State v. Orsik

[Cite as State v. Orsik, 2012-Ohio-4331.]

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

STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 11CA010097

Appellee

v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
GEORGE T. ORSIK OBERLIN MUNICIPAL COURT
COUNTY OF LORAIN, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. 11TRC00919

DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: September 24, 2012

CARR, Judge.

{¶1} Appellant George Orsik appeals the judgment of the Oberlin Municipal Court that

ordered the release of his truck to the lienholder. This Court affirms.

I.

{¶2} The police found Orsik staring blankly and sitting on the rocker panel of his truck

in a muddy field approximately 20 feet from the roadway. Orsik’s eyes were bloodshot and

glassy, his speech was slurred, and his responses were slow. When an officer directed him to

stand and approach, Orsik attempted to do so with difficulty and fell. The officer noticed a

strong smell of alcohol, and Orsik admitted that he had had a lot to drink. He refused, however,

to submit to a breath test. Orsik was cited for operating a vehicle while under the influence of

alcohol (third offense in six years), refusal to submit to a breath alcohol test, and failure to

control. Although “unable to sign,” Orsik was provided with a copy of a notice of forfeiture

which informed him that, if he had any previous convictions for operating a vehicle while under
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the influence, the court may order the forfeiture of his vehicle to the state if he were convicted of

the instant charge.

{¶3} At arraignment, the trial court explained to Orsik that, because of his two prior

convictions for operating while under the influence, his vehicle would be subject to forfeiture in

this case. Orsik pleaded not guilty to the charges. Subsequently, in exchange for the State’s

dismissal of the charges of refusal to submit to alcohol testing and failure to control, Orsik

pleaded no contest to the charge of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, his

third such offense within six years, in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a). Prior to entering his

plea, the trial court informed him that his vehicle would be subject to forfeiture. A forfeiture and

sentencing hearing was scheduled for a later date. The trial court ordered the Ohio State

Highway Patrol to search the public records and file with the court the name and address of any

lienholder in the subject vehicle.

{¶4} Ally Financial filed a motion, requesting recognition as an interested party as the

holder of the first lien of record in the subject vehicle. Ally appended the affidavit of its

confiscation specialist, an acknowledged copy of the retail installment contract relevant to

Orsik’s truck, and an acknowledged copy of the certificate of title naming Ally as the first

lienholder. Ally was represented by counsel at the forfeiture hearing and submitted the

documentation appended to its motion in an effort to demonstrate that the vehicle should be

returned to it. The trial court considered the affidavit and other documents and found that Ally

had met its burden by a preponderance of the evidence. The trial court ordered the return of the

truck to Ally, and further sentenced Orsik to 365 days in jail and imposed a $1200.00 fine. The

court suspended 335 days and $350.00. Orsik’s license was suspended for two years and six

points were assessed to his license. Orsik appealed, raising two assignments of error for review.
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II.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

THE TRIAL COURT ERRONEOUSLY ORDERED THE FORFEITURE OF
DEFENDANT’S MOTOR VEHICLE BASED UPON INSUFFICIENT AND
IMPROPERLY ADMITTED EVIDENCE.

{¶5} Orsik argues that the trial court ordered forfeiture of his truck based on

improperly admitted evidence. This Court disagrees.

{¶6} As a preliminary matter, we acknowledge that the truck was not forfeited to the

State, but rather that the trial court ordered that it be released to the lienholder.

{¶7} R.C. 4503.234 addresses criminal forfeitures of vehicles and exemptions from

forfeiture for lienholders and other persons with an interest in the subject vehicle. R.C.

4503.234(B)(2) states in pertinent part: “No order of criminal forfeiture shall be issued pursuant

to the section if a lienholder * * * establishes to the court, by a preponderance of the evidence

after filing a motion with the court, that the lienholder * * * neither knew nor should have known

after a reasonable inquiry that the vehicle would be used or involved, or likely would be used or

involved, in the violation resulting in the issuance of the order of criminal forfeiture * * *, that

the lienholder * * * did not expressly or impliedly consent to the use or involvement of the

vehicle in the violation, and that the lien * * * was perfected pursuant to law prior to the seizure

of the vehicle[.]”

{¶8} Ally, the purported lienholder, did not present any witness testimony at the

forfeiture hearing. Instead, it submitted the affidavit of Maribelle Rodriguez, its confiscation

specialist, who averred, on the basis of personal knowledge or knowledge obtained from

company records kept in the ordinary course of business and over which she is the custodian,

that she neither knew nor should have known that Orsik’s truck would be used in violation of
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law and that she never authorized any act in violation of law. The retail installment agreement,

appended to her affidavit, includes Orsik’s agreement “not to expose the vehicle to misuse,

seizure, confiscation, or involuntary transfer.” The certificate of title, appended to her affidavit,

indicates that Ally is the first lienholder on the vehicle. All parties agree that all the documents

submitted by Ally constituted hearsay.

{¶9} Orsik argues that the trial court erred by considering the evidence presented by

Ally because it was inadmissible hearsay. The trial court admitted and considered the evidence,

however, after concluding that the Ohio Rules of Evidence were not applicable to forfeiture

hearings. This is an issue of first impression in Ohio. We need not determine this issue here

because Orsik has not demonstrated how he was prejudiced by the release of the truck to the

lienholder in lieu of forfeiture of the truck to the State. Because his conviction for operating a

vehicle while under the influence was his third such conviction in six years, forfeiture of his

truck was mandatory barring any claim of a lienholder or other person who could establish an

interest in the truck. He has not argued or demonstrated that he could have recovered the truck

under these circumstances. Accordingly, error in the admission of Ally’s affidavit, if any, was

harmless. See State v. Conway, 109 Ohio St.3d 412, 2006-Ohio-2815, ¶ 59.

