Court Opinion

ID: 4348515
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-07 19:38:11.895995+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:21:32.191242
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Hudson, 2018-Ohio-4880.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                       MIAMI COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO                                    :
                                                  :
         Plaintiff-Appellee                       :   Appellate Case Nos. 2018-CA-10,
                                                  :   2018-CA-11
 v.                                               :
                                                  :   Trial Court Case Nos. 2018-CRA-885,
 LARRY D. HUDSON                                  :   2018-TRD-1899
                                                  :
         Defendant-Appellant                      :   (Criminal Appeal from
                                                  :   Municipal Court)

                                             ...........

                                             OPINION

                          Rendered on the 7th day of December, 2018.

                                             ...........

LENEE BROSH, Atty. Reg. No. 0075642, 211 Miami County Prosecutor’s Office,
Appellate Division, 201 W. Main Street, Troy, Ohio 45373
      Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

GLENDA A. SMITH, Atty. Reg. No. 0070738, P.O. Box 15353, Wyoming, Ohio 45215
    Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

                                             .............

DONOVAN, J.
                                                                                             -2-

       {¶ 1} This matter is before the court on the May 10, 2018 Notices of Appeal of

Larry Dean Hudson, filed in Case Nos. 2018 CRA 885 and 2018 TRD 1899. Hudson

appeals from his convictions, following no contest pleas, to one count of failure to comply

with an order or signal of a police officer (“failure to comply”), in violation of R.C.

2921.331(A), in Case No. 2018 CRA 885, and one count of failure to stop after an accident

(“failure to stop”), in violation of R.C. R.C. 4549.02, in Case No. 2018 TRD 1899. Both

offenses are misdemeanors of the first degree. For the reasons set forth below, Hudson’s

conviction for failure to stop is affirmed, and his conviction for failure to comply is vacated,

and the matter is remanded for further proceedings regarding the offense of failure to

comply.

       {¶ 2} On March 7, 2018, in Case No. 2018 TRD 1899, Hudson received two traffic

citations for multiple offenses, namely failure to reinstate his driver’s license, reckless

operation, failure to stop, expired plates, and failure to control. On the same date, in

Case No. 2018 CRA 885, Hudson was charged by way of complaint with failure to comply,

in violation of R.C. 2921.331(B), a felony of the third degree. The complaint provided

that “the operation of the motor vehicle by the offender caused a substantial risk of serious

physical harm to persons or property.”

       {¶ 3} A preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 15, 2018, for both cases.

On that date, Hudson entered a plea of no contest in Case No. 2018 CRA 885 to the

reduced charge of failure to comply, in violation of R.C. 2921.331(A), a misdemeanor of

the first degree. The court’s entry of disposition provided: “Complaint Amended to:

2921.331(A) (M-1).” In Case No. 2018 TRD 1899, Hudson pled no contest to the charge
                                                                                         -3-

of failure to stop. Our record does not contain a transcript of the plea hearing, and our

conclusion that Hudson entered no contest pleas is based upon the fact that the court’s

entries of disposition so reflect. Hudson’s plea forms in each case are captioned “Plea

of Guilty or No Contest,” and they do not identify Hudson’s pleas or offenses. The identical

forms, signed by Hudson, provide as follows:

              The undersigned does hereby acknowledge that he/she has read

       this form and understands the following:

              1. The nature and elements of the crime with which I am charged.

              2. The difference between the pleas of guilty, not guilty, and no

       contest.

              3. The maximum sentence that may be imposed upon me now or

       upon a violation of my probation, including any mandatory sentence that

       may be imposed.

              4. That I have a right to an attorney and that I have the right to have

       an attorney appointed for me in the event I cannot afford one.

              ***

              __X____That I am satisfied with my attorney’s advice and I am

       entering this plea after considering my attorney’s advice.

              5. I further understand that by entering a plea of “Guilty” (admits to

       the charge(s)) or “No Contest” (do not contest the charge(s)), that there will

       be no trial and that I waive the following rights:

        a.   The right to a speedy public trial to the court or to a jury.

        b.   The right to testify or not to testify in my own behalf.
                                                                                       -4-

        c.   The right to subpoena witnesses to testify in my behalf.

        d.   The right to cross examine the State’s witnesses.

        e.   The right to require the State to prove me guilty of each and
             every element of the offense(s) beyond a reasonable doubt.

              I am entering this plea knowingly and voluntarily.        No promises,

       threats or other representations have been made to influence me to enter

       this plea except as have been made on the record.

