Court Opinion

ID: 9882733
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-05 22:19:14.816784+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:01:26.065860
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re E.S., 2023-Ohio-3473.]

                               COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                              EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

IN RE E.S., JR.                                :

A Minor Child                                  :         Case Nos. 112199 and 112206

                                               :

                                JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION

                 JUDGMENT: VACATED
                 RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 28, 2023

             Civil Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                    Juvenile Division
                                 Case No. DL-20-106024

                                        Appearances:

                 Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting
                 Attorney, and Daniel Van, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney,
                 for appellant.

                 Rachel A. Kopec, for appellee.

ANITA LASTER MAYS, A.J.:

                   Plaintiff-appellant state of Ohio (“state”) appeals the juvenile court’s

dismissal of the state’s motion for the discretionary transfer for want of prosecution

of defendant-appellee E.S., Jr. (“E.S.”). We vacate the juvenile court’s judgment.
I.   Background and Facts

                 For efficiency, we extract pertinent facts from the previous appeal in

this case. In re E.S., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 110378, 2021-Ohio-4606 (S. Gallagher,

J., dissenting) (“E.S. I”).

       The instant matter arose from an incident that occurred in the early
       morning of June 9, 2020. E.S., who was 16 years old at the time, was
       with his best friend E.M., driving around in a vehicle that had been
       reported stolen on May 25, 2020. E.M. was driving, and E.S. was in the
       passenger seat. A mutual friend of theirs, M.W., had requested a ride
       from E.S. on social media from a hotel party in Independence, Ohio.
       E.S. agreed to pick M.W. up and give her a ride home. Shortly after
       picking M.W. up, a Cuyahoga Heights police car attempted to effectuate
       a traffic stop of the vehicle for speeding. E.M. did not pull over, and a
       chase ensued. The vehicle went back onto the highway and eventually
       went off road and crashed in a ravine approximately 200 yards east of
       4600 Hiedtman Parkway. While E.S. and M.W. were able to flee the
       scene, E.M. was found unconscious in the grass near the crashed
       vehicle with a bullet wound. He was taken to the hospital where he
       later died.

E.S. I at ¶ 2.

                 An arrest warrant was issued on July 15, 2020, for: Count 1,

involuntary manslaughter; Count 2, reckless homicide; Count 3, having weapons

while under disability; Count 4, receiving stolen property; and Count 5, improperly

handling firearms in a motor vehicle. “Counts 1, 2, and 4 carried one-year firearm

specifications, and Counts 1 and 2 also carried three-year firearm specifications.

Counts 1, 2, 3, and 5 included forfeiture of weapon specifications.” Id. at ¶ 3.

                 “On July 23, 2020, the state filed a notice of mandatory bindover and

a request for a probable cause hearing as well as a motion requesting the juvenile

court to relinquish jurisdiction pursuant to R.C. 2152.10(B) and Juv.R. 30(A) [for
the remaining discretionary transfers].” E.S. I at ¶ 4. “The juvenile court held a

probable cause hearing on January 8, 2021, which was continued to and concluded

on January 28, 2021. The state called 13 witnesses. The defense did not call any

witnesses.” Id.

               The juvenile court denied the state’s motion for mandatory bindover

finding there was no probable cause on Counts 1 and 2, but found probable cause

for the remaining counts:

      [u]pon the conclusion of all evidence presented relating to the matter
      herein and the arguments of counsel, the court finds that the child was
      16 years of age at the time of the conduct charged.

      The Court finds that as to counts 1 and 2, there is not sufficient evidence
      to support the findings and theory of the acts alleged to find probable
      cause to believe that the child committed the acts.

      However, the Court further finds that there is probable cause to believe
      that the child committed an act that would be the crime of count 3,
      Having Weapons While Under Disability, in violation of Section
      2923.13(A)(2) of the Revised Code and classified as a felony of the third
      degree if committed by an adult; count 4, of Receiving Stolen Property,
      in violation of Section 2913.51(A) of the Revised Code and classified as
      a felony of the fourth degree if committed by an adult, with one year
      firearm specification; and count 5, Improperly Handling of Firearms in
      a Motor Vehicle, in violation of Section 2923.16(B) of the Revised Code
      and classified as a felony of the fourth degree if committed by an adult.

Id. at ¶ 25.

               On March 17, 2021, the state appealed to this court and assigned a

single error for review: “The juvenile court erred by finding there was no probable

cause that E.S. committed involuntary manslaughter.” Id. at ¶ 26.

