Court Opinion

ID: 2747110
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-31 02:46:40.212341+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:32:32.592851
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Orr, 2014-Ohio-4814.]

                  Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                    EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                       COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                                   JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                           No. 100931

                                          STATE OF OHIO

                                                        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                  vs.

                                          DARLLEL ORR

                                                        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                            JUDGMENT:
                                             AFFIRMED

                                       Criminal Appeal from the
                                Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                      Case No. CR-13-574648-A

        BEFORE:          McCormack, J., Boyle, A.J., and Celebrezze, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: October 30, 2014
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Jeffrey Froude
P.O. Box 771112
Lakewood, OH 44107

Darllel B. Orr, pro se
# 0206100
Cuyahoga County Jail
P.O. Box 5600
Cleveland, OH 44101

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

By: Blaise D. Thomas
Assistant County Prosecutor
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44113
TIM McCORMACK, J.:

       {¶1}    This case came to be heard upon the accelerated calendar pursuant to App.R. 11.1

and Loc.R. 11.1. Darllel Orr was indicted for sex offenses after his DNA matched a 1993 rape

case. In the multiple court proceedings held over this criminal matter subsequently, Orr refused

to have counsel appointed for him, but also refused to participate in the necessary colloquy to

allow the trial court to determine that his waiver of counsel was intelligent and knowing.

Because of Orr’s obstructionist conduct, the trial court was unable to make a record that Orr’s

waiver of counsel was intelligent and knowing.      It therefore found Orr relinquished his right to

represent himself.   The trial court, however, allowed Orr to appeal the issue to this court, so that

there is finality to this issue and the trial could proceed. After a careful review of the record

before us, we affirm the trial court’s finding.

                            Substantive Facts and Procedural History

       {¶2} Orr was arrested on March 12, 2012, for homicide.1           While he was held in the

county jail, a “Combined DNA Index System” (“CODIS”) hit linked him to a 1993 rape. On

May 23, 2013, the grand jury indicted him for rape, sexual battery, and kidnapping. However,

the proceedings were repeatedly delayed because Orr refused to have counsel appointed to

represent him for the rape matter and, at the same time, refused to answer questions from the trial

court to allow it to ascertain that Orr’s waiver of counsel was knowing and intelligent. In fact,

        The homicide case was subsequently tried to the bench. Orr represented himself, putting on
       1

20 witnesses on his behalf. On December 18, 2013, Orr was found guilty of aggravated murder with
firearm specifications, murder, and kidnapping with repeat violent offender specification. The court
sentenced Orr to life in prison without parole.
Orr’s conduct was so disruptive that during two of the proceedings, the trial court removed him

from the courtroom.

         {¶3}   On December 19, 2013, the trial court again attempted to ascertain that Orr’s

waiver of counsel was knowing and intelligent. Orr, again, refused to answer questions from the

court.   The proceeding ended with Orr holding the trial judge in contempt of court and calling

the trial judge a criminal; Orr was once again removed from the courtroom.

         {¶4}   On December 24, 2013, the trial court issued a journal entry.       It found that Orr

refused to respond to questions from the court regarding whether he knowingly and intelligently

waived his right to counsel. The court noted that Orr obstructed the December 19, 2013 hearing

by interrupting the court and refusing to remain quiet, which resulted in the court holding Orr in

direct contempt of the court and removing him from the courtroom. The court stated that

because of Orr’s refusal to engage in the necessary colloquy, the court was unable to establish

Orr’s understanding of the nature of the allegations and the pitfalls of self-representation, or to

address other pertinent factors necessary for a knowing and intelligent waiver. For these reasons,

the court found Orr relinquished his right to self-representation.

         {¶5} On January 22, 2014, the court informed Orr in open court of its finding that he had

relinquished his right to self-representation by refusing to respond to necessary inquiries regarding

his waiver of counsel. Orr “objected to” the court’s finding. Because of Orr’s objection, the

trial court appointed counsel to allow Orr to file an interlocutory appeal on the self-representation

issue.

         {¶6} On appeal, Orr’s appointed appellate counsel raises one assignment of error. It

states: “The trial court erred by refusing to address defects in the institution of prosecution before

insisting on the retaining of or appointment of court attorney.”
                                   Right to Self-Representation

       {¶7}     The   Sixth   Amendment        guarantees   a   criminal   defendant   a   right   to

self-representation. State v. Gibson, 45 Ohio St.2d 366, 345 N.E.2d 399 (1976), paragraph one

of the syllabus, citing Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525 (1975).

