Coshocton.

When looking inside the vehicle, Deputy Johnson spotted a large knife open on the

console. Deputy Johnson first radioed a dispatcher to report the license plate number,

and then checked with neighbors to locate the owner of the truck. Deputy Johnson was

on the scene for a brief period of time when he spotted Wells running toward the truck

carrying a gallon jug of gasoline. Wells resided near the location of his disabled truck.

{¶5} Deputy Johnson's body cam video, State’s Exhibit 1, shows Deputy

Johnson and another deputy allow Wells to move freely in and about the disabled truck

1 The facts are taken in part from the May 25, 2023 Judgment Entry overruling Wells’ motion to

suppress. [Docket Entry No. 31]. Coshocton County, Case No. 2023 CA 0021 3

in search of an item Wells could use as a funnel to pour the gasoline. At one point the

deputies allowed Wells to use a knife to cut into a plastic water bottle. Ultimately, Wells

poured the gasoline through a paper funnel and then started cranking the ignition. After

many unsuccessful attempts, Deputy Johnson finally said, "Shawn, could you just do me

a favor? Step out and give that thing a break for a minute."

{¶6} Deputy Johnson then asks Wells, "You don't have any more weapons on

you? No more knives, guns, anything?" Wells denies having any weapons, and Deputy

Johnson then asks, "Do you mind if I search for weapons and contraband then?" Initially,

Wells responds by saying, "I don't see what the point is." Deputy Johnson asks again,

and Wells replies, "I don't have anything on me. You can search me if you want."

{¶7} Deputy Johnson then conducted a search of Wells’ including his pockets

and observed a tin foil packet, something the deputy believed to be illegal narcotics, in

Wells’ right cargo pocket. As a second deputy, Joseph Corpman, was going to retrieve

gloves, Wells began to flee. Both deputies chased after Wells. Deputy Corpman caught

up to Wells first and tried to restrain him; however, Wells resisted and attempted to get

away. When Deputy Johnson caught up, he shoved both Wells and Deputy Corpman to

the ground. Due to Wells continued resistance, he was tazed in the back of the leg. Wells

was then handcuffed and returned to the scene where the vehicle was located. Wells was

then searched incident to arrest and the tin foil packet was removed from Wells’ pocket.

BCI testing confirmed that the tin foil packet found in Wells’ right pants pocket contained

Fentanyl.

{¶8} By Judgment Entry filed May 25, 2023, the trial judge denied Wells’ motion

to suppress. On May 30, 2023, Wells filed a Motion for additional findings concerning the Coshocton County, Case No. 2023 CA 0021 4

search of Wells’ pockets. [Docket Entry No. 32]. By Judgment Entry filed May 31, 2023,

the trial judge made the additional findings. [Docket Entry No. 33].

{¶9} A change of plea hearing was held on June 20, 2023. Wells appeared with

counsel and agreed to enter a plea of no contest to the single count found within the

indictment, Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound, a felony of the fifth degree. The

judge accepted the plea of no contest and found Wells guilty. Sentence was deferred

pending a pre-sentence investigation report.

{¶10} On August 8, 2023, Wells and counsel appeared for sentencing. Wells was

sentenced to Community Control Sanctions for a period of three years. Wells was advised

that if he violated the terms and conditions of community sanctions, he shall be sentenced

to a definite term of incarceration up to six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve

months in a state penal institution. Wells was ordered to pay the Public Defender fee, a

monthly supervision fee, and the costs of prosecution. Bond was released.

Assignments of Error

{¶11} Wells raises two Assignments of Error,

{¶12} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO

SUPPRESS BECAUSE THE APPELLANT WAS UNLAWFULLY ORDERED TO EXIT HIS

VEHICLE.

{¶13} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO

SUPPRESS BECAUSE THE SCOPE OF THE SEARCH EXCEEDED THE CONSENT

GIVEN AND THE LIMITS OF A TERRY SEARCH.”

I. & II.

{¶14} In his First Assignment of Error, Wells argues that the trial judge erred in

denying his Motion to Suppress because Wells was unlawfully ordered to exit his vehicle . Coshocton County, Case No. 2023 CA 0021 5

In his Second Assignment of Error, Wells contends the scope of the search by Deputy

Johnson of Wells’ pockets exceeded the consent given by Wells and the limits of a Terry

pat-down frisk.

Standard of Appellate Review

{¶15} Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of law

and fact. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 154-155, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d

71, ¶ 8. When ruling on a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of trier of

fact and is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and to evaluate witness

credibility. See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308,314, 1995-Ohio-243, 652 N.E.2d 988;

State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982). Accordingly, a reviewing

court must defer to the trial court's factual findings if competent, credible evidence exists

to support those findings. See Burnside, supra; Dunlap, supra; State v. Long, 127 Ohio

App.3d 328, 332, 713 N.E.2d 1(4th Dist. 1998); State v. Medcalf, 111 Ohio App.3d 142,

675 N.E.2d 1268 (4th Dist. 1996). However, once this Court has accepted those facts as

true, it must independently determine as a matter of law whether the trial court met the

applicable legal standard.

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Bluebook (online)
2024 Ohio 236, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-wells-ohioctapp-2024.