Court Opinion

ID: 5122381
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-01 16:13:20.023527+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:27.525843
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. N.V., 2021-Ohio-3868.]

STATE OF OHIO                     )                 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                  )ss:              NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF LORAIN                  )

STATE OF OHIO                                       C.A. No.    21CA011728

        Appellee

        v.                                          APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                    ENTERED IN THE
N. V.                                               COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                    COUNTY OF LORAIN, OHIO
        Appellant                                   CASE No.   15CR092329

                                  DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: November 1, 2021

        CARR, Judge.

        {¶1}     Defendant-Appellant N.V. appeals the judgment of the Lorain County Court of

Common Pleas. This Court reverses and remands the matter for proceedings consistent with this

decision.

                                               I.

        {¶2}     N.V. was indicted in 2015 on one count of sexual battery and one count of

tampering with evidence. Ultimately, N.V. pleaded guilty to an amended indictment: one count

of contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child in violation of R.C. 2919.24, a

misdemeanor of the first degree and one count of tampering with evidence in violation of R.C.

2921.12(A)(1), a felony of the third degree. N.V. was sentenced to a term of three years of

community control that was set to expire May 18, 2019. A November 17, 2017 entry reflects

that N.V. was successfully discharged from “probation[.]”
                                                   2

       {¶3}    On January 20, 2021, N.V. filed an application pursuant to R.C. 2953.32 to seal

his records. On January 25, 2021, the trial court issued an entry denying his application.

Specifically, the trial court stated that N.V.’s application was “not well taken and DENIED, the

offense is not an eligible expungeable offense.”

       {¶4}    N.V. has appealed, raising three assignments of error for our review. They will be

addressed out of sequence to facilitate our analysis.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW IN DENYING
       [N.V.’S] APPLICATION TO SEAL HIS CRIMINAL RECORDS AS HE
       MEETS THE DEFINITION OF AN “ELIGIBLE OFFENDER” PURSUANT TO
       R.C. 2953.31(A)(1)(B) AND THE CRIMINAL OFFENSES HE SOUGHT TO
       HAVE SEALED ARE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL RECORD SEALING
       PURSUANT TO R.C. 2953.32.

       {¶5}    N.V. argues in his third assignment of error that the trial court improperly

determined that his offenses were not eligible to be sealed as opposed to determining whether he

was an eligible offender.

       {¶6}    In the trial court’s brief entry, it stated as follows: “Defendant’s Order to Seal

Records Pursuant to O.R.C. 2953.32 is not well taken and DENIED, the offense is not an eligible

expungeable offense.” While given the brevity of the entry, and the record before this Court, it is

difficult to discern why the trial court concluded as it did, it appears the trial court found that

R.C. 2953.36 barred the relief N.V. sought.

       {¶7}    The version of R.C. 2953.36 in effect at the time N.V. filed his motion1 provides:

       (A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, sections 2953.31
       to 2953.35 of the Revised Code do not apply to any of the following:

       1
         The Supreme Court has held that “[t]he statutory law in effect at the time of the filing of
an R.C. 2953.32 application to seal a record of conviction is controlling.” State v. LaSalle, 96
Ohio St.3d 178, 2002-Ohio-4009, paragraph two of the syllabus.
                                           3

(1) Convictions when the offender is subject to a mandatory prison term;

(2) Convictions under section 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06,
2907.321, 2907.322, or 2907.323, former section 2907.12, or Chapter 4506.,
4507., 4510., 4511., or 4549. of the Revised Code, or a conviction for a violation
of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any section contained in
any of those chapters, except as otherwise provided in section 2953.61 of the
Revised Code;

(3) Convictions of an offense of violence when the offense is a misdemeanor of
the first degree or a felony and when the offense is not a violation of section
2917.03 of the Revised Code and is not a violation of section 2903.13, 2917.01,
or 2917.31 of the Revised Code that is a misdemeanor of the first degree;

(4) Convictions on or after October 10, 2007, under section 2907.07 of the
Revised Code or a conviction on or after October 10, 2007, for a violation of a
municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to that section;

(5) Convictions on or after October 10, 2007, under section 2907.08, 2907.09,
2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.31, 2907.311, 2907.32, or 2907.33 of the
Revised Code when the victim of the offense was under eighteen years of age;

(6) Convictions of an offense in circumstances in which the victim of the offense
was less than sixteen years of age when the offense is a misdemeanor of the first
degree or a felony, except for convictions under section 2919.21 of the Revised
Code;

(7) Convictions of a felony of the first or second degree;

(8) Bail forfeitures in a traffic case as defined in Traffic Rule 2.

(B) Sections 2953.31 to 2953.35 of the Revised Code apply to a conviction listed
in this section if, on the date of the conviction, those sections did not apply to the
conviction, but after the date of the conviction, the penalty for or classification of
the offense was changed so that those sections apply to the conviction.

