Court Opinion

ID: 3692718
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:34:31.871431+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:35.796023
License: Public Domain

OPINION
{¶ 1} Defendant Jerry Denman appeals a judgment of the Municipal Court of Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, which convicted and sentenced him for four counts of criminal simulation in violation of Zanesville Ordinance No. 545.13.  Appellant assigns two errors to the trial court:
 ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR    {¶ 2} I. THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED THE DEFENDANTS RIGHTS SECURED BY THE 5TH, 6TH AND 14TH  AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE I 1, 5, AND 10, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF OHIO, AND OHIO RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 4, 10, 22, 23, 32, AND 44.
    {¶ 3} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN PROSECUTING THE APPELLANT WITH DEFECTIVE AFFIDAVITS AND/OR CHARGES.
{¶ 4} This case has an unusual procedural history in the court of appeals.  Appellant filed a timely brief; the City of Zanesville chose not to file an answer brief.  Instead, appellee City moved to dismiss the appeal.  In its memorandum in support the City stated it had informed appellant through counsel it would not oppose appellant's motion for a new trial.  Appellant refused to settle the matter in this way. The City has declared its intention not to proceed to trial in the event of our reversal.
{¶ 5} This court overruled the motion to dismiss as inappropriate.
{¶ 6} App.R. 18 (C) outlines the consequences of failure to file a brief.  The Rule permits this court, in the absence of an appellee's brief, to accept the appellant's statement of facts and issues as correct, and reverse the judgment if appellant's brief reasonably appears to warrant it.
{¶ 7} In light of the City's representations in its motion and at oral argument, and because we find appellant's brief reasonably warrants it, we sustain both assignments of error.
{¶ 8} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Municipal Court of Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, is reversed, and the cause is remanded to that court for further proceedings in accord with law and consistent with this opinion.
By GWIN, J., HOFFMAN, P.J., and WISE, J., concur.
                             JUDGMENT ENTRY
For the reasons stated in the Memorandum-Opinion on file, the judgment of the Municipal Court of the City of Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, is reversed, and the cause is remanded to that court for further proceedings in accord with law and consistent with this opinion.  Costs to the City of Zanesville.