In re P.D.R.

[Cite as In re P.D.R., 2011-Ohio-1036.]

COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES:
IN THE MATTER OF: P.D.R. : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
: Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
: Hon. John W. Wise, J.
:
:
: Case No. 2010-CA-00268
:
:
: OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil appeal from the Stark County Court of
Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case
Nos. 2010JCR366 & 2010JCR00781

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: March 7, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

JOHN D. FERRERO ALLYSON J. BLAKE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY 122 Central Plaza North
By: Kathleen O. Tatarsky Suite 101
110 Central Plaza S., Ste. 510 Canton, OH 44702
Canton, OH 44702-0049
[Cite as In re P.D.R., 2011-Ohio-1036.]

Gwin, P.J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant P.D.R., a juvenile, appeals the judgment of the Stark

County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, adjudicating her a delinquent child

by reason of having committed the offenses of assault, and two counts of disorderly

conduct1.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

{¶2} On February 20, 2010, a complaint was filed in Case No. 2010JCR00366

against the appellant, P.D.R., age 17, charging her with assault a misdemeanor of the

first degree in violation of R.C. 2903.13, resisting arrest, a misdemeanor of the second

degree in violation of R.C. 2921.33 and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor of the

fourth degree in violation of R.C. 2917.11(A). In April 2010, an additional complaint

was filed in Case No. 2010JCR00781 against appellant for assault. All charges

stemmed from the same incident and were combined for judicial economy, by

Judgment Entry filed April 30, 2010.

{¶3} By Judgment Entry filed April 30, 2010, appellant’s case was scheduled

for trial on May 18, 2010. However, due to a medical emergency involving defense

counsel, appellant’s trial was continued until May 28, 2010.

{¶4} On May 21, 2010, retained counsel filed his notice of appearance and a

request to continue the trial date. Counsel requested a continuance because he

needed additional time to prepare and further requested a pre-trial conference be

scheduled in an attempt to resolve the cases. The trial court granted counsel’s request

1
One count of disorderly conduct related to Case No 2010CR00366; the other count related to
Case No. 2010JR00781.
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 3

and scheduled a pre-trial conference for July 1, 2010. By Judgment Entry filed July 2,

2010 the court scheduled appellant’s trial to commence on July 16, 2010.

{¶5} On July 15, 2010, the state requested a continuance due to the

unavailability of the alleged victim. By Judgment Entry filed July 15, 2010, the trial

court re-scheduled appellant’s trial for July 22, 2010.

{¶6} The events that give rise to this appeal are as follows.

{¶7} Canton Police Officer Anthony Ankrom was working the afternoon shift on

February 20, 2010 when he was dispatched to the scene of the McKinley-Glen Oak

basketball game at the Canton Civic Center. He parked his patrol car in front of the

building and was taking a report from a female who was complaining of an earlier

assault. The female was in the back seat of the patrol car. A friend of the female was

standing outside the patrol car holding the female's toddler on her hip.

{¶8} Officer Ankrom was told by the friend that appellant was approaching her

and that she thought appellant was going to assault her. When Officer Ankrom saw

the appellant approaching the victim, he rolled down the window of his patrol car and

told appellant to "get away from her.” Appellant continued to approach the victim, who

was holding the toddler and struck her in the face, hitting her ear. The toddler began

crying. Officer Ankrom got out of his patrol car, went over to appellant and told her to

“get over there.” Instead of complying, appellant sprinted back towards the victim and

shoved her. Officer Ankrom wrestled appellant to the ground, handcuffed her and

arrested her. Appellant was still verbally abusing the victim until she was told by

Officer Ankrom to stop or more charges would be lodged against her.
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 4

{¶9} Appellant was charged with assault, resisting arrest and disorderly

conduct. She was taken to Faircrest Attention Center and released three days later.

{¶10} When injuries to the toddler were discovered later that day, including

bruising and swelling to her eye, an additional charge of assault was lodged against

appellant.

{¶11} At trial, appellant admitted to the assault on the victim claiming it was

prompted by a call she received earlier that evening that her sister had been assaulted

in the bathroom during halftime. Appellant admitted to hitting the victim but claimed it

was done because she thought the victim had assaulted her sister. She denied,

however, hitting the toddler who was in the arms of the victim at the time of the assault.

{¶12} At the conclusion of the evidence, the magistrate found appellant guilty of

resisting arrest, assault on one of the victims and disorderly conduct. The magistrate,

however, found appellant not guilty of the offense of assault as to the toddler victim but

guilty of the lesser-included offense of disorderly conduct. As to the not guilty finding,

the Magistrate explained she did not find the element of "knowing" necessary for the

assault offense.

