Court Opinion

ID: 4240068
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-29 21:27:38.31162+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:32.866469
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. J.A.C., 2018-Ohio-361.]

                                      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                            TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

                                            WARREN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                    :
                                                        CASE NOS. CA2017-04-044
        Plaintiff-Appellee,                       :               CA2017-04-045

                                                                OPINION
                                                  :              1/29/2018
    - vs -
                                                  :

J.A.C.,                                           :

        Defendant-Appellant.                      :

                 APPEAL FROM MASON MUNICIPAL COURT AND
          WARREN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, JUVENILE DIVISION
                           Case No. 16-N000617

David P. Fornshell, Warren County Prosecuting Attorney, Kirsten A. Brandt, 520 Justice
Drive, Lebanon, Ohio 45036, for plaintiff-appellee

Bethany S. Bennett, city of Mason Prosecuting Attorney, Matthew P. Nolan, 5690 Mason-
Montgomery Road, Mason, Ohio 45040, for plaintiff-appellee

Neal D. Schuett, 121 West High Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056, for defendant-appellant

        M. POWELL, J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, J.A.C., appeals the denial of his motions to suppress

evidence by the Mason Municipal Court and the Warren County Court of Common Pleas,

Juvenile Division.
                                                                    Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                           CA2017-04-045

       {¶ 2} At all times pertinent, appellant was a senior, attending Kings High School. On

May 5, 2016, a student observed appellant walking up a flight of stairs behind a female

student, using his cell phone in an apparent effort to take photographs or film video beneath

the female student's clothing. The student reported his observations to Kings High School

Principal Doug Leist. Leist confirmed the report by viewing the school's security video. Leist

advised school resource officer Deputy Jonathan Downs of the incident. Leist then asked

appellant to come with him to his office and to bring his cell phone. On their way to the

office, Leist asked appellant for his cell phone. Appellant relinquished his phone to Leist as

requested.

       {¶ 3} Once they were in Leist's office, the two talked about the morning's events.

Appellant eventually admitted that he had been using his cell phone to film up the skirt of a

female student walking up the stairs. Leist asked appellant if the video was on his cell

phone. Appellant attempted to retrieve the video for Leist and discovered that it had not

recorded. However, while appellant was searching for the video, Leist observed another

photograph of the backside of a female wearing jean shorts on the cell phone. Leist asked

appellant if the subject of this photograph knew she was being photographed. Appellant

replied that he did not know. Concerned, Leist requested Deputy Downs to come to his

office. By then, Deputy Downs had too confirmed the initial report by viewing the school's

security video.

       {¶ 4} Leist, Deputy Downs, and appellant retired to a conference room. Leist

informed the deputy what he had learned in speaking with appellant. Deputy Downs advised

appellant of his Miranda rights and asked for appellant's consent to view the images on the

cell phone. Appellant consented and began showing Deputy Downs videos on his cell

phone.    At some point, appellant gave his cell phone to the deputy.            During their

                                             -2-
                                                                      Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                             CA2017-04-045

conversation, Deputy Downs viewed images on appellant's cell phone which caused him

additional concerns. Specifically, there was a video depicting appellant's face and the phone

being placed on the floor beneath a student's desk. Deputy Downs suspected that this was

an effort by appellant to position his cell phone to view up a female student's skirt. Appellant

confirmed the deputy's suspicion. As a result, Deputy Downs decided to seek a search

warrant to search appellant's cell phone.

       {¶ 5} Deputy Downs placed appellant's cell phone into an evidence bag and returned

to his school office where, using standard forms, he began preparing an affidavit for a search

warrant and a search warrant.        Deputy Downs' affidavit sought a warrant to search

appellant's cell phone for certain information, including photographs and videos. The

affidavit averred that this information was being concealed in violation of "2907.08E

Voyeurism, videotape, film, photograph, or otherwise record another person under or through

the clothing of another person." Deputy Downs further averred that his belief was supported

by the fact that

              Deputy Jonathan Downs knows than on or about May 5th, 2016
              at 0908 hours, Deputy Jonathan Downs Kings High School
              Resource Officer was notified about a student named [J.A.C.]
              who had used his cellphone to take pictures or video of a girl
              while walking up the stairs in Kings High School located at 5500
              Columbia Road Kings Mills, Ohio. 45034 in Deerfield Township,
              Warren County. [sic.]

       {¶ 6} Upon completing the search warrant affidavit and search warrant, Deputy

Downs presented them to the Mason Municipal Court judge. Deputy Downs did not provide

the judge with any information concerning the investigation other than the averments

contained in his affidavit for the search warrant. The judge issued the search warrant.

