[Cite as State v. Coventry, 2024-Ohio-3047.]

STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

COUNTY OF WAYNE )

STATE OF OHIO

Appellee

v.

ROBERT COVENTRY

Appellant

C.A. No. 2023AP0036

APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT

ENTERED IN THE

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

COUNTY OF WAYNE, OHIO

CASE No. 2023 JUV-E 000395

DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: August 12, 2024

SUTTON, Presiding Judge.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Robert Coventry, appeals from the judgment of the Wayne 

County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division. This Court affirms.

I.

{¶2} The police responded to the residence of sixteen-year-old A.W. based on reports of 

a possible overdose. Officers learned that he had smoked marijuana at a nearby residence. A.W. 

later told the police that Mr. Coventry had given him the marijuana. He also indicated that he had 

smoked marijuana with Mr. Coventry at Mr. Coventry’s home on prior occasions.

{¶3} After emergency workers transported A.W. to the hospital, the police went to Mr. 

Coventry’s home and spoke with him. The police detected the odor of marijuana at the residence, 

and Mr. Coventry admitted he had smoked marijuana with A.W. Mr. Coventry later denied 

making that admission. He also denied having any knowledge that A.W. was underage. 
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{¶4} The juvenile court issued a complaint against Mr. Coventry, charging him with 

contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child. A magistrate conducted a bench trial and 

found Mr. Coventry guilty. The magistrate recommended a suspended sentence and a fine. Upon 

review of the magistrate’s decision, the juvenile court entered judgment against Mr. Coventry. 

The juvenile court sentenced him to a suspended jail term, a fine, and court costs.

{¶5} Mr. Coventry now appeals from the juvenile court’s judgment and raises one 

assignment of error for review.

II.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

[MR.] COVENTRY[’]S CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST 

WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.

{¶6} In his sole assignment of error, Mr. Coventry argues his conviction is against the 

manifest weight of the evidence. For the following reasons, we reject his argument.

{¶7} “Juv.R. 40 governs proceedings before a magistrate and the juvenile court’s duties 

in adopting or rejecting a magistrate’s rulings.” In re C.M., 2009-Ohio-943, ¶ 7 (9th Dist.). The 

rule provides, in relevant part:

Except for a claim of plain error, a party shall not assign as error on appeal the 

court’s adoption of any factual finding or legal conclusion, whether or not 

specifically designated as a finding of fact or conclusion of law under Juv.R. 

40(D)(3)(a)(ii), unless the party has objected to that finding or conclusion as 

required by Juv.R. 40(D)(3)(b).

Juv.R. 40(D)(3)(b)(iv). “Accordingly, ‘[w]hen a party fails to raise an issue in the party’s 

objections to the magistrate’s decision, it may not be raised for the first time on appeal.’” In re 

L.B.S., 2019-Ohio-3312, ¶ 50 (9th Dist.), quoting In re A.M., 2017-Ohio-7653, ¶ 9 (9th Dist.).

{¶8} Mr. Coventry did not file any objections to the magistrate’s decision. Because he 

failed to raise his argument in the lower court by way of objection, he has forfeited all but plain 
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error on appeal. See Juv.R. 40(D)(3)(b)(iv); In re L.B.S. at ¶ 50. Mr. Coventry has not argued 

plain error on appeal. This Court will not create an argument on his behalf. See In re L.B.S. at ¶ 

50; Cardone v. Cardone, 1998 WL 224934, *8 (9th Dist. May 6, 1998). Accordingly, Mr. 

Coventry’s assignment of error is overruled.

III.

{¶9} Mr. Coventry’s assignment of error is overruled. The judgment of the Wayne 

County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common 

Pleas, County of Wayne, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of 

this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of 

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period 

for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to 

mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the 

docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

Costs taxed to Appellant.

BETTY SUTTON

FOR THE COURT
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HENSAL, J.

FLAGG LANZINGER, J.

CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

WESLEY A. JOHNSTON, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

ANGELA WYPASEK, Prosecuting Attorney, and MICHAEL B. WRIGHT, Assistant Prosecuting 

Attorney, for Appellee.