Court Opinion

ID: 4269837
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-25 16:45:09.782965+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:45.584877
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Castagnola, 2018-Ohio-1604.]

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

STATE OF OHIO                                         C.A. Nos.    28621
                                                                   28672
        Appellee                                                   28702

        v.

NICHOLAS J. CASTAGNOLA                                APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                      ENTERED IN THE
        Appellant                                     COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                      COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
                                                      CASE Nos. CR-2010-08-2244
                                                                 CR-2010-07-1951-B

                                 DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: April 25, 2018

        CALLAHAN, Judge.

        {¶1}     Appellant, Nicholas Castagnola, filed three appeals arising from three journal

entries in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas which denied his motion for return of

seized property in two separate cases.1 Having consolidated the appeals, this Court affirms in

part and vacates in part.

                                                 I.

        {¶2}     Following the disposition of two separate criminal cases, Mr. Castagnola sought

the return of two computers and their accessories, a cell phone, and a GPS obtained by a search

1
 Case No. 28621 – Appeal of the March 28, 2017 journal entry denying the motion in Case No.
CR-2010-08-2244, “the pandering case.”
Case No. 28672 – Appeal of the May 12, 2017 nunc pro tunc journal entry denying the motion in
Case No. CR-2010-07-1951(B), “the retaliation case.”
Case No. 28702 – Appeal of the June 13, 2017 journal entry denying the motion in Case No. CR-
2010-07-1951(B), the retaliation case.
                                                  2

warrant in the retaliation case. Additionally, Mr. Castagnola sought the return of his vehicle

which was seized pursuant to his arrest in the retaliation case.

       {¶3}    This Court previously summarized the procedural history of the underlying

criminal cases as follows:

       A grand jury indicted Mr. Castagnola in two separate cases. In Case No. 2010-07-
       1951(B) (“the retaliation case”), Mr. Castagnola was indicted on counts of
       criminal damaging, vandalism, criminal trespass, possession of criminal tools,
       two counts of retaliation, and multiple forfeiture specifications. In Case No. 2010-
       08-2244 (“the pandering case”), Mr. Castagnola was indicted on ten counts of
       pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor. Mr. Castagnola filed a
       motion to suppress in both cases, challenging the warrant the police relied upon to
       seize the computer from his home. The trial court held a suppression hearing and
       ultimately denied the motion. Subsequently, a jury trial took place in the
       retaliation case. The jury found Mr. Castagnola guilty on all counts, but did not
       find that his property was subject to forfeiture. The pandering case then was tried
       to the bench, and the judge found Mr. Castagnola guilty on all counts.

State v. Castagnola, 9th Dist. Summit Nos. 26185 and 26186, 2013-Ohio-1215, ¶ 5. This Court

affirmed the trial court’s denial of the motion to suppress in both the pandering case and the

retaliation case. Id. at ¶ 5, 19, 35. The Supreme Court reversed this Court’s decision, finding the

search warrant to be invalid and suppressing the evidence obtained in executing the warrant.

State v. Castagnola, 145 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2015-Ohio-1565, ¶ 1, 108.

       {¶4}    Upon remand to the trial court, the convictions in the pandering case were vacated

and that case was dismissed. Similarly, the convictions in the retaliation case were also vacated.

A year later, Mr. Castagnola pled guilty to one count of retaliation while the remaining charges

in the retaliation case, including the forfeiture specifications, were dismissed.

       {¶5}    On September 30, 2016, Mr. Castagnola filed an application to reopen his appeal

of the retaliation case. This Court denied the motion to reopen the appeal as well as the

subsequent motion for reconsideration, motion to certify a conflict, motion for en banc
                                                 3

consideration, and motion for an evidentiary hearing. On February 6, 2017, Mr. Castagnola filed

an appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court, which declined jurisdiction on April 19, 2017.

       {¶6}    On December 8, 2016, Mr. Castagnola filed a pro se motion for return of seized

property which listed the case numbers for both the pandering case and the retaliation case in the

caption. A week earlier, on November 30, 2016, Mr. Castagnola’s counsel filed a motion to seal

in the pandering case. The trial court set the motion to seal the pandering case for a hearing.

However, the trial court did not schedule a hearing on the pro se motion for return of seized

property in either case.

       {¶7}    On March 22, 2017, the trial court convened the sealing hearing in the pandering

case. After hearing arguments from counsel for both sides, the sealing hearing was continued for

additional briefing. The trial court then said, “I want to now address this motion for the seized

property. That motion was filed on December 8th pro se. Attorney James, are you going to speak

on that motion on behalf of your client?”

       {¶8}    Despite the court’s recognition that the motion was pro se and counsel’s

subsequent acknowledgement that he did not represent Mr. Castagnola on the motion for return

of seized property in either case, counsel proceeded to address the motion without objection from

Mr. Castagnola. The trial court determined that it was “divested of the ability to consider these

matters” because of the appeal pending in the Ohio Supreme Court.

