State v. Adams

[Cite as State v. Adams, 2013-Ohio-4258.]

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

STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 13CA0008-M

Appellee

v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
WILLIAM ADAMS MEDINA MUNICIPAL COURT
COUNTY OF MEDINA, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. 12 TRC 04516

DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: September 30, 2013

WHITMORE, Judge.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, William Adams, appeals from his convictions in the

Medina Municipal Court. This Court affirms.

I

{¶2} On July 31, 2011, Officer Justin Bennett of the Montville Police Department

observed Adams traveling 60 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone. Officer Bennett initiated a traffic stop

to issue Adams a citation for speeding. When Officer Bennett made contact with Adams, he

noticed a strong odor of alcohol. According to Officer Bennett, Adams avoided eye contact and

kept his chin tucked into his chest. Officer Bennett testified that Adams’ speech was slurred and

mumbled. When he did make eye contact with Officer Bennett, Adams’ eyes were “bloodshot

and glossy.” Adams refused to perform any field sobriety tests and was arrested. Adams also

refused a breathalyzer test.
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{¶3} Adams was charged with: (1) one count of operating a motor vehicle under the

influence of alcohol (“OVI”), in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a), a misdemeanor of the first

degree; (2) one count of OVI with a prior OVI conviction within the past twenty years and

refusing to submit to a chemical test, in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(2), a misdemeanor of the

first degree; and (3) speeding, in violation of R.C. 4511.21(C), a minor misdemeanor. After a

jury trial, Adams was convicted of all three charges. Adams now appeals and raises three

assignments of error for our review.

II

Assignment of Error Number One

OFFICER BENNETT ARRESTED APPELLANT FOR OVI BASED ON THE
FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS: SPEEDING, BLOODSHOT EYES,
ADMISSION TO CONSUMING ONE BEER, STRONG ODOR OF ALCOHOL,
FUMBLING WITH HIS WALLET, MUMBLING, AND AVOIDING EYE
CONTACT. MR. ADAMS’ SPEECH WAS NOT SLURRED, HE DID NOT
DRIVE ERRATICALLY, AND HE REFUSED FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS.
THE TRIAL COURT’S CONCLUSION THAT PTL. BENNETT HAD
PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY
COMPETENT, CREDIBLE EVIDENCE. THE TRIAL COURT’S
CONCLUSION WAS ERRONEOUS.

{¶4} In his first assignment of error, Adams argues that the court erred in denying his

motion to suppress. Specifically, Adams argues that the court erred in finding that there was

probable cause to arrest him for OVI.

{¶5} The Ohio Supreme Court has held that:

[a]ppellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of law and
fact. When considering a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of
trier of fact and is therefore in the best position to resolve factual questions and
evaluate the credibility of witnesses. State v. Mills, 62 Ohio St.3d 357, 366
(1992). Consequently, an appellate court must accept the trial court’s findings of
fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence. State v. Fanning, 1
Ohio St.3d 19 (1982). Accepting these facts as true, the appellate court must then
independently determine, without deference to the conclusion of the trial court,
 3

whether the facts satisfy the applicable legal standard. State v. McNamara, 124
Ohio App.3d 706 (4th Dist.1997).

State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, ¶ 8. Accord State v. Hobbs, 133 Ohio

St.3d 43, 2012-Ohio-3886, ¶ 6 (Burnside applied). Accordingly, this Court reviews the trial

court’s factual findings for competent, credible evidence and considers the court’s legal

conclusions de novo. State v. Conley, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 08CA009454, 2009-Ohio-910, ¶ 6,

citing Burnside at ¶ 8.

{¶6} “In determining whether the police had probable cause to arrest an individual for

[OVI], we consider whether, at the moment of arrest, the police had sufficient information,

derived from a reasonably trustworthy source of facts and circumstances, sufficient to cause a

prudent person to believe that the suspect was under the influence.” State v. Ragle, 9th Dist.

Summit No. 25706, 2012-Ohio-4253, ¶ 26, quoting State v. Homan, 89 Ohio St.3d 421, 427,

superseded on other grounds, State v. Schmitt, 101 Ohio St.3d 79, 2004-Ohio-37, ¶ 9, citing R.C.