{¶13} Appellant was sentenced to fifteen days in jail for the assault, disorderly

conduct and resisting arrest with ten days suspended and credit for three days at

Faircrest Detention Center. As to the disorderly conduct charge for the toddler victim,

appellant was ordered to pay restitution.

{¶14} Appellant was reminded at the close of the trial to file objections to the

Magistrate's report if she wished to appeal.

{¶15} Appellant has timely appealed raising the following assignments of error:
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 5

{¶16} “I. APPELLANT WAS DENTED HER DUE PROCESS RIGHTS WHEN

THE COURT GRANTED THE STATE'S MOTION TO CONTINUE WHEN THE

APPELLANT AND HER COUNSEL HAD NEVER BEEN PROPERLY SERVED WITH

SAID MOTION AND HAD NO PRIOR NOTICE OF THE TRIAL DATE.

{¶17} “II. THE MAGISTRATE COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR IN PROCEEDING

WITH THE TRIAL OF APPELLANT WHEN NEITHER DEFENSE COUNSEL NOR

APPELLANT HAD PROPER NOTICE OF THE TRIAL DATE.

{¶18} “III. APPELLANT WAS DENIED THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF

COUNSEL.”

I.& II.

{¶19} At the outset, we note that appellant did not object to the decision of the

Magistrate nor did she request Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law from the trial

court. Further, appellant failed to file the transcript of the proceedings with the trial

court prior to the trial judge accepting the magistrate’s recommendation.

{¶20} Juv.R. 40(E) (3) (b) provides: " * * * A party shall not assign as error on

appeal the court's adoption of any finding of fact or conclusion of law unless the party

has objected to that finding or conclusion under this rule."

{¶21} In appellant's Third Assignment of Error, infra, appellant argues that, trial

counsel was ineffective for failing to file objections to the decision of the magistrate,

and further that the magistrate’s failure to grant a continuance rises to the level of plain

error.

{¶22} In In re: Comer (Sept. 23, 1997), 10th Dist. No. 96 APF11-1571, the court

faced a similar situation and therein noted: “[a]ppellant's effort to show that the trial
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 6

judge would have found in his favor but for the errors would be thwarted by the fact that

appellant failed to make the transcript of the proceedings before the magistrate part of

the record in the trial court ... This court generally will not consider evidence not part of

the record before the trial court. We do so in this case for two reasons.

{¶23} “First, we presume that the failure to file a transcript for review by the trial

judge is associated with the failure to request findings of fact and the failure to object to

the magistrate's report.

{¶24} “Second, because of the nature of the alleged errors, it would be

impossible to apply the second prong of the Strickland test without considering the

evidence presented to the magistrate. A somewhat similar situation was presented in

In re: Raymond R. (Oct. 25, 1996), Erie App. No. E-96-022, unreported. In Raymond

R., the juvenile court adopted the magistrate's recommendation that the appellant be

adjudicated a delinquent child for committing what would have been the crime of rape if

committed by an adult. On appeal, the appellant alleged error based on the weight of

the evidence and ineffective assistance of counsel for counsel's failure to timely file

objections to the magistrate's decision. After deciding that the judgment was not

contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, the court of appeals noted that failure

to file the objections timely did not work to the appellant's prejudice because the only

argument raised in the objections was the weight of the evidence, which the court of

appeals was rejecting. Just as the court in Raymond R. looked beyond the record to

the untimely objections for the purpose of determining whether appellant was

prejudiced by counsel's failures, we have examined the evidence presented to the

magistrate, the trial transcript and exhibits, despite the fact that they were not available
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 7

to the trial judge.” See also, In re: Oliver, Licking App. No.2005-CA-40, 2005-Ohio-

5792.

{¶25} “[A]n appellate court may, in its discretion, correct an error not raised at

trial only where the appellant demonstrates that (1) there is an error; (2) the error is

clear or obvious, rather than subject to reasonable dispute; (3) the error affected the

appellant’s substantial rights, which in the ordinary case means it affected the outcome

of the district court proceedings; and (4) the error seriously affect[s] the fairness,

integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Marcus (May 24,

2010), 560 U.S. __, 2010 WL 2025203 at 4. (Internal quotation marks and citations

omitted). See also, In re Lemon, Stark App. No.2002 CA 00098, 2002-Ohio-6263 at

¶29.

{¶26} In the interest of justice, this court will examine the evidence presented to

the magistrate, the trial transcript and exhibits, despite the fact that they were not

available to the trial judge. In re: Oliver, supra at ¶24.