{¶8}    As used in former R.C. 2953.36(A)(3), an offense of violence means:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12,
2903.13, 2903.15, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11,
2905.32, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.24, 2911.01,
2911.02, 2911.11, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2917.03, 2917.31, 2919.25, 2921.03,
2921.04, 2921.34, or 2923.161, of division (A)(1) of section 2903.34, of division
(A)(1), (2), or (3) of section 2911.12, or of division (B)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of
section 2919.22 of the Revised Code or felonious sexual penetration in violation
of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code;
                                                 4

       (b) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any
       other state or the United States, substantially equivalent to any section, division,
       or offense listed in division (A)(9)(a) of this section;

       (c) An offense, other than a traffic offense, under an existing or former municipal
       ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States, committed
       purposely or knowingly, and involving physical harm to persons or a risk of
       serious physical harm to persons;

       (d) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in committing, any offense
       under division (A)(9)(a), (b), or (c) of this section.

       {¶9}    Thus, R.C. 2953.36 lists certain convictions which are outside the sealing

provisions contained in R.C. 2953.31 to 2953.35. See also State v. J.B., 9th Dist. Summit No.

29286, 2019-Ohio-4659, ¶ 13. Further, while a hearing is mandated under R.C. 2953.32(B),

given the plain language of R.C. 2953.36, it makes sense that a hearing is not required if “an

offender’s conviction is statutorily exempt from sealing as a matter of law * * *.” (Internal

quotations and citations omitted.) Id. “R.C. 2953.36 exempts certain convictions from the

scheme of the sealing statutes.” Id. “‘[T]hus, an offender seeking to have sealed the records of

convictions for an offense listed in R.C. 2953.36 is an ineligible offender.’” Id., quoting State v.

V.M.D., 148 Ohio St.3d 450, 2016-Ohio-8090, ¶ 14.              Consideration of whether N.V.’s

convictions fall within the parameters of former R.C. 2953.36 is a question of law this Court

reviews de novo. See State v. A.V., 9th Dist. Lorain No. 17CA011138, 2018-Ohio-785, ¶ 5.

       {¶10} N.V. was convicted of violating R.C. 2919.24, a first-degree misdemeanor, and

R.C. 2921.12(A)(1), a third-degree felony. The State has acknowledged that N.V.’s convictions

are not among those that are ineligible for sealing pursuant to former R.C. 2953.36 and conceded

error. We agree. Nothing in this Court’s record evidences that any provision of the applicable

version of R.C. 2953.36 would apply to bar N.V.’s motion.

       {¶11} Because it appears the trial court concluded that R.C. 2953.36 applied to bar

N.V.’s application, it likewise appears that the trial court did not consider the remaining
                                                 5

provisions of R.C. 2953.31 to 2953.35 and apply them to the facts of this case. See former R.C.

2953.36(A) (noting that “sections 2953.31 to 2953.35 of the Revised Code do not apply” to

convictions listed in former R.C. 2953.36(A)). As the trial court erred in concluding that former

R.C. 2953.36 applied to bar N.V.’s motion, we sustain N.V.’s third assignment of error to that

extent and remand the matter for the trial court to further consider N.V.’s motion. This Court

takes no position on the merits of N.V.’s motion.

       {¶12} N.V.’s third assignment of error is sustained to the extent discussed above.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW IN DENYING
       [N.V.’S] APPLICATION TO SEAL THE CONVICTION RECORD WITHOUT
       HOLDING THE STATUTORILY MANDATED HEARING PURSUANT TO
       R.C. 2953.32.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

       THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT DENIED
       [N.V.’S] APPLICATION TO SEAL HIS CONVICTION RECORD WITHOUT
       ANY INFORMATION, ANALYSIS, OR REASONING IN ITS JUDGMENT
       ORDER REFLECTING ITS CONSIDERATION OF THE STATUTORY
       FACTORS PURSUANT TO R.C. 2953.32.

       {¶13} In N.V.’s first and second assignments of error, N.V. raises additional arguments

with respect to the trial court’s denial of his motion. Given this Court’s resolution of his third

assignment of error, these arguments are not properly before us at this time.

                                                III.

       {¶14} N.V.’s third assignment of error is sustained to the extent discussed above. The

merits of his remaining assignments of error are not properly before us at this time given this

Court’s resolution of N.V.’s third assignment of error.

                                                                                 Judgment reversed,
                                                                                and cause remanded.
                                                 6

       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 Lorain, 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 Appellee.

                                                     DONNA J. CARR
                                                     FOR THE COURT

HENSAL, P. J.
SUTTON, J.
CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

CORINNE A. HUNTLEY, and JULIE C. CORTES, Attorneys at Law, for Appellant.

J. D. TOMLINSON, Prosecuting Attporney, and BRIAN P. MURPHY, Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, for Appellee.