Court Opinion

ID: 2696109
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 15:34:45.476589+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:39:21.185515
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Land, 2014-Ohio-1877.]

                      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                          THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                              MARION COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,

        PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,                            CASE NO. 9-13-39

        v.

DURAIN J. LAND,                                         OPINION

        DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.

                 Appeal from Marion County Common Pleas Court
                           Trial Court No. 13-CR-0223

                       Judgment Reversed and Cause Remanded

                              Date of Decision: May 5, 2014

APPEARANCES:

        Kevin P. Collins for Appellee

        Denise M. Martin for Appellant
Case No. 9-13-39

ROGERS, J.

       {¶1} Plaintiff-Appellant, the State of Ohio, appeals the judgment of the

Court of Common Pleas of Marion County, suppressing the State’s evidence. On

appeal, the State argues that the trial court erred by: (1) holding a suppression

hearing after the commencement of trial without the defendant filing a motion to

suppress; (2) denying the State due process; and (3) improperly suppressing the

State’s evidence.    For the reasons that follow, we reverse the trial court’s

judgment.

       {¶2} On May 9, 2013, the Marion County Grand Jury returned a one count

indictment against Land charging him with one count of possession of heroin in

violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)/(C)(6), a felony of the fourth degree.

       {¶3} This matter proceeded to trial on August 8, 2013. Land and his trial

counsel had discussed filing a motion to suppress the heroin that was found on

Land’s person, but decided against it as part of their trial strategy. Trial Tr., p. 96.

The State called two witnesses, Trooper Ruth and Detective Isom, both of whom

described how they came into contact with Land after pulling over the vehicle he

was a passenger in for a traffic violation.

       {¶4} Detective Isom testified that when Land stepped out of the vehicle, he

could see a plastic bag, which he believed contained narcotics, hanging out of

Land’s pants. Detective Isom testified at first he tried to shake Land’s pants in an

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Case No. 9-13-39

attempt to get the narcotics to fall to the ground, but was unsuccessful.

Eventually, Land removed the bag from his pants after Detective Isom asked him

“do you want to get it or do you want me to get it[?]” Id. at p. 91.

       {¶5} After Detective Isom finished testifying, the trial court excused the

jury and sua sponte held a suppression hearing to determine “whether a motion to

suppress should have been filed and whether that motion [sic] should have been

suppressed.”   Id. at p. 97. The State and the trial court then had the following

relevant discussion:

       State: I can’t get past the fact, I guess, that we’re at the trial now
       and we’re discussing, you know, the suppression issues and I think I
       need to look into that as well.

       Trial Court: Okay. If the defense is that -- let’s say the facts are that
       it was an unconstitutional search, however it’s admitted because
       defense counsel didn’t file a motion to suppress, that would be
       ineffective assistance of counsel and we’re back to the same place,
       the conviction then becomes nullified.

       State: Would that be an issue that he would address on appeal?

       Trial Court: Well, if it’s unconstitutional, I’m not supposed to cover
       my eyes to that. I’m supposed to make that ruling myself. I’m not
       supposed to just cover my eyes and say, we’ll let the Court of
       Appeals deal with that.

       State: I would ask for a recess, Your Honor, in order for us to look
       fully into this issue.

       Trial Court: How long of a recess do you need?

       State: Well, I’m going to need to do a little research, so, I don’t
       know, maybe an hour or two.

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Case No. 9-13-39

       Trial Court: Well, I don’t want to recess this for an hour.

Id. at p. 102-103.

       {¶6} The trial court then took a short recess. When back on the record, the

State again informed the court that it was not prepared to defend a motion to

suppress at that time.      The State requested additional time to research the

suppression issue. The trial court then stated, “I would think before you present

evidence in Court you would make an evaluation regarding the constitutionality of

the recovery of evidence.” Id. at p. 106.

