State v. Brown, Unpublished Decision (1-24-2000)
State v. Brown, Unpublished Decision (1-24-2000)
Concurring Opinion
I concur with the analysis and disposition of this case by the majority. However, had the trial court made specific findings of fact as to the R.C.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
On September 4, 1998, Rodney B. Whitaker was employed by the Massillon City Schools as a seventh grade math teacher at Lorin Andrews Middle School. The students were released from school at 2:40 p.m. At approximately 2:45-2:50 p.m., Mr. Whitaker observed a fight between two girls. Said fight was occurring twenty to twenty-five feet from the school building in an alley located two feet beyond the end of the school property. As Mr. Whitaker attempted to break up the fight, he was struck repeatedly about the head by appellee, Shaun Brown, a juvenile. On September 8, 1998, appellee was charged with one count of aggravated menacing in violation of R.C.I THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY AFFIRMING THE MAGISTRATE'S DECISION WHICH FOUND THAT THE ASSAULT OF A SCHOOL TEACHER WAS A MISDEMEANOR AND NOT A FELONY; A FINDING CONTRARY TO LAW.
Pursuant to judgment entry filed June 24, 1999, this court granted appellant leave to appeal the applicability of R.C.
BY THE MAGISTRATE: All right, first thing I want to make clear is that I believe this is a very technical statute which has a number of elements which must be met and so the Court's ruling is a ruling as to whether or not the technical elements of this statute were met in this case, to elevate this offense from a misdemeanor to a felony and I do not believe that that portion of this statute applies to the facts of this case. Therefore, I'm going to make a finding that Shawn Brown is delinquent by assault, misdemeanor of the first degree.
(Emphasis added.)
The only witness under the stipulated facts of the complaint was the victim, Rodney B. Whitaker. The main portion of Mr. Whitaker's testimony was very fact specific as to the location of the assault and the extent of his duties after school. The magistrate's ruling which was affirmed by the trial court was a determination on the actual facts presented and not on the substantive law, R.C.
Accordingly, we find the discretionary appeal was improperly allowed. Further, we decline to rule on whether the facts in the transcript warrant a conviction under R.C.
This appeal is dismissed. By FARMER, J. WISE, P.J. and EDWARDS, J. concur.
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