4511.19. “Even without positive results on field sobriety testing, the totality of the facts and

circumstances may support probable cause to arrest for [OVI].” State v. Walters, 9th Dist.

Medina No. 11CA0039-M, 2012-Ohio-2429, ¶ 10. “[T]he standard for probable cause does not

require a prima facie showing of criminal activity; rather, the standard requires ‘only a showing

that a probability of criminal activity exists.’” State v. Tejada, 9th Dist. Summit No. 20947,

2002-Ohio-5777, ¶ 8, quoting State v. Young, 146 Ohio App.3d 245, 254 (11th Dist.2001).

{¶7} At the suppression hearing, Officer Bennett testified that he witnessed Adams

traveling 60 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone. He proceeded to follow Adams and eventually

effectuated a traffic stop. Officer Bennett testified that he did not notice any erratic driving and

had pulled Adams over merely to issue a citation for speeding. According to Officer Bennett,

when he initially approached Adams, Adams avoided eye contact and kept his chin buried in his
 4

chest. Officer Bennett noticed a strong odor of alcohol and began to suspect that Adams had

been drinking. He asked Adams where he was coming from and if he had been drinking. Adams

replied that he was coming from “[d]owntown” and that he had consumed one beer. According

to Officer Bennett, Adams’ “speech was kind of slurred, and he was kind of mumbling.” Officer

Bennett testified that when he asked Adams for his driver’s license and proof of insurance,

Adams “fumbl[ed]” through paperwork in his wallet and had difficulty locating the documents.

Officer Bennett said that when Adams did finally make eye contact with him, Adams’ eyes were

“bloodshot and glossy.”

{¶8} Officer Bennett testified that he returned to his cruiser and requested backup

because he had decided to conduct field sobriety tests. He then retrieved Adams’ driving record

and noticed that he had three prior OVI convictions. When backup arrived, Officer Bennett

returned to Adams’ car and asked him to step out of the vehicle. According to Officer Bennett,

Adams appeared “very unsure of himself and was stumbling a little bit as he [got] out” of his car.

Adams immediately told Officer Bennett that he would not perform any field sobriety tests.

Officer Bennett testified that when Adams walked to the front of the cruiser he was stumbling

and did “not [have] an adequate gait.”

{¶9} A video of the traffic stop was admitted into evidence. As the video was played,

Officer Bennett noted times in which he believed Adams physically stumbled. The only audio

recording of the stop is when Adams was in the back seat of the police cruiser, post-arrest.

Officer Bennett admitted that Adams did not appear to be slurring his words in the video;

however, he testified that it did sound like Adams was stumbling with his speech.

{¶10} The trial court found that, while Officer Bennett believed Adams physically

stumbled when he exited his car and did not walk with an adequate gait, the video did not
 5

support these findings as fact. The court further found that Adams did not sway or need support

and did not grab or lean against his truck. Despite the inconsistencies between Officer Bennett’s

testimony and the video, the court found that there was probable cause to support the arrest for

OVI. Specifically, the court found that “the fact that [Adams] would not make eye contact with

the officer upon his approach, kept his head buried in his chest, with an odor of an alcoholic

beverage coming from the vehicle and slurred mumbling speech” was sufficient to justify the

detention for field sobriety tests. Additionally, the “bloodshot and glossy eyes, [Adams’]

admission as to the consumption of one beer, and the very strong and dominant odor of an

alcoholic beverage after [Adams] stepped from his vehicle, combined with [Adams’] difficulty

obtaining his license and registration are grounds which support the officer’s * * * belief that

[Adams’] had consumed more than one beer [and was under the influence].” We conclude the

court’s factual findings are supported by the record.

{¶11} Adams argues that the “[b]loodshot eyes, mumbling slurred speech, a strong odor

of alcohol, an admission to consuming one beer, and fumbling for a wallet do not show impaired

driving.” (Emphasis omitted.)