       {¶7} At this point in the hearing, Land’s trial counsel started offering

additional reasons why he did not file a motion to suppress:

       Defense Counsel: I had -- I had contacted [the State] sometime last
       week, Thursday possibly, about the DVD of this, so I got it Friday.

       Trial Court: You hadn’t seen the DVD before Friday?

       Defense Counsel: No, I got it Friday, I didn’t know it existed.

       Trial Court: Okay. Why is that?

       The State: I wasn’t aware that there was a DVD. It was not turned
       in with our original package. I didn’t note it in the report and Doug
       did bring it to my attention. whether [sic] it was last Friday, I can’t
       say for certain, but he was provided with a copy of it.

       Defense Counsel: Because Officer’s Isom’s testimony of, are you
       going to get it or am I going to get it, that’s the first time I heard that.
       It’s not in any other report. I was provided a report by Detective
       Isom yesterday at 11:55 [a.m.]. [The State] emailed this to me and
       that was the first time where there was comment [sic] made that my

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Case No. 9-13-39

       client was the one that reached into his own pants and removed the
       items from his pants. So in part that’s why I had not filed a motion
       to suppress, and I didn’t file it earlier based on the other information.
       I had Trooper Ruth’s report and such. That’s some of the reasons
       why I did what I did.

Id. at p. 107-108.

       {¶8} The trial court, before allowing either party to present evidence at the

suppression hearing, offered its opinion on why the evidence was not admissible:

       Plain view doesn’t give you the right to go make an intrusion, and
       here’s a case that’s very helpful on this. It’s just a Court of Appeals
       case. It’s State v. Davis, 133 Ohio App.3d 114. [Sic] Officers
       observed, I think, marijuana plants, they could see those from the
       sidewalk, so that officers [sic] had a right to be there. They could
       see those inside the house through the window of the house, so they
       were in plain view, I mean, because the officers could observe them
       and the officers were in a place where they had a right to be.
       However, that didn’t give them grounds to enter the house because
       the plain view doctrine does not give you grounds to go make an
       intrusion.
              Now, the facts here are a little unusual because you have an
       item that was, at least a portion of it, was in plain view. Although in
       some of the plain view cases you have where someone – you see a
       stereo and the plain view doctrine doesn’t give them authority to lift
       up the stereo to look at the serial number to then determine it’s
       stolen property. If they can see the stereo, if they can see the serial
       number without moving the stereo, then that’s okay, but they can’t
       lift it up, even though that’s a very minimal additional intrusion. So
       I don’t think plain view works here.
              I don’t think consent works because, I mean, we’ve got
       multiple officers there. He’s been stopped by force. They’ve
       already tried to shake his pants, which wasn’t something he
       consented to. He never was asked for consent. He just said, well,
       are you going to give them up or am I going to have to go in and get
       them, that’s really telling him he doesn’t have a choice. So I don’t
       think consent works.

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Case No. 9-13-39

             I don’t think search incident to arrest works because there
       wasn’t an arrest made. I think Knowles v. Iowa addresses that issue.
       ***
             And I don’t think exigent circumstances works because the
       officer was asked about do -- well, were you worried about the drugs
       getting lost or destroyed, is that why you needed to get those right
       away, he said, well, we prefer to get them rather than to have to go
       prepare a warrant and look for a judge. That’s not exigent
       circumstances either.

Id. at p. 108-111.

       {¶9} After explaining why none of the warrant exceptions applied to

Land’s case, the trial court told the State it could offer evidence on the motion to

suppress after another short recess. When back on the record, the State called

Detective Isom to testify. Detective Isom testified that when Land exited the

vehicle, he saw part of a plastic bag sticking out from Land’s pants. He also stated

that it is common for individuals to hide narcotics in their pants. Detective Isom

tried to grab the plastic bag but was not able to because the plastic bag fell further

into Land’s boxer shorts. After his failed attempt to retrieve the drugs, Detective

Isom asked Land “if he was going to remove it or [if] he wanted me to remove it.”

