[Cite as State v. Burke, 2013-Ohio-2888.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

WASHINGTON COUNTY 

STATE OF OHIO, : Case No. 12CA39 

 : 

Plaintiff-Appellee, : 

: DECISION AND 

v. : JUDGMENT ENTRY

 : 

MARK A. BURKE, : 

 : RELEASED 6/27/13 

 

 Defendant-Appellant. : 

______________________________________________________________________ 

APPEARANCES: 

Eric E. Willison, Columbus, Ohio, for appellant. 

Paul G. Bertram, III, Marietta City Law Director, and Daniel Everson, Marietta City 

Assistant Law Director, Marietta, Ohio, for appellee. 

______________________________________________________________________ 

Per Curiam 

{¶1} Following a bench trial, the court found Mark Burke guilty of disobeying 

the instructions of a traffic control device while driving a vehicle. The court implicitly 

found Burke disobeyed the instructions for a stop sign because he failed to stop at a 

clearly marked stop line when he approached the sign. Burke contends his conviction is 

against the manifest weight of the evidence. We agree. The record contains no 

evidence there was a stop line at the location at issue. Even if there was a stop line, 

which Burke arguably appears to concede, there is no evidence about the location of his 

vehicle in relation to the line at any time. Thus, we reverse Burke’s conviction. This 

decision renders his other arguments moot. 

I. Facts
Washington App. No. 12CA39 2 

{¶2} Burke pleaded not guilty to a charge of disobeying the instructions of a 

traffic control device, i.e., a stop sign, while driving a vehicle, in violation of R.C. 

4511.12. At a bench trial, Trooper Eric Knowlton with the Ohio State Highway Patrol 

testified that while on patrol in Washington County, he saw a vehicle stopped at a stop 

sign on Market Street and saw a second vehicle stopped behind the first vehicle. As he 

approached the intersection, both vehicles “came out together and made a left turn.” In 

other words, the second vehicle did not come to a complete stop at the stop sign after 

the first vehicle proceeded into the intersection. Burke was driving the second vehicle. 

{¶3} Burke testified that he stopped behind a truck at the stop sign. He did not 

enter the intersection until the truck turned and exited the intersection. Burke claimed 

he came to a separate, complete stop at the sign after the truck pulled out. Burke 

explained: “I hesitated while the truck started out of the intersection. Then I was back 

from the white bar a little bit, after my hesitation stopped. I was back from that white 

bar. So what [the trooper] saw was me pulling up to that white bar and taking another 

look. I’m already stopped. I’m pulling up to the white bar, after I’m stopped, and the 

truck cleared the intersection, and I looked to the right and I looked to the left, and I said 

I have enough time to get out without causing an accident.” 

{¶4} The court issued a decision and specifically found that “there is a stop line 

on Market Street.” The court found “beyond a reasonable doubt that [Burke] did fail to 

stop as required by [R.C.] 4511.12 before entering the intersection.” After sentencing, 

Burke filed this appeal. 

II. Assignments of Error 

{¶5} Burke assigns the following errors for our review: 
Washington App. No. 12CA39 3 

I. The Trial Court Erred When Convicting Defendant When There 

Was Uncontradicted Evidence that Defendant Did Stop at the Stop 

Sign. 

II. The Trial Court Erred in Conducting an Ex Parte Investigation of the 

Scene. 

III. The Trial Court Erred in Concluding that there was Evidence 

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt that Defendant Appellant Proceeded 

Without Stopping. 

III. Manifest Weight of the Evidence 

{¶6} In his first assignment of error, Burke contends the court erred when it 

found him guilty because the evidence shows he did stop at the stop sign. In his third 

assignment of error, Burke claims the court erred in concluding there was evidence 

beyond a reasonable doubt that he “proceeded without stopping.” We interpret these 

assignments of error as manifest weight of the evidence challenges and consider them 

together. 

{¶7} To determine whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the 

evidence, we “must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable 

inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses and determine whether, in resolving 

conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest 

miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed.” State v. Brown, 4th Dist. 

No. 09CA3, 2009-Ohio-5390, ¶ 24, citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 

678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). A reviewing court “may not reverse a conviction when there is 

substantial evidence upon which the trial court could reasonably conclude that all 

elements of the offense have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. 

Johnson, 58 Ohio St.3d 40, 42, 567 N.E.2d 266 (1991). 

{¶8} We must remember the weight to be given evidence and credibility to be 
Washington App. No. 12CA39 4 

afforded testimony are issues for the trier of fact. State v. Frazier, 73 Ohio St.3d 323, 

339, 652 N.E.2d 1000 (1995). The fact finder “is best able to view the witnesses and 

observe their demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections, and use these observations in 

weighing the credibility of the proffered testimony.” Seasons Coal Co. v. City of 

Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984). We will only interfere if the 

fact finder clearly lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice. “Unlike a 

manifest weight challenge to a conviction resulting from a jury verdict, which requires a 

unanimous concurrence of all three appellate judges to reverse, a manifest weight 

challenge to a conviction resulting from a bench trial requires only a majority 

concurrence to reverse.” State v. Hill, 7th Dist. No. 09-MA-202, 2011-Ohio-6217, ¶ 49. 