       {¶9}    On March 28, 2017, the trial court filed a journal entry in the pandering case

which 1) denied the motion for return of seized property, and 2) continued the hearing on the

motion to seal and set a schedule for further briefing on that motion. On May 12, 2017, the trial

court filed a journal entry in the retaliation case, calling it a nunc pro tunc order to correct the

entry filed on March 28, 2017. The nunc pro tunc journal entry deleted the reference to the
                                                 4

sealing motion and denied the motion for return of seized property. On June 13, 2017, the trial

court filed a journal entry in the retaliation case denying the motion for return of seized property.

Mr. Castagnola timely filed separate appeals from each of these journal entries.

       {¶10} On June 6, 2017, Mr. Castagnola filed a pro se renewed motion for return of

seized property in the retaliation case only. The trial court did not rule on this motion and it

remains pending.

       {¶11} Mr. Castagnola asserts two assignments of error. For ease of discussion, this

Court will review the assignments of error together.

                                                 II.

                               ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW IN DENYING [MR.]
       CASTAGNOLA’S MOTION FOR RETURN OF ILLEGALLY SEIZED
       PROPERTY.

                               ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2

       THE   TRIAL    COURT   VIOLATED    [MR.]   CASTAGNOLA’S
       CONSTITUTIONAL DUE PROCESS RIGHT TO BE HEARD BY NOT
       ALLOWING HIM ANY OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DURING HIS HEARING
       ON HIS PRO SE MOTION FOR RETURN OF ILLEGALLY SEIZED
       PROPERTY, AND THEREAFTER SUMMARILY DENYING HIS RENEWED
       MOTION WITHOUT A HEARING.

       {¶12} Mr. Castagnola argues that the trial court erred in denying his December 8, 2016

motion for return of seized property and violated his due process rights when it did not permit

him to speak at the hearing on his pro se motion. Additionally, Mr. Castagnola contends that the

trial court violated his due process rights when it denied his renewed motion for return of seized

property without a hearing. This Court will address these arguments separately as they relate to

the pandering case and the retaliation case.
                                                  5

The Pandering Case: Motion for Return of Seized Property and Hearing

       {¶13} Mr. Castagnola contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for return

of seized property and denied his due process rights by not permitting him to speak during the

hearing on the motion. As it pertains to the pandering case, these arguments ignore the fact that

Mr. Castagnola filed his pro se motion for return of seized property while he was represented by

counsel.

       {¶14} The Ohio Supreme Court has prohibited hybrid representation; that is a

combination of pro se representation along with the assistance of counsel. State v. Thompson, 33
Ohio St. 3d 1, 6-7 (1987); State v. Martin, 103 Ohio St. 3d 385, 2004-Ohio-5471, paragraph one

of the syllabus (“In Ohio, a criminal defendant has the right to representation by counsel or to

proceed pro se with the assistance of standby counsel. However, these two rights are independent

of each other and may not be asserted simultaneously.”). A defendant who is represented by

counsel and does not move the court to proceed pro se may not “act as co-counsel on his own

behalf.” Thompson at 6-7. Because a defendant does not have a right to hybrid representation, a

trial court may not entertain pro se motions filed while a defendant is represented by counsel.

See State v. Williams, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 11CA010026, 2012-Ohio-3417, ¶ 12; State v. Rice,

9th Dist. Medina No. 08CA0054-M, 2009-Ohio-5419, ¶ 8; State v. Walters, 9th Dist. Summit

No. 23795, 2008-Ohio-1466, ¶ 19; State v. Brown, 9th Dist. Summit No. 23759, 2007-Ohio-

7028, ¶ 4, fn. 1. As described below, the record reflects that the conduct of Mr. Castagnola

created an impermissible hybrid representation.

       {¶15} The pandering case was dismissed in July 2015.           Sixteen months later, on

November 30, 2016, Attorney James filed a notice of appearance indicating that he was

appearing “as counsel of record for [Mr.] Castagnola, in the above-captioned case.” On that
                                                   6

same day, Attorney James filed a motion for sealing on behalf of Mr. Castagnola in the

pandering case. A week later, on December 8, 2016, Mr. Castagnola filed his pro se motion for

return of seized property in the pandering case.

       {¶16} At the March 22, 2017 hearing on the sealing motion, Attorney James indicated to

the trial court that his representation of Mr. Castagnola in the pandering case was limited to the

motion for sealing. However, counsel’s statement is not supported by the record. The notice of

appearance was general as to the scope of the representation and did not contain any language

limiting the scope of representation to the sealing motion.