       {¶ 4} We note that the plea forms in both cases reflect the following case

numbers: “2018 TRD 01889” and “2018 CRA 00885,” and that Case No. 2018 CRA 885

is the case number assigned to the felony complaint.

       {¶ 5} The court scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2018. On March 23, 2018,

the court filed, in both case numbers, handwritten correspondence from Hudson dated

March 22, 2018, which provided as follows: “I am writing to notify the courts that I Larry

D. Hudson do not agree or consent to the charges that are against me. The charges of

fail[ure] to comply with police officer and stopping after accident roadways and highways

[sic], I do not believe apply to me.”

       {¶ 6} On April 25, 2018, the court sentenced Hudson to 180 days in each case,

to be served consecutively, and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $465.28

in Case No. 2018 TRD 1899. We note that in each case, the court’s entries of disposition

provide: “Record to be Journalized by the Clerk of Courts.” On May 4, 2018, in each

case, the Deputy Clerk issued an entry that provided:

       Sentence: 360 days
       To the Keeper of the Jail
       Whereas, Larry D. Hudson has been arrested on oath of:
       Ptl. Souter (Tipp), Ptl. Madigan (Troy)
       FOR: M1 FTC w/ Police Officer, Stop after Accident
                                                                                           -5-

         O.R.C./ C.O.# 2921.331, 4549.02
         And has been found guilty and sentenced to be imprisoned for the above term.
         The defendant is to remain in your custody until his/her sentence expires.

         {¶ 7} Hudson submitted additional correspondence to the court dated April 26,

2018, which provided:

                Sirs I’m not in understanding how it is that a public defender can have

         a defendant to sign a plea agreement that was not fully filled in, and then to

         enter the plea without the defendant knowing the plea. I don’t know what

         my plea was and is to me a forced contract that can’t be legal. On 03-22-

         18 I sent a handwritten letter to the Clerk of Court’s stating I didn’t believe

         these charges apply to me. * * *

         {¶ 8} In another letter dated April 26, 2018, Hudson again asserted that his plea

agreement was “incomplete,” and that he “did not know what the plea was.” Finally,

Hudson submitted correspondence dated April 29, 2018, which stated that “on the day of

March 07, 2018 I Larry D. Hudson was not driving and did not wreck any vehicle. * * *”

         {¶ 9} We note that the record reflects that at the time Hudson filed his Notices of

Appeal, he also filed a “Motion for Transcripts of the Proceedings,” in which he “move[d]

this Court for a transcript of the Proceedings to be used for the purpose of appeal in the

within case.”     The court granted the motion on May 10, 2018.           A transcript of the

sentencing hearing was later filed with this court, but no transcript of the plea hearing was

filed.

         {¶ 10} Hudson asserts three assignments of error herein. We note that the

prosecutor did not file a brief in response. Hudson’s first and second assignments of

error are addressed to the trial court’s failure to comply with Crim.R. 11 in accepting
                                                                                          -6-

Hudson’s pleas, and we will consider them together. They are as follows:

              THERE IS NO RECORD THAT THE TRIAL COURT COMPLIED

       WITH OHIO CRIM.R. 11(D).

              THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO MAKE A RECORD.

       {¶ 11} In his first assignment of error, Hudson asserts that the “trial court erred in

not entering into a meaningful dialogue with appellant about waiving his constitutional

rights including the effects of a plea.” Hudson asserts that this Court “cannot review

whether the plea represents a voluntary and intelligent choice among alternative courses

of action open to defendant because there is no transcript of the plea.” Hudson further

argues that “exposure to two misdemeanors which could result in 12 months in jail

constitutes a serious offense,” and that his “plea and sentence should be vacated and

remanded because the court failed to comply with Crim.R. 11(D) or 11(E).”

       {¶ 12} In his second assignment of error, Hudson asserts that the “trial court erred

in not putting a negotiated plea in a felony case on the record.” He directs our attention

to Crim.R. 11(F), which provides as follows: “When, in felony cases, a negotiated plea of

guilty or no contest to one or more offenses charged or to one or more other or lesser

offenses is offered, the underlying agreement upon which the plea is based shall be stated

on the record in open court.”

