State v. Grove, Unpublished Decision (7-9-2002)
State v. Grove, Unpublished Decision (7-9-2002)
Concurring Opinion
I fully concur in the majority's analysis and disposition of appellant's first, second, fourth and fifth assignments of error.
I write separately only with respect to appellant's third assignment of error. The fact the administrative license suspension has been recognized by the Ohio Supreme Court as a separate civil action, does not mean collateral estoppel or res judicata principles do not apply. Though it was error to allow appellee to comment on the circumstances of appellant's alleged refusal given, the trial court's specific finding in the administrative license appeal, I, nevertheless, do not find the error rises to the level of plain error.
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On January 6, 2001, appellant was operating her Toyota Camry on State Route 33 (Memorial Drive) in Fairfield County. She passed a highway patrol cruiser being driven in the same direction by Trooper Laurie Lindsey. The trooper estimated her speed as over the limit, and proceeded to make an immediate traffic stop. The trooper advised appellant that she had been speeding, and noticed that appellant had about her an odor of alcoholic beverage, that appellant's speech was slurred, and that appellant's eyes appeared bloodshot. The trooper performed a brief horizontal gaze nystagmus ("HGN") test while appellant sat in her vehicle. At that point, appellant was asked to exit her vehicle and to accompany the trooper to the side of the cruiser, where a three-part field sobriety test was conducted. As a result thereof, the trooper advised appellant that she was under arrest for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Appellant requested to speak with her father, Attorney Raymond Grove. After a short wait, Attorney Grove appeared at the scene, conferred with appellant, and took custody of appellant's vehicle.
{¶ 3} Appellant was driven to highway patrol headquarters, where, according to Trooper Lindsey, she refused to take a blood-alcohol content test. Appellant was subsequently charged with speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol. On March 15, 2001, appellant filed a motion to suppress and/or dismiss. Following a hearing, said motion was denied by the trial court on June 25, 2001. The matter proceeded to a trial by jury on August 28, 2001. Appellant was thereafter convicted and sentenced on both counts.
{¶ 4} Appellant timely appealed and herein raises the following five Assignments of Error:
{¶ 5} "I. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED IT'S (SIC) DISCRETION IN FINDING DEFENDANT-APPELLANT GUILTY OF SPEED BY PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT."
{¶ 6} "II. THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT WAS DEPRIVED OF PROCEDURAL AND SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS WHERE IN A COURT OF RECORD THERE ARE SIX HUNDRED AND FOUR INAUDIBLE PROTIONS (SIC) OF THE TRANSCRIPT."
{¶ 7} "III. DUE TO PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT WAS DEPRIVED OF A FAIR TRIAL."
{¶ 8} "IV. DEFENDANT-APPELLANT WAS DEPRIVED OF HER STATUTORY RIGHT TO A CONFIDENTIAL CONFERENCE WITH HER ATTORNEY UNDER §
2935.20 R.C. WHICH RESULTED IN DENIAL OF DUE PROCESS AND ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL."{¶ 9} "V. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR BY OVERRULING DEFENDANT-APPELLANTS (SIC) MOTION TO SUPPRESS AND/OR DISMISS THE CHARGES."
{¶ 11} We interpret appellant's claim as one based on the issue of sufficiency of the evidence. In considering an appeal concerning the sufficiency of the evidence, our standard of review is as follows: "* * * [T]he inquiry is, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, whether any reasonable trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt."State v. Jenks (1991),
{¶ 12} Trooper Lindsey testified at trial that she was proceeding on Memorial Drive just before 2 a.m., traveling at the speed limit of fifty mph. At that point, appellant's Toyota passed her in the left lane. The trooper pulled over to the left lane to a position behind appellant's vehicle. At that point, the trooper began "pacing" appellant's vehicle in order to gauge its speed. She testified that she had received training in this method. Tr. at 14-15. Based on her estimation, appellant was traveling at the rate of sixty mph.
{¶ 13} Upon full review of the record, and the trooper's visual estimate of appellant's speed, we find there was sufficient evidence supporting appellant's conviction for speeding. See State v. Napier (July 30, 2001), Stark App. No. 2001CA00035, 2001 WL 1771036, (Ohio App. 5 Dist.).
{¶ 14} Appellant's First Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 16} We first note that an overview of the trial transcript reveals that a significant number of the "inaudible" markers are found in the transcription of the playing to the jury of the highway patrol's traffic stop video, as well as during the closing argument section. This Court has for its review the original tape regardless of the nature of the transcription thereof; furthermore, it is well-established that statements made by counsel in closing arguments are not evidence. SeeState v. Frazier (1995),
{¶ 17} Appellant herein has failed to demonstrate the second and third prongs of the Palmer test, and we therefore find no merit in her position.