{¶12} Officer Bennett did not observe any impaired driving in the time that he followed

Adams. However, this alone will not defeat a finding of probable cause. See State v. Shaffer,

11th Dist. Portage No. 89-P-2059, 1990 WL 127215, *4 (Aug. 31, 1990) (while no impaired

driving was observed by officers, probable cause existed when appellant smelled of alcohol, had

slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, was clumsy, admitted to drinking alcohol, and performed poorly

on field sobriety test). According to Officer Bennett, Adams kept his head buried in his chest

and did not make eye contact. In his conversations with Adams prior to his arrest, Officer

Bennett described Adams as “mush[-]mouth[ed]” and his speech as being mumbled and slurred.
 6

Adams admitted to consuming one beer and had difficulty locating his license and insurance.

Officer Bennett testified that the odor of alcohol from Adams was very strong and that his eyes

were “bloodshot and glossy.” Based on his observations, Officer Bennett believed Adams had

consumed more than one beer and was impaired.

{¶13} After a careful review of the record, we conclude that the facts show that “a

probability of criminal activity exist[ed].” See Tejada, 2002-Ohio-5777, at ¶ 8, quoting Young,

146 Ohio App.3d at 254. Because Officer Bennett had probable cause to arrest Adams for OVI,

the court did not err in denying Adams’ motion to suppress. Adams’ first assignment of error is

overruled.

Assignment of Error Number Two

THE TRIAL COURT ALLOWED THE JURY TO HEAR EVIDENCE OF
APPELLANT’S THREE PRIOR OVI CONVICTIONS. THE STATE WAS
ONLY REQUIRED TO PROVE THAT APPELLANT HAD ONE PRIOR OVI
CONVICTION. THE DEFENSE WAS WILLING TO STIPULATE TO ONE
PRIOR CONVICTION, BUT THE STATE REFUSED. THE TRIAL COURT
VIOLATED APPELLANT’S RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL. THE COURT’S
DENIAL OF APPELLANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE FORCED APPELLANT’S
COUNSEL TO ADDRESS THE PREJUDICE OF THE THREE PRIOR
CONVICTIONS IN VOIR DIRE. THE COURT’S LIMITING INSTRUCTION
COULD NOT OVERCOME THIS PREJUDICE.

{¶14} In his second assignment of error, Adams argues that the court erred in admitting

evidence of all three of his prior OVI convictions. Specifically, Adams argues that two of his

three prior convictions should have been excluded from evidence because the risk of unfair

prejudice substantially outweighed its probative value. Under the specific circumstances

presented in this case, we disagree.

{¶15} To support a conviction under R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) the State must prove: (1) the

defendant was operating a vehicle within the state while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
 7

(2) the defendant refused to submit to a chemical test; and (3) the defendant had been convicted

or pleaded guilty to OVI within the past twenty years. R.C. 4511.19(A)(2).

{¶16} Adams does not argue that it was an error to admit into evidence one prior OVI

conviction. State v. Smith, 68 Ohio App.3d 692, 695 (9th Dist.1990) (“When a previous

conviction is an element of an offense, the [S]tate must prove the prior offense beyond a

reasonable doubt.”). Instead, Adams argues that the court erred in admitting evidence of three

prior convictions because the statute only requires proof of one and he was ready to stipulate to

this element. We note that Adams, both in his motion in limine and at the beginning of trial,

agreed to stipulate to whichever one of his three prior convictions the State would have wanted

to submit to the jury. However, the State rejected the proposed stipulation and indicated its

intent to admit into evidence Adams’ BMV record reflecting all three prior OVI convictions.

The trial court correctly concluded that it could not force the State to accept Adams’ proposed

stipulation. Id. (“Neither the [S]tate nor the trial court is required to accept a defendant’s

stipulation as to the existence of [a] conviction.”). This, however, does not resolve the issue of

whether it was an error to admit evidence of all three prior OVI convictions.

{¶17} Evid.R. 402 states that all relevant evidence is admissible, unless it is excluded by

the Constitution, statute, or rule. Relevant evidence is evidence “having any tendency to make

the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable

or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” Evid.R. 401. The court must exclude

relevant evidence if it finds that “its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of

unfair prejudice, of confusion of the issues, or of misleading the jury.” Evid.R. 403(A).

{¶18} “It is axiomatic that a determination as to the admissibility of evidence is a matter

within the sound discretion of the trial court.” Columbus v. Taylor, 39 Ohio St.3d 162, 164
 8

(1988). An abuse of discretion is more than an error of law or judgment; it implies that the

court’s attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio

St.3d 217, 219 (1983). A reviewing court will not “reject an exercise of this discretion unless it

clearly has been abused and the criminal defendant thereby has suffered material prejudice.”