       {¶ 13} We will first address Hudson’s conviction for failure to stop. Crim.R. 11

provides in relevant part:

              ***

              (D)   Misdemeanor       Cases    Involving    Serious     Offenses. In

       misdemeanor cases involving serious offenses the court may refuse to
                                                                                         -7-

       accept a plea of guilty or no contest, and shall not accept such plea without

       first addressing the defendant personally and informing the defendant of the

       effect of the pleas of guilty, no contest, and not guilty and determining that

       the defendant is making the plea voluntarily. * * *

              (E)    Misdemeanor        Cases     Involving     Petty   Offenses. In

       misdemeanor cases involving petty offenses the court may refuse to accept

       a plea of guilty or no contest, and shall not accept such pleas without first

       informing the defendant of the effect of the plea of guilty, no contest, and

       not guilty.

       {¶ 14} Crim.R. 2(C) defines a “serious offense” as “any felony, and any

misdemeanor for which the penalty prescribed by law includes confinement for more than

six months.” Crim.R. 2(D) defines a “petty offense” as “a misdemeanor other than a

serious offense.” R.C. 2929.24(A) provides that “if the sentencing court imposing a

sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor elects or is required to impose a jail term

on the offender pursuant to this chapter, the court shall impose a definite jail term that

shall be one of the following: (1) For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than

one hundred eighty days; * * *”

       {¶ 15} Failure to stop is a misdemeanor of the first degree, a petty offense, and the

court was accordingly required to inform Hudson of the effect of his no contest plea,

pursuant to Crim.R. 11(E). Crim.R. 11(B)(2) governs the effect of a no contest plea and

provides that a “plea of no contest is not an admission of defendant’s guilt, but is an

admission of the truth of the facts alleged in the indictment * * *.”

       {¶ 16} As this Court has previously noted:
                                                                                         -8-

              * * * Although Crim.R. 11(E) does not require the trial court to engage

       in a lengthy inquiry when a plea is accepted to a misdemeanor charge

       involving a petty offense, the rule does require that certain information be

       given on the “effect of the plea.” [State v. Jones, 116 Ohio St.3d 211, 2007-

       Ohio-6093].    Whether orally or in writing, a trial court must recite the

       appropriate language from Crim.R. 11(B) before accepting the plea. Id.

State v. Bond, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24457, 2011-Ohio-3272, ¶ 8.

       {¶ 17} As noted above, Hudson’s pleas were not placed on the record. As this

Court has further noted, “ ‘absent a transcript of the proceedings, this Court must presume

regularity in the proceedings before the trial court’ regarding the court’s compliance with

Crim.R. 11. State v. Kreuzer, 2d Dist. Greene No. 98-CA-100, 1999 WL 959206, *5 (Aug.

6, 1999).” State v. Miller, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25893, 2014-Ohio-4508, ¶ 26.

       {¶ 18} Hudson acknowledged in his plea form for failure to stop in Case No. 2018

TRD 1899 that he understood the difference between pleas of guilty, not guilty, and no

contest, and that his plea was entered knowingly and voluntarily. Presuming regularity

as we must, we have no basis to conclude that the court failed to comply with Crim.R.

11(E) in accepting Hudson’s no contest plea to failure to stop. Hudson’s first assigned

error is accordingly overruled as to the offense of failure to stop.

       {¶ 19} Our analysis is different regarding Hudson’s conviction for failure to comply.

This is so because Hudson was initially charged with a felony of the third degree, in

violation of R.C. 2921.331(B). While the court’s entry of disposition provides “Complaint

Amended to 2921.331(A)(M-1),” there is no amended complaint in the record before us.

The only complaint in the record charges Hudson with a violation of R.C. 2921.331(B),
                                                                                           -9-

with the specification that Hudson’s operation of the vehicle caused a substantial risk of

serious physical harm to persons or property.

       {¶ 20} R.C. 1901.20 provides that “[t]he municipal court has jurisdiction to hear

misdemeanor cases committed within its territory.” As noted by the First District:

              A municipal court has limited jurisdiction relative to felony charges.

       At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, it may (upon finding probable

       cause to believe the accused committed the offense) bind the accused over

       to the court of common pleas, or find that there is probable cause that a

       misdemeanor has been committed by the accused and retain the matter for

       trial of the misdemeanor offense provided a complaint charging the

       misdemeanor is filed, or it may order the accused discharged. Crim.R.

       5(B)(4) and Crim.R. 5(B)(6).

(Emphasis added). State v. Craig, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-850444, 1986 WL 3096, *1.

See also State v. Nelson, 51 Ohio App.2d 31, 365 N.E.2d 1268 (8th Dist.1977).