               This court affirmed the judgment, holding that “the state failed to

present sufficient credible evidence that E.M.’s death was proximately caused by
E.S.’s commission of felonious charges in Counts 3, 4, 5 of the arrest warrant.” Id.

at ¶ 41. “We therefore hold the juvenile court did not err in finding the state did not

present sufficient credible evidence to support a finding of probable cause for

involuntary manslaughter.” Id.

                  The dissenting opinion “call[ed] on the Supreme Court of Ohio to

review this case and reverse the outcome.” E.S. I at ¶ 47. “To not take and address

this issue will result in the Supreme Court’s own precedent being undermined. In

re A.J.S., 120 Ohio St.3d 185, 2008-Ohio-5307, 897 N.E.2d 629.” Id.

                  The dissent added:

       [T]he state has no burden to disprove alternate theories of a case at a
       bindover proceeding. Second, the state’s burden during a bindover
       hearing is not to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but to
       produce evidence that raises more than a mere suspicion of guilt. In re
       A.J.S., 120 Ohio St.3d 185, 2008-Ohio-5307, 897 N.E.2d 629, at ¶ 42.
       Third, “the resolution of the conflicting theories of the evidence, both
       of which were credible, is a matter for a trier of fact at a trial on the
       merits of the case, not a matter for exercise of judicial discretion at a
       bindover hearing in the juvenile court.” Id. at ¶ 64, citing State v.
       Iacona, 93 Ohio St.3d 83, 96, 2001- Ohio 1292, 752 N.E.2d 937 (2001).

E.S. I at ¶ 52.

                  On August 11, 2022, the state appealed the involuntary manslaughter

finding to the Ohio Supreme Court and on October 25, 2022, the court accepted the

following proposition of law:

       In a juvenile bindover probable cause hearing, circumstantial evidence
       is entitled to the same weight as direct evidence in determining whether
       there is probable cause and a reviewing court should examine the
       evidence and inferences in a light most favorable to the prosecution.
In re E.S., 168 Ohio St.3d 1418, 2022-Ohio-3752, 196 N.E.3d 853 (“E.S. II”). In

November 2022, the state moved the Ohio Supreme Court to stay the juvenile court

amenability hearing on the predicate offenses scheduled for November 8, 2022. The

Ohio Supreme Court had not issued a ruling by the hearing date.

               The state also requested that the juvenile court stay the proceedings

due to lack of jurisdiction. Over the state’s objection, the juvenile court proceeded

with the November 8, 2022 amenability hearing on Count 3, having weapons while

under disability, Count 4, receiving stolen property, and Count 5, improperly

handling firearms in a motor vehicle. The state advised the court that it was “not

making any arguments with regard to amenability because, again, it is our position

that this court does not have jurisdiction to do anything with the case except in aid

of the appeal at this stage.” (Tr. 11.)

               The juvenile court inquired:

      Court:    But the only thing that can go to the Supreme Court is the issue
                you raised before the Eighth District, correct?

      State:    * * * [T]he issue before the Ohio Supreme Court is not exactly
                the same as the issue that was before the Eighth District Court
                of Appeals. It’s framed slightly differently.

      Court:    In what way?

      State:    Well, so for the Eighth District Court of Appeals, and I would
                have to look at our briefing but the — gist of the assignment of
                error was that this court erred when it did not find probable
                cause with respect to the involuntary manslaughter count.

                The issue that the Ohio Supreme Court accepted deals with
                whether circumstantial evidence and direct evidence are
                entitled to the same weight at a probable cause juvenile
                bindover hearing.
               So that’s why I say it’s — it’s kind of about the same thing, but
               it’s also not. And I think you can see how they are framed
               slightly differently.

(Tr. 14-15.)

               The issue posed to this court in E.S. I was whether “[t]he juvenile

court erred by finding there was no probable cause that E.S. committed involuntary

manslaughter.” E.S. I at ¶ 26. The state ultimately responded that the single

proposition of law accepted by the Ohio Supreme Court was whether “in a juvenile

bindover probable cause hearing[,] circumstantial evidence is entitled to the same

weight as direct evidence in determining whether there is probable cause.” (Tr. 16.)

      Court:   And just so that I’m clear, likewise, did you present that to the
               Eighth District Court of Appeals as part of your Brief in
               Support that probable cause — that I erred and probable cause
               should be found? Because they have, what, upwards of ten
               pages of facts adduced at trial.

