State v. Cantwell, Unpublished Decision (6-7-2004)
State v. Cantwell, Unpublished Decision (6-7-2004)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On July 9, 2003, appellant pled guilty. By judgment entry filed July 18, 2003, the trial court sentenced appellant to three years in prison and ordered appellant to pay court costs.
{¶ 3} On September 23, 2003, appellant filed a motion to waive court costs and an affidavit of indigency. By judgment entry filed September 25, 2003, the trial court denied said motion.
{¶ 4} On October 9, 2003, appellant filed a motion to vacate the order of garnishment to collect court costs. By judgment entry filed October 15, 2003, the trial court denied said motion.
{¶ 5} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
{¶ 9} This case raises three issues:
{¶ 10} 1) May a trial court assess court costs against an indigent defendant?
{¶ 11} 2) Once assessed, when does the appeal time start to run?
{¶ 12} 3) Does the filing of an uncontested affidavit of indigency preclude collection?
{¶ 15} R.C.
{¶ 16} "Upon conviction of a nonindigent person for a felony, the clerk of the court of common pleas shall make and certify under his hand and seal of the court, a complete itemized bill of the costs made in such prosecution, including the sum paid by the board of county commissioners, certified by the county auditor, for the arrest and return of the person on the requisition of the governor, or on the request of the governor to the president of the United States, or on the return of the fugitive by a designated agent pursuant to a waiver of extradition except in cases of parole violation. Such bill of costs shall be presented by such clerk to the prosecuting attorney, who shall examine each item therein charged and certify to it if correct and legal. Upon certification by the prosecuting attorney, the clerk shall attempt to collect the costs from the person convicted."
{¶ 17} This statute carries a direct mandate to the clerk of courts to prepare an itemized bill of the costs for nonindigent defendants. It does not prohibit the clerk of courts from preparing an itemized bill of the costs for indigent defendants. We conclude R.C.
{¶ 18} If the statute permits an itemized bill of the costs for indigent defendants, then the time for appeal does not begin to run until there is an attempt to levy or garnish. We find this to be consistent with this court's decisions in State v.Durenda, Stark App. No. 2003CA00336, 2004-Ohio-1292, and Statev. Chambers, Stark App. No. 2003CA00337, 2004-Ohio-1279. The appeal sub judice was timely filed.
{¶ 20} In the case sub judice, appellant was sentence to a three year prison term on July 18, 2003. He filed his motion to waive court costs and an affidavit of indigency on September 23, 2003. No evidence contra to the affidavit was filed and the trial court denied said motion on September 25, 2003. On October 9, 2003, appellant filed a motion to vacate the order of garnishment to collect court costs. The trial court denied said motion on October 15, 2003.
{¶ 21} Appellant argues the provisions of R.C.
{¶ 22} We therefore conclude it was the sole intent of the Ohio General Assembly to permit collection and garnishment for court costs against nonindigent felons only. The statute does not provide collection against indigent felons.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.