       {¶8}     However, the right of self-representation is not absolute. Indiana v. Edwards,

554 U.S. 164, 128 S.Ct. 2379, 171 L.Ed.2d 345 (2008). The courts are to indulge in every

reasonable presumption against the waiver of a fundamental constitutional right such as the right

to be represented by counsel. State v. Dyer, 117 Ohio App.3d 92, 95, 689 N.E.2d 1034 (2d

Dist.1996). A defendant’s assertion of the right to proceed pro se must be knowing, intelligent,

and voluntary. State v. Halder, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 87974, 2007-Ohio-5940, ¶ 51, citing

State v. Cassano, 96 Ohio St.3d 94, 2002-Ohio-3751, 772 N.E.2d 81. Before a trial court

permits a criminal defendant to represent himself, a valid waiver of counsel must appear

affirmatively in the record. State v. Irwin, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 90772, 2009-Ohio-848;

State v. Martin, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 80198, 2003-Ohio-1499.

       {¶9}     To establish an effective waiver, “the trial court must make sufficient inquiry to

determine whether a defendant fully understands and intelligently relinquishes that right.” Irwin

at ¶ 34, citing Gibson at paragraph two of the syllabus.         There is no prescribed colloquy,

however.      What is essential is that the trial court ascertains that the defendant is aware of the

dangers and disadvantages of self-representation, and that he is making the decision with his “eyes

open.” Irwin at ¶ 35, citing Faretta at 835.

       {¶10} Our review of the record reflects that Orr attempted to obstruct the process of this

criminal matter almost from the beginning. During his arraignment on May 29, 2013, Orr

advised the court he had terminated his counsel. When the trial court stated it would appoint
standby counsel, Orr refused to have standby counsel appointed.          In several hearings held

subsequently, Orr repeatedly refused to answer questions from the trial court or otherwise allowed

the court to determine that his waiver of counsel was knowing and intelligent. The trial court

was confronted with a defendant who persisted in conduct that delayed and obstructed the trial

process. Orr was indicted on May 23, 2013, in the rape case, but, after multiple pretrials, as late

as January 23, 2014, the trial court was still unable to establish waiver of counsel to allow the

proceeding to go forward, because of Orr’s continuing obfuscation and obstruction.

       {¶11} “[T]rial judges confronted with disruptive, contumacious, stubbornly defiant

defendants must be given sufficient discretion to meet the circumstances of each case.” Illinois

v. Allen, 397 U.S. 337, 343, 90 S.Ct. 1057, 25 L.Ed.2d 353 (1970). “[A] judge is at all times,

during the sessions of the court, empowered to maintain decorum and enforce reasonable rules to

insure the orderly and judicious disposition of the court’s business.” State v. Chambers, 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 99AP-1308, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 3104, *10-11, 12-15 (July 13, 2000), citing

State v. Clifford, 162 Ohio St. 370, 372, 123 N.E.2d 8 (1954).

       {¶12} The trial court was obligated to establish that Orr gave up his constitutional right to

counsel knowingly and intelligently. It was unable to do so because of Orr’s persistence in

refusing to answer any questions necessary for such a determination. Under such circumstances,

we hold that the trial court was empowered to make the finding that the defendant relinquished his

right to self-representation so as to allow the matter to proceed to trial.      The trial court’s

finding is affirmed.

                                          Other Claims

       {¶13} Under the assignment of error, Orr makes an additional claim.           He argues the

indictment as read to him in his arraignment was insufficient because it did not identify the victim
or the location of the alleged rape incident. Orr’s claim of an insufficient indictment does not

fall within the narrow class of cases in which interlocutory appeal is permissible, because we do

not even have an “order,” not to mention a final appealable order, to review. Whatever the

merits of his contention, it may be reviewed upon an appeal from a final order following

conviction, if any.

       {¶14} Orr separately filed a pro se supplemental brief, raising three supplemental

assignments of error. They state:

       1. Trial court was divested of subject-matter jurisdiction to execute O.R.C. 2941.49
       and Crim.R. 10 devoid [sic] of servicing appellant proper notice of the indictment
       and absent evidence of court ascertaining a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent
       waiver of counsel in accord to law.

       2. As a matter of law, trial court violated appellant’s due process rights upon it’s
       [sic] overt dereliction of duty to comply with discovery rules and procedures within
       the statutory period allowed.

       3. As a matter of law, trial court violated appellant’s due process rights upon it’s

       [sic] over dereliction of duty to comply with statutory and constitutional speedy

       trial mandates.

       {¶15} The first supplemental assignment of error is similar to the assignment of error

raised by Orr’s appellate counsel, which we have just addressed. As to the second and third

supplemental assignment of error, the state filed a motion to dismiss issues raised in these

assignments of error on the ground that the challenged rulings by the trial court are not final

appealable orders. We agree with the state. See State ex rel.      Steckman v. Jackson, 70 Ohio

St.3d 420, 438, 639 N.E.2d 83 (1994). Furthermore, the trial court’s denial of a motion to dismiss

on speedy trial grounds is not a final appealable order either. See Middletown v. Jackson, 8 Ohio

App.3d 431, 432, 457 N.E.2d 898 (12th Dist.1983).
       {¶16} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

       It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant 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

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.

______________________________________________
TIM McCORMACK, JUDGE

MARY J. BOYLE, A.J., and
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE., JR., J., CONCUR