               Did those facts include both direct, as well as circumstantial
               evidence? Did * * * the Eighth District consider both?

      State:   Well, Judge, I’m not sure I want to try to get inside the minds
               of the appellate judges and tell you what they —

      Court:   But you saw the facts that they —

      State:   — did or did not consider.

      Court:   But you saw the facts that they quoted in their decision.

      State:   Right, judge. I — I can read their opinion the same as you,
               but —

      Court:   Okay. Okay. Which ones — because when you go to the
               Supreme Court, what are the circumstantial facts that you’re
               saying should have this equivalent weight? Were those facts
               also cited by the Eighth District?
               Because if they were, then it seems to me, they considered
               even the circumstantial evidence.

      State:   Well, Judge —

      Court:   * * * And if there was this mixture, did you not argue the
               weight even then?

               Noted. Your Motion to Dismiss the Motion for Order to
               Relinquish Jurisdiction is granted for failure to prosecute.

               Matters will be set down for adjudicatory hearing.

(Tr. 17-18.)

               E.S. moved to dismiss the motion to transfer for want of prosecution

based on the state’s refusal to participate in the proceedings. In its judgment entry,

the juvenile court declared that the state “presented no argument or evidence in

support of its motion. Whereupon * * * counsel for child, entered an oral motion to

dismiss the motion for discretionary transfer for want of prosecution. No reply was

entered by the State of Ohio.” Journal entry No. 0916277700, p. 1 (Nov. 8, 2022).

“In light of the issue briefed by the State to the Ohio Supreme Court and the Eighth

District’s decision, the motion [to stay the proceedings] is not well-taken and is

hereby denied.” Id.

               The court explained:

      The court finds, with the absence of evidence to allow the Court’s
      consideration of the child’s prior juvenile record, family environment,
      school record, efforts previously made to treat and rehabilitate the
      child, including prior commitments to the Department of Youth
      Services, the nature and severity of the offense, herein, the age,
      physical, and mental condition of the victim as effected by the matter
      herein, and other matters of evidence, the motion for dismissal is well
      taken for the State’s failure to prosecute its motion.
        It is therefore ordered that the motion for order to relinquish
        jurisdiction is denied as to the remaining counts 3, 4, and 5 of the
        complaint for failure to prosecute. This matter is continued for further
        proceedings pursuant to law for adjudication. Notice of hearing shall
        issue to all necessary parties.

Id.

                 On November 30, 2022, the state filed two notices of appeal of the

dismissal of the state’s motion to transfer with the juvenile court — one for a direct

appeal as of right and one by leave of court.1 On December 15, 2022, the Ohio

Supreme Court granted the state’s motion to stay the lower court proceedings. In re

E.S., 168 Ohio St.3d 1475, 2022-Ohio-4501, 199 N.E.3d 559.2 On January 6, 2023,

this court granted leave for the state’s appeal pursuant R.C. 2945.67(A).

II. Assignment of Error

                 The state assigns as error that the trial court erred in dismissing the

state’s motion for discretionary transfer for want of prosecution because: (1) the

juvenile court lacked jurisdiction to take action during the pending appeal; and

(2) the juvenile court’s actions interfere with the grand jury’s authority should E.S. I

be reversed.

        1 The two appeals were assigned case numbers and consolidated.

        2   Oral argument before the Ohio Supreme Court in E.S. II was held on June 27,
2023.
III. Discussion

               The state argues that the trial court retains jurisdiction over issues

that are not inconsistent with the appellate court’s jurisdiction to reverse, modify, or

affirm the judgment appealed per State ex rel. Special Prosecutors v. Judges, Court

of Common Pleas, 55 Ohio St.2d 94, 97, 378 N.E.2d 162 (1978), Ormandy v.

Dudzinski, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 09CA009713, 2010-Ohio-2017. Conversely, a trial

court retains jurisdiction over issues not inconsistent with the appellate court’s

jurisdiction to reverse, modify, or affirm the judgment appealed from. Id.

                The state argues that the discretionary transfer counts are the

predicate offenses for the pending manslaughter case. R.C. 2151.23(H) provides that

the court to which the case is transferred can determine the case in the same manner

as if the case had originally been commenced in that court.