{¶9} Burke was charged with violating R.C. 4511.12(A), which provides that no 

driver of a vehicle “shall disobey the instructions of any traffic control device placed in 

accordance with [R.C. Chapter 4511], unless at the time otherwise directed by a police 

officer.” Here, the device was a stop sign, and R.C. 4511.43(A) contains the 

instructions for it that the trial court concluded Burke did not follow. R.C. 4511.43(A) 

states: 

Except when directed to proceed by a law enforcement officer, every 

driver of a vehicle or trackless trolley approaching a stop sign shall stop at 

a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on 

the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the 

intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on 

the intersecting roadway before entering it. After having stopped, the 

driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or 

approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate 

hazard during the time the driver is moving across or within the 

intersection or junction of roadways. 

{¶10} The trial court specifically found that “there is a stop line on Market Street” 

before it found Burke guilty. Therefore, we conclude the court implicitly found that 
Washington App. No. 12CA39 5 

Burke disobeyed the instructions of a traffic control device, i.e., a stop sign, because he 

failed to stop at a clearly marked stop line when he approached the sign. 

{¶11} The record contains no evidence there was a stop line. Although Burke 

mentioned a “white bar” during his testimony, he never clarified what this bar was. In 

his brief, Burke appears to acknowledge there was in fact a stop line. But as he points 

out, there is no evidence as to where the line was in relation to the stop sign, the vehicle 

in front of him, or his vehicle at any time during this incident. Knowlton only testified 

about the location of the vehicles in relation to the stop sign itself. 

{¶12} The State concedes there was no testimony about the position of the stop 

line relative to the stop sign. (Appellee’s Br. 5). The State suggests that “simple logic 

tells us that if indeed the Defendant was stopped behind the leading car (which was 

stopped at the red light), the Defendant could not have been stopped at the stop line as 

is required by statute, much less stopped at the point nearest the intersecting roadway if 

that stop line somehow did not exist.” (Emphasis sic). (Appellee’s Br. 5). 

{¶13} The State mistakenly argues that the leading car stopped at a red light 

when evidence shows it was a stop sign. Moreover, we cannot simply assume that the 

first vehicle stopped at the stop line simply because Knowlton testified the vehicle 

stopped at the stop sign. Again, we have no evidence about the location of the stop line 

in relation to the stop sign or any of the vehicles. 

{¶14} The State argues that Burke never raised the issue of the position of the 

stop line at the trial level, so he forfeited that issue for purposes of appeal. The State 

complains that “nobody ever claimed at the trial court level that this was anything but a 

properly marked stop sign with a corresponding stop line in the appropriate location, 
Washington App. No. 12CA39 6 

with a driver ahead that had properly stopped at the intersection. Had these matters 

been raised as objections to the charge, on point evidence could have (and would have) 

been taken.” (Appellee’s Br. 5-6). The State cites no authority for its argument. The 

State had the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Burke disobeyed the 

instructions of a stop sign. Burke did not forfeit his right to have the State prove that 

simply because he did not make a Crim.R. 29(A) motion for acquittal. His not guilty plea 

preserved the right to appeal on the manifest weight and sufficiency of the evidence. 

State v. Cooper, 170 Ohio App.3d 418, 2007-Ohio-1186, 867 N.E.2d 493, ¶ 13 (4th 

Dist.) (“[A] defendant preserves his right to object to the alleged insufficiency of the 

evidence when he enters his ‘not guilty’ plea.”); Compare State v. Hill, 8th Dist. No. 

90513, 2008-Ohio-4857, ¶ 6 (stating that “[a] guilty plea waives a defendant’s right to 

challenge sufficiency or manifest weight of the evidence.”). 

{¶15} For the foregoing reasons, we find that Burke’s conviction was against the 

manifest weight of the evidence. We need not address Burke’s other arguments as to 

why his conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence. They are moot. 

See App.R. 12(A)(1)(c). Accordingly, we sustain the first and third assignments of error, 

reverse Burke’s conviction, and remand so the court can discharge him. This decision 

renders moot Burke’s second assignment of error, so we need not address it. See id. 

JUDGMENT REVERSED AND

CAUSE REMANDED. 
Washington App. No. 12CA39 7 

JUDGMENT ENTRY

It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS REVERSED and that the CAUSE IS 

REMANDED. Appellee shall pay the costs. 

The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal. 

It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Marietta 

Municipal Court to carry this judgment into execution. 

IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS 

BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is 

temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days upon the bail previously 

posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme 

Court of Ohio an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. 

If a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the 

sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the 

Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of 

the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court 

of Ohio dismisses the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as 

of the date of such dismissal. 

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of 

the Rules of Appellate Procedure. 

Abele, J. & Hoover, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion. 

Harsha, J.: Dissents. 

For the Court 

 BY: __________________________ 

 Peter B. Abele, Judge 

BY: __________________________ 

 Marie Hoover, Judge 

 BY: ___________________________ 

 William H. Harsha, Judge 

NOTICE TO COUNSEL 

Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment 

entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing 

with the clerk.