{¶27} In her First Assignment of Error appellant maintains she was denied due

process of law by the magistrate’s failure to grant her trial counsel a continuance upon

the ground that he was not prepared to go forward with her trial because he did not

receive notice of the re-scheduled trial date. In her Second Assignment of Error

appellant contends that the magistrate committed plain error in proceeding with the trial

of appellant when neither defense counsel nor appellant had proper notice of the trial

date.

{¶28} The basic requirements of procedural due process are stated as follows:
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 8

{¶29} “A fundamental requirement of due process is the opportunity to be heard

‘at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.’ Armstrong v. Manzo (1965), 380

U.S. 545, 552 * * *. As the Supreme Court of Ohio has stated in Williams v. Dollison

(1980), 62 Ohio St.2d 297 * * *, ‘due process of law implies, in its most comprehensive

sense, the right of the person affected (* * *) to be heard, by testimony or otherwise,

and to have the right of controverting, by proof, every material fact which bears on the

question of right in the matter involved.’ * * *” (Citation omitted.) Schoettle v. Bering

(Apr. 22, 1996), Brown App. No. CA95-07-011 at 8.

{¶30} In the case at bar, the magistrate continued appellant’s portion of the case

to allow her counsel time to subpoena witnesses and prepare her defense. Counsel

called the investigator who had worked on the case to impeach Kara Garner and

Ashley Hardy. The magistrate allowed appellant to question the investigator

concerning statements Ms. Garner and Ms. Hardy had made which differed from their

testimony at trial. (2T. at 4; 6-7).

{¶31} Both appellant and her trial counsel were present and participated in both

phases of the trial. Additionally appellant failed to proffer the identity of any witness

other than the investigator who, as previously noted was permitted to offer

impeachment evidence over the state’s objections. In addition, appellant’s trial counsel

conceded appellant struck Ashley and that appellant was only contesting the assault

charge concerning the toddler. (T. at 6; 9-10; 14; 15; 20-22). Appellant was found not

delinquent by virtue of the assault of the child, but delinquent by virtue of the lesser

included offense of disorderly conduct pursuant to R.C. 2917.11(A)(5). (2T. at 24-25).

R.C. 2917.11, provides in relevant part,
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 9

{¶32} “A) No person shall recklessly cause inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm

to another by doing any of the following:

{¶33} “* * *

{¶34} “(5) Creating a condition that is physically offensive to persons or that

presents a risk of physical harm to persons or property, by any act that serves no

lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender.”

{¶35} Appellant does not contest that finding on appeal.

{¶36} There is no question that appellant in the instant case had actual notice of

the proceedings, appeared, defended, and was given a full opportunity to be heard.

Appellant does not argue that she was unaware of the nature of the proceedings.

Further, appellant was represented by counsel throughout the proceedings. See, Ross

v. Saros, 99 Ohio St.3d 412, 792 N.E.2d 1126, 2003-Ohio-4128 at ¶17.

{¶37} Accordingly, we find that appellant received all the process to which she

was entitled and was not denied her due process rights. Traditional notions of fair play

and substantial justice were not offended by the procedure employed by the magistrate

which allowed defense counsel additional time to present prepare and present

appellant’s defense. Appellant cannot point with any specificity to any prejudice she

suffered as a result of the conduct of her trial.

{¶38} Nor do we find error in the trial court’s denial of appellant’s request for a

continuance. Ordinarily a reviewing court analyzes a denial of a continuance in terms

of whether the court has abused its discretion. Ungar v. Sarafite (1964), 376 U.S. 575,

589, 84 S.Ct. 841, 11 L.Ed.2d 921. If, however, the denial of a continuance is directly

linked to the deprivation of a specific constitutional right, some courts analyze the
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 10

denial in terms of whether there has been a denial of due process. Bennett v. Scroggy

(6th Cir.1986), 793 F.2d 772. A defendant has an absolute right to prepare an

adequate defense under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and a

right to due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. United States v.

Crossley (6th Cir.2000), 224 F.3d 847, 854. The United States Supreme Court has

recognized that the right to offer the testimony of witnesses and compel their

attendance is constitutionally protected. Washington v. Texas (1967), 388 U.S. 14, 19,

87 S.Ct. 1920, 1923, 18 L.Ed.2d 1019. The Ohio Supreme Court recognized that the

right to present a witness to establish a defense is a fundamental element of due

process of law. Lakewood v. Papadelis (1987), 32 Ohio St.3d 1, 4-5, 511 N.E.2d 1138.