               The Ohio Supreme Court recently made clear in State v. Burns, 170

Ohio St.3d 57, 2022-Ohio-4606, 208 N.E.3d 801, that

      an adult court is not necessarily limited to considering only the specific
      acts bound over from the juvenile court. After a case has been
      transferred from a juvenile court to an adult court, the adult court “has
      jurisdiction subsequent to the transfer to hear and determine the case
      in the same manner as if the case originally had been commenced in
      that court * * *.” R.C. 2151.23(H). In [State v.] Smith, [167 Ohio St.3d
      423, 2022-Ohio-274, 194 N.E.3d 297], we explained that the “the case”
      before the adult court is composed of the acts that were transferred to
      that court. Id. at ¶ 28.

               The court continued:

      We acknowledge that generally, a grand jury is empowered to return an
      indictment on any charges supported by the facts submitted to it. See
      State v. Adams, 69 Ohio St.2d 120, 431 N.E.2d 326 (1982), paragraph
      two of the syllabus, superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in
       State v. D.W., 133 Ohio St.3d 434, 2012-Ohio-4544, 978 N.E.2d 894.
       But a grand jury may not consider additional charges arising from a
       different course of conduct or events that have not been properly bound
       over by the juvenile court. State v. Weaver, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-18-
       1078, 2019-Ohio-2477, ¶ 14 (citing cases from several Ohio appellate
       districts). This means that a case transferred from a juvenile court may
       result in new indicted charges in the adult court when the new charges
       are rooted in the acts that were the subject of the juvenile complaint but
       were not specifically named in the individual acts transferred. Id.;
       Smith, 167 Ohio St.3d 423, 2022-Ohio-274, 194 N.E.3d 297, at ¶ 35.

Id. at ¶ 13.

               Thus, we find that the trial court’s actions on the predicate offenses

and the resultant dismissal of the state’s motion to dismiss the discretionary transfer

motion are inconsistent with the Ohio Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over the

pending appeal. An adjudication entered by a court without jurisdiction is a nullity

and is void. Story v. Price-Story, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94085, 2010-Ohio-4675,

¶ 7, citing Fifth St. Realty Co. v. Clawson, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 94CA005996, 1995

Ohio App. LEXIS 2565 (June 14, 1995).

               In In re S.J., 106 Ohio St.3d 11, 2005-Ohio-3215, 829 N.E.2d 1207,

the state appealed the juvenile court’s decision to dismiss a murder charge and

amend a felony murder charge to manslaughter in a mandatory bindover

proceeding. The state appealed. The juvenile court refused to stay the proceedings

and moved forward with adjudication. “The juvenile court supported its decision to

proceed by reasoning that the state lacked a final and appealable order.” Id. at ¶ 11.

               Pertinent here, the court held that the “judge’s opinions regarding the

propriety of the state’s appeal could not alter the fact that the filing of the notice of
appeal had divested the juvenile court of any jurisdiction to proceed with the

adjudication during the pendency of the appeal.” Id. “[T]he determination as to the

appropriateness of an appeal lies solely with the appellate court. A juvenile judge

has no authority to determine the validity or merit of an appeal.” Id. at ¶ 10, citing

In re Terrance P., 124 Ohio App.3d 487, 489, 706 N.E.2d 801 (6th Dist.1997) (“The

trial court does not have any jurisdiction to consider whether the person has validly

invoked the jurisdiction of the appellate court.”).

               In this case, the juvenile court refused to stay the November 8, 2022,

hearing though it confirmed receipt of notification of the appeal from the Ohio

Supreme Court. The state argued the juvenile court lacked jurisdiction and the

discretionary counts were the predicate offenses for the manslaughter count on

appeal. The trial court questioned the state about the issues appealed to this court

and subsequently to the Ohio Supreme Court.

               The trial court journalized “[i]n light of the issue briefed by the State

to the Ohio Supreme Court and the Eighth District’s decision, the motion [to stay

the proceedings] is not well-taken and is hereby denied.” The juvenile court

reasoned that the appeal did not affect the juvenile court’s jurisdiction. “[T]he

determination as to the appropriateness of an appeal lies solely with the appellate

court. A juvenile judge has no authority to determine the validity or merit of an

appeal.” In re S.J. at ¶ 10, citing In re Terrance P. at 487.

                Our finding renders the remaining errors moot.
IV. Conclusion

              The trial court was divested of jurisdiction to issue the order

dismissing the motion for discretionary transfer while In re E.S. II was pending in

the Ohio Supreme Court. Accordingly, the order is void and must be vacated.