       {¶ 21} Crim.R. 5(B) governs the procedure for preliminary hearings in felony

cases, and Crim.R. 5(B)(6) provides: “In any case in which the defendant is ordered to

appear for trial for any offense other than the one charged the court shall cause a

complaint charging such an offense to be filed.” (Emphasis added). The record reflects

that the municipal court failed to comply with Crim.R. 5(B)(6), because no complaint

charging Hudson with failure to comply as a first degree misdemeanor was ever filed.

We note that Crim.R. 7(A) provides that a “misdemeanor may be prosecuted * * * by

complaint * * * in courts inferior to the court of common pleas.” (Emphasis added.) As

further noted by the First District, the “complaint is essential to invoke the jurisdiction of
                                                                                        -10-

the court * * *.” Id. at *2. By accepting Hudson’s no contest plea to a charge under R.C.

2921.331(A), a misdemeanor of the first degree, without an amendment of the complaint,

and by finding Hudson guilty of that charge, the court acted without authority, and we

conclude that its proceedings as to that offense are void.1 Hudson’s conviction for failure

to comply is accordingly vacated.

      {¶ 22} Regarding Hudson’s second assignment of error involving the trial court’s

failure to make the recitation required by Crim.R. 11(F) on the record, our conclusion that

the court acted without authority in accepting Hudson’s no contest plea to failure to

comply, necessitating the reversal of his conviction for that offense, renders analysis of

this assignment of error moot. Hudson’s second assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶ 23} Hudson’s third assignment of error is as follows:

              INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL FOR FAILURE TO

       REQUEST A RECORD OF THE PLEAS.

       {¶ 24} According to Hudson, defense counsel “was ineffective because trial

counsel prejudiced appellant for not demanding appellant’s plea be put on the record,”

referring to Case No. 2018-CRA-885. He asserts that “there is a question regarding the

initial charge of a felony,” and that the “lack of a record prejudiced appellant’s appeal.”

We conclude that this assignment of error is rendered moot by virtue of our conclusion

that the trial court lacked authority to address the charged offense without amendment of

the complaint pursuant to Crim.R. 5(B)(6).

1
  We acknowledge that the prosecutor apparently sought to amend the felony complaint
at the preliminary hearing stage but no new complaint was generated. Furthermore, the
felony complaint was not dismissed as the plea form bears the felony complaint number,
2018 CRA 885.
                                                                                          -11-

       {¶ 25} The judgment of the municipal court is affirmed as to Hudson’s conviction

for failure to stop and vacated as to his conviction for failure to comply. The matter is

remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion as to charge of failure to

comply.

                                      .............

HALL, J. concurring:

       {¶ 26} In my opinion there was an adequate charging instrument giving the

Municipal Court jurisdiction over the misdemeanor charge of failure to comply under R.C.

2921.331(A). The disposition record reveals that the original complaint initiating the felony

charge, a violation of R.C. 2921.331(B), was amended at bar as follows: “On motion of

the State Complaint amended to: 2921.331(A)(M-1).” Crim.R. 7(D) allows liberal

amendment of a charge to a lesser and included offense, and such a practice is done on

the record verbally daily throughout Ohio. R.C. 2921.331(A) has been held to be a lesser

and included offense of R.C. 2921.331(B). State v. Orr, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95344,

2011-Ohio-1371, ¶18-19.

       {¶ 27} I distinguish Craig, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-850444, 1986 WL 3096,

because my reading of that case indicates a felony indictment had been issued prior to

completion of the municipal court preliminary hearing and prior to reduction of the charge

to a misdemeanor in municipal court. That indictment eliminated jurisdiction of the

municipal court to proceed further with the preliminary hearing or with reduction of the

charge and a plea. See Crim.R. 5(B)(1) (“The preliminary hearing shall not be held,

however, if the defendant is indicted.”). The case of Nelson, 51 Ohio App.2d 31, 365
                                                                                           -12-

N.E.2d 1268, also is somewhat different. There the preliminary hearing was completed

and the trial court found no probable cause as to the charged felony of robbery, but it did

find probable cause as to the misdemeanor offense of petty theft. Because the trial court

made findings concluding the preliminary hearing and finding probable cause a

misdemeanor had been committed, Crim.R. (5)(B)(6) required that “the court shall cause

a complaint charging such offense to be filed.” There is no indication in the present case

that a preliminary hearing was conducted.