State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 98 (1978).

{¶19} Prior to trial, Adams filed a motion in limine requesting that the court prohibit the

State from introducing into evidence more than one of his prior OVI convictions. In his motion,

Adams argued that R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) only required proof of one prior OVI conviction and

agreed to stipulate to whichever of the three convictions the State should choose to present.

Adams argued that Evid.R. 403(A) required the trial court to exclude his two additional

convictions because their probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair

prejudice. The trial court denied his motion. The court wrote that it did “not believe that

introducing one or more prior convictions for [OVI] would confuse the issues in the case,

mislead the jury, or constitute unfair prejudice.” The court further found that “[t]he fact that

[Adams] would be willing to stipulate to one conviction is not binding upon the State of Ohio as

to how it chooses to prove an element of its [case].”

{¶20} During voir dire, defense counsel informed the petit jury that Adams had three

prior convictions and proceeded to ask numerous questions about whether jurors could put this

aside and hold the State to its burden of proof. After jury selection, defense counsel again

proposed a stipulation to one prior OVI conviction. Defense argued that the stipulation would

avoid any unfair prejudice under Evid.R. 403(A). The State rejected the proposal and argued

that the jury had already been informed of Adams’ three prior OVI convictions by defense

counsel during voir dire.
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{¶21} In light of defense counsel’s admission to the jury of the existence of three prior

OVI convictions in voir dire, we cannot conclude that the court abused its discretion in admitting

evidence of all three convictions. Defense counsel made a strategic decision to inform the jury

of the prior convictions. Because the jury was fully aware at the start of the trial that Adams had

three prior OVI convictions, there was no unfair prejudice by admitting evidence of those

convictions.

{¶22} Adams’ second assignment of error is overruled.

Assignment of Error Number Three

THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATED THAT
WILLIAM ADAMS DID NOT OPERATE HIS VEHICLE WHILE UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. THE JURY CLEARLY LOST ITS WAY
IN REACHING VERDICTS CONTRARY TO THE WEIGHT OF THE
EVIDENCE.

{¶23} In his third assignment of error, Adams argues that his convictions are against the

manifest weight of the evidence.

{¶24} “Weight of the evidence concerns ‘the inclination of the greater amount of

credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one side of the issue rather than the other.’”

(Emphasis sic.) State v. Thompkins 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387 (1997), quoting Black’s Law

Dictionary 1594 (6th Ed.1990).

In determining whether a criminal conviction is against the manifest weight of the
evidence, an appellate court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence
and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses and determine
whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way
and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be
reversed and a new trial ordered.

State v. Otten, 33 Ohio App.3d 339, 340 (9th Dist.1986). “When a court of appeals reverses a

judgment of a trial court on the basis that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the

appellate court sits as a ‘thirteenth juror’ and disagrees with the fact[-]finder’s resolution of the
 10

conflicting testimony.” Thompkins at 387, quoting Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42 (1982). An

appellate court should exercise the power to reverse a judgment as against the manifest weight of

the evidence only in exceptional cases. Otten at 340.

{¶25} R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a) and (A)(2) prohibit a person from operating a vehicle

under the influence of alcohol. “Under the influence” has been defined as “[t]he condition in

which a person finds himself after having consumed some intoxicating beverage in such quantity

that its effect on him adversely affects his actions, reactions, conduct, movement or mental

processes or impairs his reactions to an appreciable degree, thereby lessening his ability to

operate a motor vehicle.” State v. Smith, 5th Dist. Licking No. 09-CA-42, 2010-Ohio-1232, ¶

92, quoting Toledo v. Starks, 25 Ohio App.2d 162, 166 (6th Dist.1971).

{¶26} Officer Bennett testified that at about 9:30 p.m. on July 31, 2011, he observed

Adams traveling 60 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h zone. Officer Bennett explained that he did not

immediately effectuate a traffic stop because it is police department policy to run the license

plate number through the computer prior to stopping a car for speeding. When Adams stopped at

a red light, Officer Bennett was able to catch up and read his license plate. After receiving

information back on his computer, Officer Bennett turned on his lights to initiate the traffic stop.