Id. at p. 129. Detective Isom testified that Land said that he would get it and that

he never told him “no.” Id. at p. 130. Detective Isom also testified, “I think at the

point that he knew that I had seen it and that I had asked him that he knew he was

busted and he was complying, he gave it to me.” Id.

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Case No. 9-13-39

      {¶10} On cross-examination, Detective Isom stated that Land was not in

handcuffs at the time he handed over the narcotics. The trial court then asked

Detective Isom the following questions:

      Trial Court: -- and then you said you proceeded, you grabbed
      [Land’s] clothes and shook them.

      Detective Isom: I grabbed them and -- well, I don’t know about
      shaking, but I think on the video you can see I kind of (Indicating).

      Trial Court: Did you ask him before you did that?

      Detective Isom: Did I ask him what?

      Trial Court: Whether you could shake his clothes, pull his clothes,
      do any of that?

      Detective Isom: No.

      ***

      Trial Court: And you have how many officers present?

      ***

      Detective Isom: Myself, Trooper Ruth, Detective Utley, and I think
      Detective Troutman, and I’m not quite sure when Detective Elliott
      got there, at what point.

      ***

      Trial Court: And do you think -- I mean, do you think that [Land]
      felt he had any choice at the point?

      Detective Isom: To say no?

      Trial Court: Yes.

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Case No. 9-13-39

       Detective Isom: Sure he did.

       Trial Court: And why do you say that?

       Detective Isom: Because I asked him.

       Trial Court: Well, you asked him. You know, officers ask a lot of
       questions, but normally you ask with the intent that the person
       comply. Like, you know, you stop someone, you ask them for their
       driver’s license. It’s not really a question, per se, is it? It’s more of
       a direction; isn’t that correct?

       Detective Isom: I really don’t know what you’re getting at, but I’m
       not sure --

       Trial Court: And this was a much more intense situation than just a
       traffic stop at that point. I mean, you’re there with multiple drug
       officers because you think you’ve found drugs at this point.

Id. at p. 131-135.

       {¶11} The trial court then orally made its decision. The trial court stated

that it considered Detective Isom’s testimony at trial in addition to his testimony at

the suppression hearing and found that the evidence was unconstitutionally

obtained and granted the motion to suppress it had raised sua sponte. The State

then moved for a stay of the proceedings so it could appeal the trial court’s

judgment to this court.

       {¶12} The State filed this timely appeal, presenting the following

assignments of error for our review.

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Case No. 9-13-39

                            Assignment of Error No. I

       THE COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT
       IMPROPERLY SUPPRESSED THE STATE’S EVIDENCE
       SUA SPONTE AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF TRIAL
       AND WITHOUT ANY MOTION TO SUPPRESS BEFORE
       THE COURT.

                            Assignment of Error No. II

       THE STATE WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS WHEN THE
       COURT SUA SPONTE HELD A SUPPRESSION HEARING
       TO SUPPRESS THE STATE’S EVIDENCE.

                           Assignment of Error No. III

       THE   COURT            IMPROPERLY           SUPPRESSED           THE
       EVIDENCE.

                             Assignment of Error No. I

       {¶13} In its first assignment of error, the State argues that the trial court

abused its discretion by improperly suppressing the State’s evidence when it sua

sponte conducted a suppression hearing after the commencement of the trial and

without any motion to suppress before the court. We agree.

       {¶14} Initially, we must note “[i]n our adversary system, in both civil and

criminal cases, in the first instance and on appeal, we follow the principle of party

presentation. That is, we rely on the parties to frame the issues for decision and

assign to courts the role of neutral arbiter of matters the parties present.”

Greenlaw v. United States, 554 U.S. 237, 243-245 (2008). This is because the

“parties know what is best for them, and are responsible for advancing the facts

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Case No. 9-13-39

and arguments entitling them to relief.” Castro v. United States, 540 U.S. 375,

386 (2003) (Scalia, J., concurring in part and concurring in the judgment).