A trial court's failure to grant a continuance to enable a defendant to exercise his

constitutionally protected right to offer the testimony of witnesses and compel their

attendance may, in some circumstances, constitute a denial of due process. Mackey

v. Dutton (6th Cir.2000), 217 F.3d 399, 408; Bennett v. Scroggy, supra, 793 F.2d at

774. See also, State v. Wheat, Licking App. No. 2003-CA-00057, 2004-Ohio-2088 at ¶

16.

{¶39} Among the factors to be considered by the court in determining whether

the continuance was properly denied are: (1) the length of the requested delay, (2)

whether other continuances had been requested and granted, (3) the convenience or

inconvenience to the parties, witnesses, counsel and court, (4) whether the delay was

for legitimate reasons or whether it was “dilatory, purposeful or contrived”, (5) whether

the defendant contributed to the circumstances giving rise to the request, (6) whether

denying the continuance will result in an identifiable prejudice to the defendant's case,
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 11

and (7) the complexity of the case. Powell v. Collins (6th Cir.2003), 332 F.3d 376, 396;

State v. Unger (1981), 67 Ohio St.2d 65, 67-68, 423 N.E.2d 1078, 1080; State v.

Wheat, supra at ¶ 17.

{¶40} On a petition for habeas corpus relief, the federal courts have enumerated

a slightly different set of factors that a reviewing court should consider in determining

whether an accused was deprived of his rights to compulsory process and due process

of law by denial of a motion for continuance: “[1] the diligence of the defense in

interviewing witnesses and procuring their testimony within a reasonable time, [2] the

specificity with which the defense is able to describe their expected knowledge or

testimony, [3] the degree to which such testimony is expected to be favorable to the

accused and [4] the unique or cumulative nature of the testimony.” Hicks v. Wainwright

(5th Cir.1981), 633 F.2d 1146, 1149 (quoting United States v. Uptain [5th Cir.1976],

531 F.2d 1281, 1287); see, also, Bennett v. Scroggy, supra, 793 F.2d at 774; State v.

Wheat, supra at ¶18.

{¶41} In Wheat, supra, the appellant argued that the trial court erred when it

failed to continue his trial to secure witnesses he had subpoenaed. This Court found

no abuse of discretion because the request for a continuance did not demonstrate the

amount of time necessary to secure the attendance of the witnesses, or the nature of

their testimony. 2004-Ohio-2088 at ¶ 21. Citing State v. Brooks (1989), 44 Ohio St.3d

185, 542 N.E.2d 636, we held that because defense counsel failed to proffer what the

desired testimony of the absent witnesses would have been and how it was relevant to

the defense, we could not find prejudice from the denial of the motion to continue. Id.

at ¶ 22-24, 542 N.E.2d 636.
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 12

{¶42} In the case at bar, the magistrate continued appellant’s portion of the case

to allow her counsel time to subpoena witnesses and prepare her defense. Counsel

called the investigator who had worked on the case to impeach Kara Garner and

Ashley Hardy. The magistrate allowed appellant to question the investigator concerning

statements Ms. Garner and Ms. Hardy had made which differed from their testimony at

trial. (2T. at 4; 6-7). Appellant did not proffer any other witness or evidence that he

was not able to present. Wheat, supra.

{¶43} Nor do we find that the magistrate committed plain error in proceeding

with the trial of appellant. The defendant bears the burden of demonstrating that a

plain error affected her substantial rights and, in addition that the error seriously

affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings. United

States v. Olano (1993), 507 U.S. at 725,734, 113 S.Ct. 1770; State v. Perry (2004),

101 Ohio St.3d 118, 120 802 N.E.2d 643, 646. Even if the defendant satisfies this

burden, an appellate court has discretion to disregard the error. State v. Barnes

(2002), 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240; State v. Long (1978), 53 Ohio St.2d

91, 372 N.E.2d 804, paragraph three of the syllabus; Perry, supra, at 118, 802 N.E.2d

at 646.

{¶44} Appellant in the case at bar failed to establish such compelling, specific,

and actual prejudice.

{¶45} Appellant’s First and Second Assignments of Error are overruled.

III.

{¶46} In her Third Assignment of Error, appellant claims that her trial counsel

was ineffective. Appellant points to the following alleged deficiencies: failure to use
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 13

transcript of witness for impeachment; failure to file objections to magistrate's report;

and addressing appellant during disposition.

{¶47} A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel requires a two-prong analysis.