Adams proceeded a short distance, made a proper left turn, and stopped. The dash-cam video

recording begins when Adams is stopped at the red light. Officer Bennett testified that there

appeared to be a bit of a delay before Adams stopped, but acknowledged that it was “prudent and

reasonable” for him to make the turn off the road they were traveling on before stopping. Officer

Bennett explained that he did not notice any erratic driving and that the purpose of the stop was

to issue a citation for speeding.
 11

{¶27} Officer Bennett testified that when he initially made contact with Adams, he

explained the reason for the stop. At this point, Officer Bennett said Adams was avoiding eye

contact and keeping his chin buried in his chest. Officer Bennett described this behavior as

unusual and testified that he could smell a strong odor of alcohol. He then asked Adams for his

license and registration. According to Officer Bennett, Adams “fumbl[ed]” with his wallet and

had trouble locating the documents. Officer Bennett testified that when he finally made eye

contact with Adams, Adams’ eyes were “bloodshot and glossy.” Officer Bennett further testified

that Adams’ speech was slurred, mumbled, and “[h]e sounded mush[-]mouth.”

{¶28} Officer Bennett returned to his cruiser and requested backup. According to

Officer Bennett, he requested backup because he had decided to conduct field sobriety tests. He

then proceeded to check Adams’ driving record and discovered that Adams had three prior OVI

convictions.

{¶29} When backup arrived, Officer Bennett returned to Adams’ vehicle and asked him

to step out. According to Officer Bennett, Adams was unstable as he exited the vehicle and

immediately refused to perform any field sobriety tests. Officer Bennett asked Adams to move

to the front of the police cruiser, and Adams again refused to take any tests. Adams then walked

back to the cruiser and placed his hands on the hood of Officer Bennett’s patrol car. Officer

Bennett told Adams that he was not yet under arrest and continued to ask that he perform the

sobriety tests. Adams again refused, and Officer Bennett placed him under arrest. Because of a

malfunctioning microphone, the dash-cam video does not contain any audio of the stop up to this

point.

{¶30} Officer Bennett placed Adams in the back of the police cruiser and proceeded to

fill out paperwork. This portion of the video does contain audio and Adams can be heard
 12

answering a few questions. At trial, Officer Bennett admitted that on the video Adams was

understandable and did not slur his words. However, Officer Bennett testified that, to him,

Adams’ speech still sounded somewhat mumbled.

{¶31} Adams called two witnesses to testify on his behalf. Attorney Samuel Calabrese

testified that he represented Adams in a couple of business related matters. Calabrese testified

that he met with Adams on the afternoon of July 31, 2012, the date of his arrest. They had

originally planned to meet the day before, but Adams had rescheduled because he was still jet

lagged from an overseas trip. Adams met Calabrese at his office in downtown Cleveland.

According to Calabrese, the meeting began around 3:30 p.m. and ended around 6:30 p.m.

Calabrese testified that he received a phone call from Adams about 10:00 p.m. that evening.

Adams told Calabrese that he had been arrested for OVI and wanted to know if he should submit

to a breath test. Calabrese testified that he advised Adams against taking the breathalyzer test.

He explained that he did not know what Adams had to drink that night nor did he know that

Adams had three prior OVI convictions. According to Calabrese, he would advise every client

to refuse a breathalyzer test.

{¶32} In addition to Calabrese, Adams called John Siliko to testify. Siliko is a federal

law enforcement officer and owns rental property with Adams. Siliko testified that he had been

in the rental business with Adams for about 10 years and had been his friend for about 13 years.

According to Siliko, he met Adams at one of the rental properties in Parma at 7:00 p.m. on July

31st. The two spent about 30 minutes at the property then drove to Hive, a local restaurant and

bar, to discuss business matters. According to Siliko, they each drank one beer, stayed for about

one hour reviewing business papers, and left at the same time. Siliko testified that he followed

Adams south because they both use the same highway exit to get home. Siliko said that Adams
 13

did not appear drunk and that he did not notice any erratic driving while he was following

Adams. Siliko estimated it was about 9:00 p.m. when they exited Interstate 71 and parted ways.