       {¶17} Upon the trial court’s inquiry with counsel as to whether he was “going to speak

on [the] motion [for return of seized property] on behalf of [Mr. Castagnola],” counsel

responded, “I can, Your Honor. I mean, he’s here in the courtroom and he retained me on the

other matter, but it’s very simple.” At the trial court’s behest, counsel discussed the procedural

history of the cases giving rise to the filing of the pro se motion for return of seized property, but

did not assert any legal arguments in support of the motion. Counsel reiterated for a second time

that his representation was limited to the motion to seal the pandering case and stressed that

“[Mr. Castagnola], on his own, filed a motion to return the property.” “[W]here a defendant who

is represented by counsel files pro se motions and there is no indication that defense counsel

joins in those motions or indicates a need for the relief sought by the defendant pro se, such

motions are not proper and the trial court may strike them from the record.” State v. Davis, 10th

Dist. Franklin No. 05AP-193, 2006-Ohio-5039, ¶ 12.

       {¶18} Further, rather than objecting to his counsel’s statements to the court, Mr.

Castagnola proceeded to correct counsel as to certain facts and then attempted to supplement

counsel’s statements regarding the motion for return of seized property. In effect, Mr. Castagnola
                                                   7

was acting as co-counsel. Contra Thompson, 33 Ohio St. 3d at 6-7 (a defendant does not have the

“right to act as co-counsel on his own behalf”).

       {¶19} In light of the specific facts of this case, Mr. Castagnola’s pro se motion in the

pandering case was not properly before the trial court. As such, the trial court should not have

considered the pro se motion, nor was it required to conduct a hearing or hear directly from Mr.

Castagnola. See Williams, 2012-Ohio-3417, at ¶ 11-12; Rice, 2009-Ohio-5419, at ¶ 8; Walters,

2008-Ohio-1466, at ¶ 19; Brown, 2007-Ohio-7028, at ¶ 4, fn. 1. See also Turner v. McGinty, 8th

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102074, 2015-Ohio-529, ¶ 3-4 (defendant was not entitled to rulings on pro

se motions filed while represented); State v. Davis, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105129, 2017-Ohio-

8479, ¶ 21; Davis, 2006-Ohio-5039, at ¶ 12. Just as the trial court should not have considered

Mr. Castagnola’s pro se motion in the pandering case, neither will this Court.

       {¶20} The first assignment of error as it relates to the March 28, 2017 journal entry in

the pandering case is overruled. Additionally, the second assignment of error as it pertains to Mr.

Castagnola’s argument that the trial court violated his due process right by denying him the

opportunity to speak during the motion hearing as to his pro se motion filed in the pandering case

is overruled.

The Retaliation Case: Motion for Return of Seized Property and Hearing

       {¶21} As to the retaliation case, Mr. Castagnola asserts the same arguments regarding

the denial of his motion for return of seized property and the violation of his due process rights at

the hearing. Unlike the pandering case, Mr. Castagnola was not represented by counsel at the

time that he filed his pro se motion for return of seized property in the retaliation case. Thus, the

pro se motion was properly before the trial court for consideration. The trial court entered two
                                                 8

journal entries, May 12, 2017 and June 13, 2017, denying the motion for return of seized

property in the retaliation case. Mr. Castagnola separately appealed both journal entries.

                                   May 12, 2017 Journal Entry

       {¶22} As an initial matter, this Court must determine whether the May 12, 2017 nunc

pro tunc journal entry filed in the retaliation case is valid. See State v. Hayes, 9th Dist. Medina

No. 3175-M, 2002 Ohio App. LEXIS 620, *2 (Feb. 20, 2002). The trial court must “possess the

power to resort to a nunc pro tunc entry[.]” (Emphasis deleted.) Natl. Life Ins. Co. v. Kohn, 133
Ohio St. 111, 113 (1937). A “trial court [can]not issue a nunc pro tunc journal entry for a non-

existent order.” (Emphasis deleted.) Hayes at *5.

       {¶23} The May 12, 2017 nunc pro tunc journal entry filed in the retaliation case stated

that it was being filed “to correct the [j]ournal [e]ntry * * * filed [on] March 28, 2017.” The

March 28, 2017 judgment entry denied Mr. Castagnola’s motion for return of seized property in

the pandering case. However, a review of the docket in the retaliation case does not reflect any

journal entry filed or any action taken in that case on March 28, 2017. See Kohn at 113-114.

Because there was no existing order in the retaliation case, the trial court did not “possess the

power to resort to a nunc pro tunc entry.” (Emphasis deleted.) Id. at 113; see Hayes at *5.

       {¶24} The May 12, 2017 nunc pro tunc journal entry is hereby vacated as invalid. See

Hayes at *5.

                                   June 13, 2017 Journal Entry

       {¶25} Similarly, this Court must also determine whether it has jurisdiction over the June

13, 2017 journal entry. An appeal is perfected upon the filing of a written notice of appeal. R.C.