      It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee costs herein taxed.

      The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

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

common pleas court, juvenile division, to carry this judgment into execution.

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

of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

ANITA LASTER MAYS, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE

LISA B. FORBES, J., CONCURS WITH MAJORITY OPINION AND SEPARATE
CONCURRING OPINION;
MICHAEL JOHN RYAN, J., CONCURS (WITH SEPARATE OPINION)

MICHAEL JOHN RYAN, J., CONCURRING:

              I concur and write separately to emphasize additional reasons why

the juvenile court proceeding with the amenability hearing in this case is

inconsistent with the matter pending on appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.

              Pursuant to R.C. 2152.12(C), the juvenile court must order an

investigation into E.S.’s history, education, mental state, family situation, “and any

other factor bearing on whether the child is amenable to juvenile rehabilitation.”

Under R.C. 2152.12(D) and (E), the court considers a nonexhaustive list of factors
for and against bindover. The court must consider the statutory factors but may

also consider “any other relevant factors.” See State v. Kimbrough, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga Nos. 108172 and 108173, 2020-Ohio-3175, ¶ 62; State v. Johnson, 2015-

Ohio-96, 27 N.E.3d 9, ¶ 35 (8th Dist.); State v. Jones, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99044,

2013-Ohio-3725, ¶ 8.

               R.C. 2152.12(D) lists factors that support transfer of jurisdiction of

the case:

      (1) The victim of the act charged suffered physical or psychological
      harm, or serious economic harm, as a result of the alleged act.

      (2) The physical or psychological harm suffered by the victim due to the
      alleged act of the child was exacerbated because of the physical or
      psychological vulnerability or the age of the victim.

      (3) The child’s relationship with the victim facilitated the act charged.

      (4) The child allegedly committed the act charged for hire or as a part
      of a gang or other organized criminal activity.

      (5) The child had a firearm on or about the child’s person or under the
      child’s control at the time of the act charged, the act charged is not a
      violation of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code, and the child, during
      the commission of the act charged, allegedly used or displayed the
      firearm, brandished the firearm, or indicated that the child possessed
      a firearm.

      (6) At the time of the act charged, the child was awaiting adjudication
      or disposition as a delinquent child, was under a community control
      sanction, or was on parole for a prior delinquent child adjudication or
      conviction.

      (7) The results of any previous juvenile sanctions and programs
      indicate that rehabilitation of the child will not occur in the juvenile
      system.

      (8) The child is emotionally, physically, or psychologically mature
      enough for the transfer.
      (9) There is not sufficient time to rehabilitate the child within the
      juvenile system.

               R.C. 2152.12(E) lists factors to be considered that support retention

of jurisdiction by the juvenile court.

      (1) The victim induced or facilitated the act charged.

      (2) The child acted under provocation in allegedly committing the act
      charged.

      (3) The child was not the principal actor in the act charged, or, at the
      time of the act charged, the child was under the negative influence or
      coercion of another person.

      (4) The child did not cause physical harm to any person or property, or
      have reasonable cause to believe that harm of that nature would occur,
      in allegedly committing the act charged.

      (5) The child previously has not been adjudicated a delinquent child.

      (6) The child is not emotionally, physically, or psychologically mature
      enough for the transfer.

      (7) The child has a mental illness or intellectual disability.

      (8) There is sufficient time to rehabilitate the child within the juvenile
      system and the level of security available in the juvenile system
      provides a reasonable assurance of public safety.

               Whether there was sufficient evidence that it was more likely than

not — i.e., probable cause — that E.S. committed involuntary manslaughter and

reckless homicide certainly would bear on whether he is amenable to rehabilitation

in the juvenile system.

               Additionally, because at least one of the discretionary transfer counts

must serve as the predicate offense for the involuntary manslaughter charge, should

the Ohio Supreme Court reverse the trial court on the finding of no probable cause,
the entire case is necessarily bound over to common pleas court. R.C. 2152.12(I).

Stated another way, the facts in the underlying case that were used to determine

probable cause are also germane to the court’s assessment of whether E.S. is

amenable to rehabilitation in the juvenile system. The latter cannot effectively be

determined without reference to the former, thus requiring some finality on the

probable cause determination. Accordingly, the trial court is not able to proceed

without closure regarding probable cause on the mandatory bindover offense. Thus,

to decide whether E.S. is amenable to rehabilitation in the juvenile court on the

remaining counts is an act inconsistent with the appeal.