[Cite as State v. Trotter, 2015-Ohio-416.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 101218
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
MONROE TROTTER
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
REVERSED AND REMANDED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case Nos. CR-13-575255-A, CR-13-575851-A, CR-13-579981-A,
CR-13-580587-A
BEFORE: Keough, P.J., E.A. Gallagher, J., and Boyle, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: February 5, 2015
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
John P. Parker
988 East 185th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44119
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: Anthony T. Miranda
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, P.J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Monroe Trotter, appeals from his convictions after pleading
guilty in four different cases to charges of aggravated vehicular assault, driving while under the
influence, felonious assault, having weapons while under disability, tampering with evidence,
domestic violence, and violating protection orders. Finding merit to the appeal and upon
concession by the state, we vacate his pleas and remand to the trial court.
{¶2} In June 2013, Trotter was indicted in Case No. CR-13-575255 with three counts of
aggravated vehicular assault and one count of driving while under the influence of alcohol or
drugs. In July 2013, Trotter was indicted in Case No. CR-13-575851 with one count each of
felonious assault, having weapons while under disability, tampering with evidence, and domestic
violence. In November 2013, Trotter was indicted in Case No. CR-13-579981 with one count of
violating a protection order. In December 2013, Trotter was indicted in Case No.
CR-13-580587 with one count of violating a protection order.
{¶3} In December 2013, Trotter entered into a plea agreement on these cases — agreeing
to either plead guilty or no contest to all counts as indicted in each case and also agreeing to
forfeit the firearm specified in Case No. CR-13-575851. In exchange for his pleas, Trotter was
sentenced to an agreed six-year term in prison.
{¶4} Trotter now appeals, raising as his sole assignment of error that his guilty pleas must
be vacated because the trial court completely failed to advise him of his Crim.R. 11 rights prior
to accepting his pleas. The state, pursuant to Loc.App.R. 16(B), has conceded this error.1
1
Loc.App.R. 16(B) provides:
Notice of Conceded Error. When a party concedes an error that is dispositive of the entire
appeal, the party conceding the error shall file a separate notice of conceded error either in lieu of
or in addition to their responsive brief. Once all briefing is completed, the appeal will be
{¶5} Before accepting a guilty or no-contest plea, the court must make the determinations
and give the warnings required by Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) and (b) and notify the defendant of the
constitutional rights listed in Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c). State v. Veney, 120 Ohio St.3d 176,
2008-Ohio-5200, 897 N.E.2d 621, ¶ 13. Failure to advise a defendant of his constitutional rights
prior to accepting his plea renders his plea invalid. Veney at ¶ 32.
{¶6} In this case, our review of the record confirms the trial court completely failed to
advise Trotter of any of his Crim.R. 11 rights prior to accepting his plea. Accordingly, we must
vacate Trotter’s guilty pleas and remand these cases for further proceedings.
{¶7} Judgment reversed, plea vacated, and case remanded for further proceedings.
It is, therefore, considered that said appellant recover of said appellee its costs herein.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this judgment into
execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the
Rules of Appellate Procedure.
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, PRESIDING JUDGE
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., and
MARY J. BOYLE, J., CONCUR
randomly assigned to a merit panel for review. The appeal will be considered submitted on the
briefs unless the assigned panel sets an oral argument date.