Appellant's cell phone was subsequently searched, yielding evidence tending to support a

charge of voyeurism.

                                              -3-
                                                                                 Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                                        CA2017-04-045

        {¶ 7} On May 31, 2016, appellant was charged by complaint in the municipal court

with one count of voyeurism in violation of R.C. 2907.08(D), a misdemeanor of the first

degree, arising from an incident on May 5, 2016. Appellant was further charged by complaint

in the juvenile court with being a delinquent child for commission of voyeurism in violation of

R.C. 2907.08(D), arising from an incident on November 10, 2015, prior to appellant's 18th

birthday.

        {¶ 8} Appellant filed a motion to suppress in both courts.1 The gist of appellant's

motions to suppress was that the affidavit for the search warrant did not establish probable

cause to search his cell phone because it did not aver that appellant had engaged in any

conduct constituting an offense under the criminal statutes of the state. Specifically,

appellant asserted that the affidavit was defective because it merely averred that appellant

had "used his cellphone to take pictures or video of a girl while walking up the stairs in Kings

High School" and did not aver that appellant had done so "under or through the clothing" as

proscribed by R.C. 2907.08.

        {¶ 9} A hearing on appellant's motion to suppress was conducted in the municipal

court on September 1, 2016. The state presented the testimony of Principal Leist and

Deputy Downs. After the hearing concluded, the municipal court directed the parties to file

memoranda and took the matter under advisement.                       By Decision and Entry filed on

November 29, 2016, the municipal court denied the motion to suppress, finding that

                The issuing Judge, knowing that the Deputy was claiming that
                the Defendant had committed voyeurism, drew a reasonable
                inference that the Defendant used his cellphone to take pictures
                or video of a girl under her clothing while she was walking up the
                stairs. The Judge made a practical, common sense decision,
                based on the totality of the circumstances.

1. The factual recitation set forth herein is a compilation of the testimony at the suppression hearings in the
municipal court and juvenile court.
                                                     -4-
                                                                                      Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                                             CA2017-04-045

Thereafter, appellant entered a no contest plea to the charge of voyeurism, was found guilty

pursuant to the plea, and was sentenced accordingly.

        {¶ 10} A hearing on appellant's motion to suppress in juvenile court was conducted

before a magistrate on November 28, 2016. The state presented the testimony of Deputy

Downs. By "Magistrate Order" filed on December 2, 2016, the magistrate found that the

affidavit for the search warrant did not establish probable cause because it did not aver that

appellant had engaged in conduct constituting an offense.2                          However, the magistrate

determined that Deputy Downs acted in "objectively reasonable reliance on the validity of the

search warrant" and that "it would have been reasonable for a well-trained police officer to

rely in good faith on the search warrant." In doing so, the magistrate considered matters

beyond the four corners of the affidavit. Specifically, the magistrate noted that Deputy

Downs conducted an investigation that verified the "hearsay information," interviewed

appellant, viewed the evidence supporting the offense, and did not include false information

in the affidavit or otherwise mislead the judge issuing the search warrant. Consequently, the

magistrate denied appellant's motion to suppress pursuant to the good faith exception to the

exclusionary rule.

        {¶ 11} Subsequently, the juvenile court adopted the magistrate's denial of appellant's

motion to suppress, and appellant entered a no contest plea. Pursuant to his plea, appellant

2. As we have before, we note that the juvenile court magistrate improperly captioned his ruling, which denied
appellant's motion to suppress, as a "magistrate's order" as opposed to a "magistrate's decision." See In re N.J.,
12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2016-10-086, CA2016-10-090, and CA2016-10-091, 2017-Ohio-7466, ¶ 10, fn. 2.
Juv.R. 40(D)(2)(a)(i) restricts "magistrate's orders" to "[regulating] the proceedings" and specifically provides that
a "magistrate's order" may not be "dispositive of a claim or defense of a party." The Eighth Appellate District
recently held that a magistrate's grant of a juvenile's motion to suppress is a "decision" as opposed to an "order,"
because it was issued after an evidentiary hearing the magistrate presided over, set forth facts and law, applied
the facts to the law, and then reached a determination. In re J.B., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104411, 2017-Ohio-
293. The designation is significant because the time to set aside a "magistrate's order" is 10 days whereas the
time to object to a "magistrate's decision" is 14 days. Juv. R. 40(D)(2)(b) and Juv.R.40(D)(3)(b)(i). Although this
is not a significant issue in this case, the December 2, 2016 denial of appellant's motion to suppress by
"Magistrate Order" is incorrect. The designation of a magistrate's determination of an issue as a "magistrate's
order" or "magistrate's decision" is not merely a matter of form, but rather one of substance.
                                                         -5-
                                                                        Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                               CA2017-04-045

was adjudicated delinquent for the commission of voyeurism.