The first inquiry is whether counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of

reasonable representation involving a substantial violation of any of defense counsel's

essential duties to appellant. The second prong is whether the appellant was

prejudiced by counsel's ineffectiveness. Lockhart v. Fretwell (1993), 506 U.S. 364, 113

S.Ct. 838; Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052; State v.

Bradley (1989), 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373.

{¶48} In order to warrant a finding that trial counsel was ineffective, the petitioner

must meet both the deficient performance and prejudice prongs of Strickland and

Bradley. Knowles v. Mirzayance (2009), --- U.S. ----, 129 S.Ct. 1411, 1419, 173

L.Ed.2d 251.

{¶49} To show deficient performance, appellant must establish that “counsel’s

representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.” Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2064. This requires showing that counsel

made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the “counsel” guaranteed

the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 687,

104 S.Ct. at 2064. Counsel also has a duty to bring to bear such skill and knowledge

as will render the trial a reliable adversarial testing process. Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. 2052 at 2065.

{¶50} “Thus, a court deciding an actual ineffectiveness claim must judge the

reasonableness of counsel's challenged conduct on the facts of the particular case,
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 14

viewed as of the time of counsel's conduct. A convicted defendant making a claim of

ineffective assistance must identify the acts or omissions of counsel that are alleged

not to have been the result of reasonable professional judgment. The court must then

determine whether, in light of all the circumstances, the identified acts or omissions

were outside the wide range of professionally competent assistance. In making that

determination, the court should keep in mind that counsel's function, as elaborated in

prevailing professional norms, is to make the adversarial testing process work in the

particular case. At the same time, the court should recognize that counsel is strongly

presumed to have rendered adequate assistance and made all significant decisions in

the exercise of reasonable professional judgment.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

668 at 689,104 S.Ct. at 2064.

{¶51} In light of “the variety of circumstances faced by defense counsel [and] the

range of legitimate decisions regarding how best to represent a criminal defendant,”

the performance inquiry necessarily turns on “whether counsel’s assistance was

reasonable considering all the circumstances.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668

at 689,104 S.Ct. at 2064. At all points, “[j]udicial scrutiny of counsel’s performance

must be highly deferential.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 at 689,104 S.Ct. at

2064.

{¶52} Appellant must further demonstrate that he suffered prejudice from his

counsel’s performance. See Strickland, 466 U. S., at 691 (“An error by counsel, even if

professionally unreasonable, does not warrant setting aside the judgment of a criminal

proceeding if the error had no effect on the judgment”). To establish prejudice, “[t]he

defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 15

unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A

reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the

outcome.” Id. at 694. To prevail on his ineffective-assistance claim, appellant must

show, therefore, that there is a “reasonable probability” that the trier of fact would not

have found him guilty.

{¶53} None of the instances raised by appellant rise to the level of prejudicial

error necessary to find that she was deprived of a fair trial. Having reviewed the record

that appellant cites in support of her claim that she was denied effective assistance of

counsel, we find appellant was not prejudiced by defense counsel’s representation of

her. The result of the trial was not unreliable nor were the proceedings fundamentally

unfair because of the performance of defense counsel. Appellant was permitted to

impeach the state witnesses through the testimony of the investigator, we have

reviewed the transcript and appellant’s assignments of errors and the case was tried to

a magistrate not a jury. We are to presume, in cases tried to the bench, that in

reaching its decision, the trial court did not rely on anything that it should not have

relied upon. Columbus v. Guthmann (1963), 175 Ohio St. 282, 194 N.E.2d 143,

paragraph three of the syllabus. Appellant does not elucidate on how counsel

comments during deposition prejudiced her or denied her a fair trial.

{¶54} Accordingly, appellant has failed to demonstrate that there exists a

reasonable probability that the result of his case would have been different.

{¶55} Because we have found no instances of error in this case, we find

appellant has not demonstrated that she was prejudiced by trial counsel’s

performance.
Stark County, Case No. 2010-CA-00268 16

{¶56} Appellant’s third assignment of error is overruled.

{¶57} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Stark County Court of

Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Ohio, is affirmed.

By Gwin, P.J.,

Farmer, J., and

Wise, J., concur

_________________________________
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

_________________________________
HON. SHEILA G. FARMER

_________________________________
HON. JOHN W. WISE

WSG:clw 0216
[Cite as In re P.D.R., 2011-Ohio-1036.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF: P.D.R. :
:
:
:
:
: JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
:
:
: CASE NO. 2010-CA-00268

For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the judgment of

the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Ohio, is affirmed. Costs to

appellant.

_________________________________
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

_________________________________
HON. SHEILA G. FARMER

_________________________________
HON. JOHN W. WISE