{¶10} Although Orsik raises sufficiency in his assignment of error, he does not

develop any arguments in that regard in the body of his assignment of error.

Accordingly, this Court declines to develop any such argument for him. App.R.

12(A)(2); see also Cardone v. Cardone, 9th Dist. No. 18349, 1998 WL 224934 (May 6,

1998) (holding that “if an argument exists that can support [an] assignment of error, it is

not this court’s duty to root it out.”)

{¶11} Orsik’s first assignment of error is overruled.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

THE STATE OF OHIO FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE NOTICE
REQUIREMENTS OF R.C. 4503.234(A).

{¶12} Orsik argues that the State failed to comply with the notice requirements of R.C.

4503.234(A) relevant to forfeiture hearings. This Court disagrees.

{¶13} R.C. 4503.234(A) provides in pertinent part: “A forfeiture order may be issued

only after the offender has been provided with an opportunity to be heard. The prosecuting

attorney shall give the offender written notice of the possibility of forfeiture by sending a copy of

the relevant uniform traffic ticket or other written notice to the offender not less than seven days

prior to the date of issuance of the forfeiture order.” Although the trial court did not order the

forfeiture of the truck to the State, but rather ordered its release to the lienholder, this Court

recognizes that the notice requirements are applicable to hearings where the court must

determine whether forfeiture to the State or release to a lienholder is appropriate under the

statutory scheme.

{¶14} Orsik argues that this Court must sustain his assignment of error on the authority

of State v. Knapp, 9th Dist. No. 02CA0048-M, 2003-Ohio-532, in which we affirmed the trial

court’s order precluding forfeiture of Knapp’s vehicle because the State had not strictly complied

with the statutory notice requirements. Knapp is distinguishable, however, because the criminal

forfeiture statute in effect at that time additionally required the charging instrument to contain a

notice that the subject vehicle would be criminally forfeited to the State upon conviction. Since

that time, the statute has been amended to merely require the prosecuting attorney to give written

notice of the possibility of forfeiture at least seven days prior to the date of issuance of any

forfeiture order. The statute, by its plain language, provides that the prosecuting attorney may

comply with the notice requirement by providing the offender with “a copy of the relevant
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uniform traffic ticket.” R.C. 4503.234(A). Orsik concedes in his brief that he received a copy

of the uniform traffic ticket prior to the forfeiture hearing which ultimately took place on

September 28, 2011. Accordingly, the State provided him with the requisite notice. To the

extent that he argues that the language subsumed within the uniform traffic ticket did not provide

notice of the possible forfeiture, his argument is misplaced. The legislature has already

determined that the uniform traffic ticket provides adequate notice.

{¶15} In addition, the record contains the trial court’s pink copy of a notice of

forfeiture, filed on March 21, 2011. According to the form, Orsik would have received the

goldenrod copy of the form. The form contains the following written notification: “If you are

convicted of or plead guilty to OVI, the court may issue * * * an order for the criminal forfeiture

of the vehicle to the state.” On July 27, 2011, the trial court issued an order, scheduling a

forfeiture hearing on September 6, 2011, and directing the Ohio State Highway Patrol to search

public records for any lienholders in the subject vehicle. Significantly, the trial court judge, the

assistant prosecutor, defense counsel, and Orsik all signed the July 27, 2011 order. By signing

the order, the State provided “other written notice” pursuant to R.C. 4503.234(A) to Orsik that

his truck was subject to forfeiture. Finally, at the change of plea hearing on September 6, 2011,

the trial court informed Orsik that his vehicle would be subject to forfeiture because he had two

prior convictions for operating a vehicle while under the influence. The forfeiture hearing was

then rescheduled for September 28, 2011.

{¶16} A review of the record indicates that the State provided Orsik with the statutorily

mandated notice prior to the forfeiture hearing. He admitted receiving the uniform traffic ticket

which the legislature has indicated provides the requisite notice. Both Orsik and his attorney,

along with the prosecuting attorney, signed the July 27, 2011 journal entry that scheduled the
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forfeiture hearing. Accordingly, the State complied with the statutory notice requirements.

Orsik’s second assignment of error is overruled.

III.

{¶17} Orsik’s assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Oberlin

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 Oberlin Municipal

Court, County of Lorain, 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.

DONNA J. CARR
FOR THE COURT

WHITMORE, P. J.
CONCURS.
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BELFANCE, J.
CONCURRING IN JUDGMENT ONLY.

{¶18} I concur in the majority’s resolution and analysis of Mr. Orsik’s first assignment

of error. With respect to the majority’s resolution of Mr. Orsik’s second assignment of error, I

agree that it is properly overruled and that Mr. Orsik’s reliance upon State v. Knapp, 9th Dist.

No. 02CA0048-M, 2003-Ohio-532, is misplaced. However, even if there was technical

noncompliance with that portion of R.C. 4503.234(A) requiring written notice of the possibility

of forfeiture, Mr. Orsik has not demonstrated that he was prejudiced by the error. See Crim.R.

52(A).

APPEARANCES:

BRETT F. MURNER, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

MICHELLE D. NEDWICK, Attorney at Law, for Appellee.