       {¶ 28} I agree with the following conclusion of the Fifth District in State v. Trifelos,

5th Dist. Stark No. CA-5809, 1982 WL 3005, *2 (June 3, 1982): “Where the State moves

to amend an existing felony complaint filed in a municipal court to set forth a lesser

included misdemeanor offense, and the court grants such motion with the concurr[e]nce

of the defendant, Crim.R. 7(D) permits such amendment, and the requirements of Crim.R.

5(B) are met so that the court has jurisdiction to retain the case for trial. This would

obviously include jurisdiction to accept a plea.”

       {¶ 29} Nevertheless, because there is no transcript documenting the record of the

plea or the amendment of the charge, I agree that the failure-to-comply conviction should

be reversed, vacated, and remanded. We do not know precisely what happened in the

trial court. Crim.R. 11(F) states: “When, in felony cases, a negotiated plea of guilty or no

contest to one or more offenses charged or to one or more other or lesser offenses is

offered, the underlying agreement upon which the plea is based shall be stated on the

record in open court.” Because there appears to be no transcript, I conclude Crim.R. 11(F)

was not complied with, and I therefore concur in the disposition of this case.
                                                                                           -13-

WELBAUM, P.J. dissenting:

       {¶ 30} I very respectfully dissent. The majority reverses Hudson’s conviction for

failure to comply in violation of R.C. 2921.331(A) in concurring opinions that, in part, are

based on the lack of a complete record. The opinions reverse for different reasons, and

both assume facts not in the record.          Judge Donovan’s lead opinion describes a

scenario premised on assumed but unknown facts, upon which reversal may be correct.

On the other hand, Judge Hall’s opinion describes a possible scenario where one may

conclude the case should be affirmed.       However, Judge Hall concurs in reversal based

on the lack of a complete record.      It is problematic that the merits of these well-written

opinions languish in the uncertainty of facts caused by a lack of a complete record, which

would decide the outcome.

       {¶ 31} In the absence of a complete record, an appellant has a duty to supplement

the record. App.R. 9(A) provides that “[t]he trial court shall ensure that all proceedings

of record are recorded by a reliable method, which may include a stenographic/shorthand

reporter, audio-recording device, and/or video recording device.” App.R. 9(B)(1) further

states that “it is the obligation of the appellant to ensure that the proceedings the appellant

considers necessary for inclusion in the record, however those proceedings were

recorded, are transcribed in a form that meets the specifications of App.R. 9(B)(6).”

       {¶ 32} In situations where no recording was made, or it was made and is

unavailable for transcription, App.R. 9(B)(4) provides that an appellant may use App.R.

9(C) or (D). App.R. 9(C) allows an appellant to prepare a statement of the proceedings,

followed by the appellee’s objections, if any. The trial court then settles any disputes.

Alternatively, the parties may agree, under App.R. 9(D), to a statement of the record for
                                                                                        -14-

purposes of appeal.    App.R. 9(E) provides for supplementation or correction of the

record.

      {¶ 33} Under well-established authority, where the record does not include a

transcript of a hearing, the “Appellant has failed in his duty to provide this court with a

record on appeal that exemplifies and demonstrates the claimed error. * * * Absent a

record, we cannot presume that the trial court acted improperly or that Defendant suffered

prejudice as a result. Under those circumstances we must presume the regularity and

validity of the trial court proceedings, and affirm.” State v. Williams, 2d Dist. Clark No.

06CA0120, 2007-Ohio-5754, ¶ 6 (no transcript of the resentencing hearing was provided).

      {¶ 34} Here, no transcript of the change of pleas in these cases was filed, which

causes the confusion. Hudson’s attorney did file a motion to “supplement the record with

any evidence relating to the plea, for example, Crim.R. 11 notifications, anything

Appellant signed related to the plea and Sentencing Entries in the above captioned case”

with our court. Hudson did not specifically request a transcript. We evidently denied the

motion because the specific items requested were already part of the record. In any event,

Hudson failed to comply with App.R. 9.

       {¶ 35} Even if we assume that the trial court did not record the change of plea

proceedings, App.R. 9 is a required procedural step for allowing us to make an accurate

determination. We must presume regularity and validity of all trial court proceedings. In

the absence of either a record or the use of a proper substitute provided for in App.R. 9,

in which error is demonstrated, the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.

Alternatively, I would order the Hudson to properly supplement the record with a transcript

or to comply with App.R. 9 prior to our decision on the case.
                                                               -15-

      {¶ 36} For these reasons, I very respectfully dissent.

Copies sent to:

Lenee Brosh
Glenda A. Smith
Hon. Gary A. Nasal