       {¶ 12} Appellant now appeals the denial of his motions to suppress, raising two

assignments of error.

       {¶ 13} Assignment of Error No. 1:

       {¶ 14} MASON MUNICIPAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF J.A.C.'S

FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS WHEN IT OVERRULED HIS MOTION TO SUPPRESS.

       {¶ 15} Appellant argues the municipal court erred in denying his motion to suppress

because the affidavit submitted by Deputy Downs in support of the search warrant does not

establish probable cause.

       {¶ 16} Appellate review of a ruling on a motion to suppress presents a mixed question

of law and fact. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St. 3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, ¶ 8. When

considering a motion to suppress, the trial court, as the trier of fact, is in the best position to

weigh the evidence in order to resolve factual questions and evaluate witness credibility.

State v. Vaughn, 12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2014-05-012, 2015-Ohio-828, ¶ 8. In turn, when

reviewing the denial of a motion to suppress, this court is bound to accept the trial court's

findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence. Id. "An appellate

court, however, independently reviews the trial court's legal conclusions based on those facts

and determines, without deference to the trial court's decision, whether as a matter of law,

the facts satisfy the appropriate legal standard." State v. Cochran, 12th Dist. Preble No.

CA2006-10-023, 2007-Ohio-3353, ¶ 12.

       {¶ 17} The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that

              The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
              papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and
              seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but
              upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and
              particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons
              or things to be seized.
                                                -6-
                                                                     Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                            CA2017-04-045

       {¶ 18} In determining the sufficiency of probable cause in an affidavit submitted in

support of a search warrant, the duty of the judge or magistrate issuing the warrant is to

simply make a "practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set

forth in the affidavit before him, including the 'veracity' and 'basis of knowledge' of persons

supplying hearsay information, there is a 'fair probability that contraband or evidence of a

crime will be found in a particular place.'" State v. George, 45 Ohio St. 3d 325 (1989),

paragraph one of the syllabus, quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238-239, 103 S. Ct.
2317 (1983). Therefore, it is essential that an affidavit for a search warrant include facts

establishing probable cause that the items sought to be searched for and seized are related

to the commission of some crime.

       {¶ 19} "In determining whether a search warrant was issued upon a proper showing of

probable cause, reviewing courts must examine the totality of the circumstances." State v.

Jones, 143 Ohio St. 3d 266, 2015-Ohio-483, ¶ 13. The duty of reviewing courts is limited to

ensuring that the judge or magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable

cause existed based on the information contained in the four corners of the affidavit filed in

support of the warrant. Id.; State v. Quinn, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011-06-116, 2012-Ohio-

3123, ¶ 21. Accordingly, this court does not determine de novo whether the affidavit

provided sufficient probable cause. Quinn at ¶ 21. Rather, "[i]n conducting any after-the-fact

scrutiny of an affidavit submitted in support of a search warrant, * * * courts should accord

great deference to the magistrate's determination of probable cause, and doubtful or

marginal cases in this area should be resolved in favor of upholding the warrant." Jones at ¶

14. In reviewing the issuance of search warrants, "courts should not invalidate [warrants] by

interpreting [affidavits] in a hypertechnical, rather than a commonsense, manner." Gates at

236.
                                              -7-
                                                                       Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                              CA2017-04-045

       {¶ 20} Deputy Downs stated in his affidavit that he was "notified" that appellant "had

used his cellphone to take pictures or video of a girl while walking up the stairs in Kings High

School." Appellant argues that the affidavit does not establish probable cause for the search

warrant in two respects. First, the affidavit does not establish that appellant committed a

crime, because filming or photographing another is not against the law. Second, there is

nothing in the affidavit to show that the hearsay notification regarding appellant to Deputy

Downs is credible.

       {¶ 21} We note that appellant neither raised the issue concerning the reliability of

Deputy Downs' information in his motion to suppress nor argued it during the September 1,

2016 suppression hearing before the municipal court or in his post-hearing memorandum.