       {¶15} Pursuant to Crim.R. 12(D), a motion to suppress must be filed within

35 days of arraignment “or seven days before trial, whichever is earlier.”

However, in the interest of justice, the trial court has the discretion to extend the

time for making pretrial motions. Crim.R. 12(D). Further, Crim.R. 12(H) states

that the failure of the defendant to raise defenses prior to trial “shall constitute

waiver of the defenses or objections, but the court for good cause shown may

grant relief from the waiver.” While the trial court correctly noted in its judgment

entry that the trial court may extend the time for making a motion to suppress,

Land never made a written or an oral motion to suppress.

       {¶16} “A trial court cannot sua sponte issue and then grant a motion to

suppress.” (Emphasis sic.) State v. Wallace, 7th Dist. Mahoning Nos. 11 MA

137-145, 11 MA 149-155, 11 MA 146, 11 MA 147, 11 MA 148, 2012-Ohio-6270,

¶ 19, citing State v. Hamilton, 97 Ohio App.3d 648 (3d Dist.1994). Further, it is

an abuse of discretion for a court to override a party’s deliberate waiver of a

defense. See Day v. McDonough, 547 U.S 198, 202 (2006) (“And we would count

it an abuse of discretion to override a State’s deliberate waiver of a limitations

defense.”).

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Case No. 9-13-39

       {¶17} Here, it is undisputed that Land’s trial counsel never filed a written

motion to suppress. Initially, the trial court asked Land’s trial counsel why he had

not filed a motion to suppress, and his trial counsel responded that he had talked to

Land, and together, they agreed it was in Land’s best interest not to file the

motion. The trial court essentially called Land’s trial counsel ineffective and

overrode Land’s waiver of his defense. Instead of removing Land’s “ineffective”

trial counsel, it proceeded to argue Land’s case on his behalf:

       Plain view doesn’t give you the right to go make an intrusion, and
       here’s a case that’s very helpful on this. It’s just a Court of Appeals
       case. It’s State v. Davis, 133 Ohio App.3d 114. [Sic] Officers
       observed, I think, marijuana plants, they could see those from the
       sidewalk, so that officers [sic] had a right to be there. They could
       see those inside the house through the window of the house, so they
       were in plain view, I mean, because the officers could observe them
       and the officers were in a place where they had a right to be.
       However, that didn’t give them grounds to enter the house because
       the plain view doctrine does not give you grounds to go make an
       intrusion. * * * So I don’t think plain view works here.
             I don’t think consent works because, I mean, we’ve got multiple
       officers there. He’s been stopped by force. They’ve already tried to
       shake his pants, which wasn’t something he consented to. He never
       was asked for consent. He just said, well, are you going to give
       them up or am I going to have to go in and get them, that’s really
       telling him he doesn’t have a choice. So I don’t think consent works.
             I don’t think search incident to arrest works because there
       wasn’t an arrest made. I think Knowles v. Iowa addresses that issue.
       ***
             And I don’t think exigent circumstances works because the
       officer was asked about do -- well, were you worried about the drugs
       getting lost or destroyed, is that why you needed to get those right
       away, he said, well, we prefer to get them rather than to have to go
       prepare a warrant and look for a judge. That’s not exigent
       circumstances either.

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Case No. 9-13-39

(Emphasis added.) Trial Tr., p. 108-111.

       {¶18} Even at this point, when the trial court indicated that it was inclined

to suppress the evidence, Land did not orally move to suppress the evidence or ask

the trial court for relief from his waiver pursuant to Crim.R. 12(H). Further, after

the trial court explained why it believed none of the warrant exceptions applied, it

then allowed the State and Land to present evidence at the suppression hearing.

