City of Toledo v. Pack, Unpublished Decision (3-29-2002)
City of Toledo v. Pack, Unpublished Decision (3-29-2002)
Opinion of the Court
Appellant sets forth the following assignments of error:
"FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
"THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE MOTION TO DISMISS FOR VIOLATION OF THE STATUTORY RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL.
"SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
"THE CONVICTION IN THIS CASE WAS BASED ON INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, AND THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING THE MOTIONS FOR JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL. (TR 179, 206)
"THIRD ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
"THE CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
"FOURTH ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
"AFTER REPEATED TESTIMONY REGARDING ALLEGED MISCONDUCT NOT AT ISSUE IN THIS CASE, THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT GRANTING A MISTRIAL. (TR 7, 8, 9, 331, 121, 126-127.)"
The undisputed facts that are relevant to the issues raised on appeal are as follows. On July 17, 2000, appellant was charged with failure to correct a nuisance, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Service was made on July 21, 2000. Pursuant to R.C.
On September 18, 2000, appellant waived her right to a speedy trial, adding that the waiver was "only as to excess time to get to first jury date from this date." The case came to trial on November 16, 2000. On that date, appellant filed a motion to dismiss on the grounds that the city failed to comply with the statutory speedy trial provision. Appellant's motion was denied and the trial began. On November 17, 2000, the jury found appellant guilty of the charge against her.
In her first assignment of error, appellant asserts that the trial court erred by denying her motion to dismiss. Appellant argues that the two continuances due to the "judge's schedule" did not satisfy the requirement of R.C.
R.C.
Although appellant waived her right to a speedy trial, it was not done until September 18, 2000, which was thirteen days after the time limit had passed, and after the two continuances by the trial court. It therefore is the time period between service of summons and September 18 that concerns this court. Upon consideration of the record, we find that setting the case for trial past the statutory time limit two times due to "judge's schedule" without further explanation does not constitute a "reasonable continuance" pursuant to R.C.
Based on the foregoing, appellant's second, third and fourth assignments of error are moot.
On consideration whereof, this court finds that appellant was prejudiced and prevented from having a fair trial. The judgment of the Toledo Municipal Court is reversed and appellant's conviction is vacated. Costs of this appeal are assessed to appellee.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27. See, also, 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4, amended 1/1/98.
Peter M. Handwork, J., James R. Sherck, J., and Richard W. Knepper,J., CONCUR.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.