       {¶ 22} Pursuant to Crim.R. 47, in filing a motion to suppress in a criminal proceeding,

a defendant "shall state with particularity the grounds upon which it is made and shall set

forth the relief or order sought." This requires a defendant to "state the motion's legal and

factual bases with sufficient particularity to place the prosecutor and the court on notice of the

issues to be decided." State v. Orr, 12th Dist. Brown No. CA2015-08-019, 2016-Ohio-1148,

¶ 9. A defendant's motion to suppress must clearly identify the grounds upon which he

challenges the constitutionality of a warrantless seizure. Xenia v. Wallace, 37 Ohio St. 3d
216, 218 (1988). Failure on the part of the defendant to adequately raise the basis of his

challenge constitutes a waiver of that issue on appeal. State v. Peagler, 76 Ohio St. 3d 496,

500 (1996); State v. Martin, 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA96-09-014, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS

2124, *4 (May 19, 1997).

       {¶ 23} Because appellant did not challenge the reliability of Deputy Downs' information

in his motion to suppress, he has waived that issue on appeal. We therefore do not consider

whether there is a basis for believing that the hearsay statements in the affidavit are credible

                                               -8-
                                                                               Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                                      CA2017-04-045

in addressing appellant's other issue, to wit, whether the affidavit establishes probable cause

that the items to be searched for are evidence of some crime.

        {¶ 24} Appellant is correct that the allegation in the affidavit that he used his cell

phone to film or photograph someone, does not describe an offense. Appellant asserts that

this is a fatal defect because there is no criminal conduct involved to support the search for

images on his cell phone. In turn, the state argues that the affidavit must be construed as a

whole and in the context of the statement that the items sought to be searched for and seized

are concealed in violation of "2907.08E Voyeurism, videotape, film, photograph, or otherwise

record another person under of through the clothing of another person." Appellant counters

that listing the elements of an offense is a conclusory statement and may not be considered

in determining the existence of probable cause.

        {¶ 25} Certainly, the affidavit was inartfully drafted.3 However, applying the rules of

appellate review of search warrants, pursuant to which we are to examine the totality of the

circumstances, give great deference to the issuing judge's determination of probable cause,

interpret affidavits in a commonsense, as opposed to a hyper technical manner, and in

doubtful or marginal cases, resolve the matter in favor of upholding the warrant, we find that

the municipal court did not err in denying appellant's motion to suppress. When viewing the

affidavit as a whole and in the context of the offense alleged to have been committed,

instead of focusing on an isolated portion of the affidavit, it is apparent that Deputy Downs

was accusing appellant of using his cell phone to film or photograph beneath the clothing of

another.    The municipal court, therefore, did not err in denying appellant's motion to

suppress.

        {¶ 26} Appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.

3. The affidavit quoted R.C. 2907.08(D), but listed the section of the Revised Code that was violated as R.C.
                                                    -9-
                                                                       Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                              CA2017-04-045

        {¶ 27} Assignment of Error No. 2:

        {¶ 28} WARREN COUNTY JUVENILE COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF

J.A.C.'S FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS WHEN IT OVERRULED HIS MOTION TO

SUPPRESS.

        {¶ 29} Appellant argues the juvenile court erred in denying his motion to suppress on

the basis of the "good faith exception" to the exclusionary rule, especially given the facial

deficiency of the affidavit submitted by Deputy Downs in support of the search warrant.

Under the "good faith exception," searches executed pursuant to insufficient warrants are

upheld where police officers objectively and reasonably relied on a neutral and detached

judge's determination that probable cause existed. See United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897,

104 S. Ct. 3405 (1984); State v. Wilmoth, 22 Ohio St. 3d 251 (1986); State v. Redelman, 12th

Dist. Clinton No. CA2012-04-010, 2013-Ohio-657.

        {¶ 30} However, we are precluded from reviewing the issues raised in this assignment

of error. Juv.R. 40(D)(3)(b)(iv) provides that "[e]xcept 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 * *

* unless the party has objected to that finding as required by Juv.R. 40(D)(3)(b)." This court

has previously ruled that "unless the appellant argues a 'claim of plain error,' the appellant

has waived the claimed errors not objected to below." In re J.F., 12th Dist. Butler No.

CA2016-08-174, 2017-Ohio-1492, ¶ 14; In re K.P.R., 197 Ohio App. 3d 193, 2011-Ohio-6114,

¶ 10 (12th Dist.).

        {¶ 31} Appellant did not file any objections to the magistrate's decision. Further,

appellant does not claim plain error on appeal. He has therefore waived the issues for

purposes of appeal. Appellant's second assignment of error is accordingly overruled.

"2907.08E," the penalty section of the statute.
                                                  - 10 -
                                                                    Warren CA2017-04-044
                                                                           CA2017-04-045

      {¶ 32} Based upon the foregoing, the municipal court's denial of appellant's motion to

suppress and the juvenile court's denial of appellant's motion to suppress are both affirmed.

      HENDRICKSON, P.J. and S. POWELL, J., concur.

                                            - 11 -