{¶33} Adams argues that the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that he

was under the influence of alcohol. Adams stresses that there was no evidence of impaired

driving. He argues that he was not avoiding eye contact with Officer Bennett, but was instead

merely looking for his license and insurance as requested. Moreover, Adams argues, the video

shows that he did turn to look at Officer Bennett during their initial contact. Adams asserts that

he had difficulty locating his license and insurance because he was nervous, not intoxicated; and

that his eyes were bloodshot because he was exhausted from returning recently from a trip

overseas. Adams argues that, despite Officer Bennett’s testimony that he stumbled, swayed, and

slurred his speech, the video shows otherwise. The video, according to Adams, is proof that he

was not impaired.

{¶34} Officer Bennett testified that Adams was avoiding eye contact with him prior to

him asking for his license and insurance information and that there was a strong odor of alcohol.

Officer Bennett asked Adams where he was coming from and whether he had been drinking that

night. According to Officer Bennett, Adams’ speech was mumbled and slurred. Although

Officer Bennett acknowledged that Adams’ speech post-arrest in the cruiser was understandable,

Officer Bennett testified that it still sounded mumbled and he “stumble[d] over his words.”

Officer Bennett admitted to several scrivener’s errors in his police report. He explained that

while Adams did not stumble or grab his truck for support, he had “an abnormal gait” and was

“kind of unsure, unstable.” Despite the inconsistencies between the police report and the video,

Officer Bennett maintained that the video supported his belief that Adams was under the

influence of alcohol.
 14

{¶35} After reviewing the record, including the video, we cannot conclude that this is

the exceptional case where the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction. Otten, 33 Ohio

App.3d at 340. Adams’ third assignment of error is overruled.

III

{¶36} Adams’ assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Medina

Municipal Court is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Medina Municipal

Court, County of Medina, 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.

BETH WHITMORE
FOR THE COURT
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HENSAL, J.
CONCURS.

MOORE, P. J.
CONCURRING IN JUDGMENT ONLY.

{¶37} I join in the majority’s discussion of Mr. Adams’ first and third assignments of

error. However, I would engage in a different analysis of Mr. Adams’ second assignment of

error.

{¶38} I agree that the trial court was correct in denying Mr. Adams’ motion in limine

and in overruling his objection to the admission of the BMV report during trial, and thus the trial

court did not err. As neither the prosecutor nor the trial court was bound to accept a stipulation

to the prior conviction, which was an element of the offense, the State bore the burden of proving

a prior conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. See Smith, 68 Ohio App.3d at 695; State v.

Williams, 9th Dist. Summit No. 19994, 2001 WL 111574, *1 (Feb. 7, 2001), citing State v.

Weible, 9th Dist. Summit No. 13754, 1989 WL 24227 (Mar. 15, 1989). Although I believe that

the report carried a danger of unfair prejudice, I do not believe that this prejudice outweighed its

probative value. See Evid.R. 403(A). On this basis, I would conclude that the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in admitting evidence of more than one prior conviction.

{¶39} However, the majority’s discussion appears to read as though it has accepted the

position advanced by the State that any potential error in the admission of the report amounted to

invited error because defense counsel voluntarily disclosed Mr. Adams’ previous convictions

during voir dire. I am compelled to write separately on this point. I believe that, after the trial

court denied the motion in limine, it was prudent and perhaps necessary for defense counsel to

address the topic of multiple prior OVI convictions with the jury in order to gauge whether the

potential jurors could fairly render a verdict in this case. I do not believe doing so invited error
 16

in admission of the report. However, although I appreciate the difficulty that defense counsel

faced in questioning jurors after the denial of his motion in limine, I believe that defense counsel

could have “ask[ed] questions of a more general nature so as to identify jurors who could not be

unbiased when faced with certain information.” See State v. Culp, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26188,

2012-Ohio-5395, ¶ 32. Therefore, defense counsel was not “forced,” as Mr. Adams claims, to

reveal to the jurors “the precise information he did not want the State to present to the jury

during the trial.” See id.

{¶40} In any event, because the trial court did not err in denying the motion in limine

and admitting the BMV report, I agree that Mr. Adams’ second assignment of error should be

overruled.

APPEARANCES:

DAVID C. SHELDON, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

J. MATTHEW LANIER, Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.