       {¶19} Based on the facts of this case, we find that the trial court abused its

discretion in first sua sponte raising the motion to suppress in contradiction to

Land’s trial strategy and then taking an adversarial position by essentially ruling

on the motion before allowing the State or Land to present any evidence on the

matter.

       {¶20} Accordingly, we sustain the State’s first assignment of error.

                             Assignment of Error No. II

       {¶21} In its second assignment of error, the State argues that the trial court

erred in conducting a suppression hearing without giving it notice and opportunity

to respond to the newly raised issue. We agree.

       {¶22} It is well-established that if a trial court raises an issue sua sponte it

must afford both parties notice and an opportunity to prepare a response to the

newly raised issue. See McDonough, 547 U.S. at 210 (“Of course, before acting

on its own initiative, a court must accord the parties fair notice and an opportunity

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Case No. 9-13-39

to present their positions.”); see generally State ex rel. Edwards v. Toledo City

School Dist. Bd. Of Edn., 72 Ohio St.3d 106 (1995); see also Jones v. Alvarez,

12th Dist. Butler No. CA2006-10-257, 2008-Ohio-1994, ¶ 29 (“The trial court’s

decision to raise, sua sponte, the issue of mutual mistake and to decide that issue

without giving Alvarez an opportunity to present evidence and argument on the

issue was unreasonable and, therefore, an abuse of discretion.”); N. Olmstead Auto

Paint & Supply Co. v. Lettieri, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 91CA005211, 1992 WL

174637, *3 (July 22, 1992) (“We find that the trial court erred by raising the

defense sua sponte, and determining the action upon that issue, without first

providing notice to the parties and an opportunity to respond.”); Bishop Kandel

Realty v. Meadows, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-91-9, 1991 WL 234135, *3 (trial

court erred in sua sponte raising an affirmative defense without first giving

appellant an opportunity to respond).

       {¶23} In this matter, the trial court did not allow the State time to respond

to the newly raised issue of suppression. While the court allowed for two short

recesses, it denied the State’s request for an hour-long recess or a continuance so it

could properly research the issue of suppression. The trial court stated that the

State should have made “an evaluation regarding the constitutionality of the

recovery of the evidence” before it had gone to trial. Trial Tr., p. 106-107.

However, the Ohio Supreme Court has held that “the prosecutor cannot be

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Case No. 9-13-39

expected to anticipate the specific legal and factual grounds upon which the

defendant challenges the legality of a warrantless search.” Xenia v. Wallace, 37

Ohio St.3d 216, 218 (1988). Further, the defendant’s failure to timely object to the

illegality of the acquired evidence will lead the prosecutor to “believe that the

defendant has no objection to such illegally acquired evidence. As a result, the

prosecutor may reasonably rely upon such evidence as sufficient to establish [the]

defendant’s guilt * * *.” State v. Davis, 1 Ohio St.2d 28, 31 (1964).

       {¶24} While the trial court allowed two short recesses, this did not afford

either party adequate time to prepare arguments and present their positions

concerning a complex constitutional issue that a motion to suppress presents. As

such, we find that the trial court erred in denying the State time to adequately

defend against the trial court’s motion to suppress.

       {¶25} Accordingly, we sustain the State’s second assignment of error.

                            Assignment of Error No. III

       {¶26} In its third assignment of error, the State argues that the trial court

erred in suppressing its evidence. Since we have held that the trial court erred not

only by conducting a suppression hearing but also in denying the State adequate

opportunity to defend against the motion to suppress, reviewing the improper

suppression hearing on the merits would be imprudent. Further, our resolution of

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the State’s first and second assignments of error renders its third assignment of

error moot. Consequently, we decline to address it. App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).

       {¶27} Having found error prejudicial to the State in the first and second

assignments of error, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand this matter

for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

                                                         Judgment Reversed and
                                                              Cause Remanded

WILLAMOWSKI, P.J. concurs.
PRESTON, J., concurs in Judgment Only.

/jlr

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