2505.04. A notice of appeal only divests the trial court of jurisdiction over that part of the final

order, judgment, or decree which is sought to be reviewed. See State ex rel. Special Prosecutors
                                                 9

v. Judges, Court of Common Pleas, 55 Ohio St. 2d 94, 97 (1978); Majnaric v. Majnaric, 46 Ohio

App.2d 157, 158 (9th Dist.1975). The trial court retains jurisdiction over issues not inconsistent

with the appellate court’s jurisdiction to reverse, modify, or affirm the judgment appealed. State

ex rel. Special Prosecutors at 97. When a trial court takes action after it has lost jurisdiction due

to a pending appeal, that action is a nullity and is void. See Ormandy v. Dudzinsky, 9th Dist.

Lorain No. 09CA009713, 2010-Ohio-2017, ¶ 11. This Court has inherent authority to vacate

such a void judgment. See id.

       {¶26} On appeal, the parties focused on the trial court’s jurisdiction in relation to the

status of Mr. Castagnola’s appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court. This, however, was not the correct

appeal from which to analyze the question of jurisdiction.

       {¶27} “The rule is well established in this state that a court of record speaks only

through its journal and not by oral pronouncement.” Schenley v. Kauth, 160 Ohio St. 109, 111

(1953). Further, the journal entry “is effective only when it has been journalized.” San Filipo v.

San Filipo, 81 Ohio App. 3d 111, 112 (9th Dist.1991). During the March 22, 2017 hearing, the

trial court verbally denied the motion for return of seized property for lack of jurisdiction due to

the appeal pending before the Ohio Supreme Court. The trial court journalized its denial of the

December 8, 2016 motion for return of seized property in the retaliation case on May 12, 2017,

addressed above, and again on June 13, 2017. Because the trial court speaks only through its

filed journal entries, this Court must examine what appeals, if any, were pending when the June

13, 2017 journal entry was filed, and not when the hearing was held.

       {¶28} The Ohio Supreme Court declined jurisdiction in Mr. Castagnola’s appeal on

April 19, 2017. Thus, that appeal did not divest the trial court of jurisdiction to file the June 13,

2017 journal entry.
                                                10

        {¶29} However, Mr. Castagnola filed an appeal with this Court on June 12, 2017 from

the May 12, 2017 nunc pro tunc journal entry denying his pro se motion. It was this appeal that

divested the trial court of jurisdiction from entering a subsequent denial of the motion for return

of seized property on June 13, 2017.

        {¶30} The June 13, 2017 journal entry is a nullity and is hereby vacated.

The Retaliation Case: Renewed Motion for Return of Seized Property and Hearing

        {¶31} Mr. Castagnola argues that his due process rights were violated when the trial

court denied his renewed motion for return of seized property without a hearing. This Court

does not have jurisdiction to consider this argument.

        {¶32} The record reflects that on December 8, 2016, Mr. Castagnola filed his original

motion for return of seized property in both the pandering case and the retaliation case. Six

months later, on June 6, 2017, Mr. Castagnola filed a renewed motion for return of seized

property in the retaliation case only. In the retaliation case, the record contains two journal

entries filed on May 12, 2017 and June 13, 2017, which denied the original “December 8, 2016”

“motion for return of seized property.” However, absent from the record is any ruling on the

subsequent renewed motion for return of seized property in the retaliation case. See State v.

Weideman, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2017-P-0011, 2018-Ohio-1108, ¶ 1. As such, there is no final,

appealable order before this Court as to Mr. Castagnola’s pro se renewed motion for return of

seized property in the retaliation case. Id.

        {¶33} Accordingly, this Court does not have jurisdiction to review Mr. Castagnola’s

second assignment of error relative to the pro se renewed motion for return of seized property in

the retaliation case.
                                                11

                                                III.

       {¶34} Mr. Castagnola’s assignments of error related to the pandering case are overruled.

The March 28, 2017 judgment entry in Case No. CR-2010-08-2244 of the Summit County

Common Pleas Court is affirmed (Appellate Case No. 28621).

       {¶35} Mr. Castagnola’s assignments of error related to the retaliation case are moot.

The May 12, 2017 nunc pro tunc judgment entry and the June 13, 2017 judgment entry in Case

No. CR-2010-07-1951(B) of the Summit County Common Pleas Court are vacated (Appellate

Case Nos. 28672 and 28702).

                                                                        Judgments affirmed in part
                                                                              and vacated in part.

       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 Summit, 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.

                                                       LYNNE S. CALLAHAN
                                                       FOR THE COURT
                                      12

TEODOSIO, P. J.
HENSAL, J.
CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

NICHOLAS SWYRYDENKO, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and HEAVEN DIMARTINO, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.