{¶ 18} Appellant's Second Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 20} Appellant specifically cites as misconduct the prosecutor's closing commentary regarding appellant's alleged refusal to take a BAC test, and the prosecutor's attempt to subpoena Attorney Grove as a witness. We will address each in turn.
{¶ 21} The test for prosecutorial misconduct is whether the prosecutor's conduct at trial was improper and prejudicially affected the substantial rights of the defendant. State v. Lott (1991),
{¶ 22} Appellant directs us to the following statements made by the prosecutor during closing arguments:
{¶ 23} We get to the post later on and she's there with a lawyer, her father. And she's told that take the test and you test over you have a 90-day suspension and if you refuse to take the test you get a one-year suspension. After she already said she hadn't had, not that much to drink and gets marked as a, as a refusal and she is told that it's a refusal, she doesn't protest one word. She'd rather take the one-year license suspension. Why? Why didn't she just take the test if she didn't have that much to drink?
Trial Tr. at 129-130.
{¶ 24} Appellant urges that the prosecutor's language improperly created an inference that appellant had a duty to explain why she allegedly refused to take the BAC test. We initially note that appellant failed to object to the aforesaid alleged instance of prosecutorial misconduct. Error not raised in the trial court must be plain error in order to reverse. State v. Johnson (Nov. 19, 1998), Richland App. No. 98-CA-42, 1998 WL 818026, citing State vs. Long (1978),
{¶ 25} "It is well established that the refusal of a defendant to take a reasonably reliable chemical test for intoxication is admissible in evidence at trial." State v. McCoy (April 15, 2002), Stark App. No. 2001CA00125, 2002 WL 571686, citing State v. Murphy (Dec. 29, 1995) Brown App. No. CA 95-05-010, 1995 WL 764049. Appellant points out that the trial court, in a hearing on January 25, 2001, pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 26} Appellant secondly argues that it was prosecutorial misconduct for the state to subpoena her first attorney, Raymond Grove, as a witness.1 Crim.R. 17(F) states that "[a]t the request of any party, subpoenas for attendance at a hearing or trial shall be issued by the clerk of the court in which the hearing or trial is held. A subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness at a hearing or trial may be served at any place within this state." It is undisputed that Attorney Grove was present as a witness to the latter stage of the traffic stop. However, appellant cites no authority in support of her premise that alleged misuse of subpoena powers is cognizable on appeal as a form of prosecutorial misconduct. Moreover, even if we accept appellant's proposition that the subpoena issuance forced her to employ a different attorney, appellant still fails to demonstrate such a result prejudicially affected her substantial rights. Lott, supra.
{¶ 27} Appellant's Third Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 29} R.C.
{¶ 30} After the arrest, detention, or any other taking into custody of a person, with or without a warrant, such person shall be permitted forthwith facilities to communicate with an attorney at law of his choice who is entitled to practice in the courts of this state, or to communicate with any other person of his choice for the purpose of obtaining counsel. Such communication may be made by a reasonable number of telephone calls or in any other reasonable manner. Such person shall have a right to be visited immediately by any attorney at law so obtained who is entitled to practice in the courts of this state, and to consult with him privately. No officer or any other agent of this state shall prevent, attempt to prevent, or advise such person against the communication, visit, or consultation provided for by this section. * * *.
{¶ 31} However, because the R.C.
{¶ 32} Appellant's Fourth Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 34} There are three methods of challenging, on appeal, a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress. First, an appellant may challenge the trial court's findings of fact. In reviewing a challenge of this nature, an appellate court must determine whether said findings of fact are against the manifest weight of the evidence. See State v. Fanning
(1982),
{¶ 35} Appellant's main argument is that the field sobriety tests were not administered by Trooper Lindsey as required by State v. Homan
(2000),
{¶ 36} Crim.R. 47 states that a motion to suppress "shall state with particularity the grounds upon which it is made." The state's burden of proof in a motion to suppress hearing is limited to those contentions that are asserted with sufficient particularity to place the prosecutor and court on notice of the issues to be decided. State v. Neuhoff
(1997),
{¶ 37} Appellant, relying on State v. Finch (1985),
{¶ 38} Based on our review of the record, we find probable cause existed to believe that appellant was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and find no error in the trial court's decision to deny appellant's motion to suppress and/or dismiss.
{¶ 39} Appellant's Fifth Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 40} For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the Municipal Court of Fairfield County, Ohio, is hereby affirmed.
By: WISE, J. EDWARDS, J., concur. HOFFMAN, P.J., concurs separately.
Costs to appellant.
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