STATE OF OHIO v. JOSEPH D. FRICKE
Appellate Case No. 26126
Trial Court Case No. 2011-CR-3041
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT MONTGOMERY COUNTY
August 21, 2015
[Cite as State v. Fricke, 2015-Ohio-3389.]
Rendered on the 21st day of August, 2015.
MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by KIRSTEN A. BRANDT, Atty. Reg. No. 0070162, Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, Montgomery County Courts Building, P.O. Box 972, 301 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellant
BRADLEY S. BALDWIN, Atty. Reg. No. 0070186, Baldwin Valley Law, LLC, 854 East Franklin Street, Centerville, Ohio 45459
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant/Cross-Appellee
FAIN, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Joseph Fricke appeals from his conviction, following a
{¶ 2} We conclude that the conviction is supported by evidence sufficient to establish the elements of each offense, and that it is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. We further conclude that the trial court did not err by overruling Fricke’s motion to suppress or his motion for a new trial. Finally, we conclude that the trial court did not err with regard to merger for the purposes of sentencing. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is Affirmed.
I. The Alleged Offenses
{¶ 3} The victim, C.C. was a nineteen-year-old student attending a local university. On August 27, 2011, C.C. was in her dormitory; she consumed a mixed drink and approximately one and one-half shots of vodka. At about 11:00 p.m., C.C. and her roommates went to two different houses on campus. During that time, she took a few sips of beer.
{¶ 4} After midnight, C.C. and her roommates went to a bar, where C.C. began a conversation with Fricke. The two had never met prior to that encounter. At some point, Fricke offered C.C. a shot to drink. After she drank the shot, Fricke asked her to
{¶ 5} C.C. left the bar with Fricke, and got into a vehicle with him and four others. At 2:46 a.m., C.C. sent a text message to her friend B.R. that stated, “[i]n car.” The vehicle stopped at a house where Fricke picked up his car. At 2:52 a.m., C.C. sent a text message to another friend stating, “7i don’t knoe where I am.” She texted the friend again a minute later stating, “Im i7n a car i7 don’t know.” C.C. began to feel “super drunk,” and she began to feel scared, and thought she should exit the car. However, when she looked at the door handle, she was unable to remember how to operate it.
{¶ 6} After arriving at Fricke’s residence, Fricke prepared a drink of vodka and orange juice. C.C. drank some of the mixed drink. As they went downstairs to Fricke’s room, C.C. had trouble negotiating the stairs. She plugged her cell phone into a charger on the bedside table, and noticed that the television, which Fricke had turned on, was a blur.
{¶ 7} At 5:03 a.m., Fricke’s cell phone made a call to C.C.’s phone. The call went to voice message, and recorded C.C. saying, “[g]et off of me,” “ow,” “I don’t like this,” and “stop.” Her voice was slurred. The message also recorded Fricke saying, “[w]hy are you pushing me away.” C.C. had no memory of what was occurring at the time the voice message was created.
{¶ 8} Around noon on August 28th, Fricke woke C.C., and drove her back to her dormitory. She had difficulty walking to, and opening, her dormitory door. Around 12:30, her roommates returned to the room after eating, and found the door unlocked.
{¶ 9} When she awoke, C.C. felt “really strange.” Tr. 378. She took a shower and had trouble standing. She noticed that a tampon she had inserted the night before was gone. She also had bruising on her legs, and a cut on her lip. At that time, C.C. was “very confused. She had no idea what had happened to her the night before.” Tr. 244. The roommates decided to take her to the hospital.
{¶ 10} C.C. arrived at Miami Valley Hospital at 6:41 p.m., where she was examined by a sexual assault nurse examiner. The nurse noted that C.C. had vaginal tenderness. She also had a tear in the rectal area that was consistent with penetration. The nurse took vaginal and rectal swabs. The nurse additionally took blood and urine samples. According to the nurse, blood and urine samples are not normally taken during a sexual assault exam. In this case, the nurse took the samples because C.C’s symptoms were consistent with a “drug facilitated assault.” Tr. 316.
{¶ 11} The Miami Valley Crime Lab later detected semen on the vaginal swabs, as well as the tampon that the nurse had collected. The lab determined that Fricke’s DNA was on the swabs. C.C.’s DNA was found on four items of Fricke’s bedding. The blood and urine were also analyzed. A small trace of alcohol was found in C.C.’s urine;
{¶ 12} The university police were dispatched to the hospital, where they took the initial report. They identified the telephone number that had left the voice message as Fricke’s. The investigation was given to the Kettering Police Department. Later the investigating officer found that Fricke had an ongoing case in the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, and was able to locate Fricke’s address from that case information. When it was determined that Fricke’s address was located in the City of Dayton, Kettering police contacted the Dayton Police Department regarding the case.
{¶ 13} C.C. was able to identify Fricke’s house to Dayton Police Detective William Swisher. On August 31, 2011, Dayton Police Detectives Jerome Dix and Swisher went to Fricke’s residence to speak with him. The detectives were in an unmarked police car when they arrived at the home. They spoke to Fricke’s roommate, who advised them that Fricke was not home but that he was returning home. Prior to Fricke’s return, a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived in a marked cruiser. The Deputy informed the detectives that he was there to serve a protection order on Fricke. The Deputy parked away from the residence.
{¶ 14} When Fricke arrived, the detectives made contact with him, and informed him that they were there to conduct an investigation regarding a rape complaint that had
{¶ 15} At that point, the Deputy returned to the residence, and advised Fricke that he was there to serve a protection order. The order was served, and the Deputy walked away. Dix continued to speak to Fricke. The Deputy then approached Swisher and informed him that he also had an arrest warrant for Fricke. When Dix was informed of the warrant, he informed Fricke that he was going to stop the interview because Fricke was going to be taken into custody on the warrant.
{¶ 16} Fricke was transported to the Safety Building by Officer Matthew Kennard. Kennard placed Fricke in interview room 1. Approximately twenty minutes later, Swisher arrived and escorted Fricke to interview room 2, because it had recording capabilities. Fricke asked to contact his lawyer. Fricke was permitted to use two cellular telephones, as well as an office telephone, to attempt to contact his attorney. After ninety minutes had elapsed without Fricke being able to reach his attorney, Swisher
{¶ 17} Kennard began the booking process, asking Fricke only basic identifying questions, such as name, age and weight. During that process, Kennard placed a phone call to Dix, and asked him what specific charges to use in booking. When Kennard repeated the charges back to Dix, Fricke informed Kennard that he wanted to speak with the detectives. Kennard then informed Dix that Fricke wanted to speak to him. Kennard went to the interview room to inform Fricke that the detectives would return. At that point, Fricke informed Kennard that there were two pills on the floor of the interview room. The pills were collected, and later identified as .5 mg Lorazepam.
{¶ 18} Swisher and Dix then returned, and began to speak with Fricke. They reminded him that he did not have to speak to them until he had spoken to his attorney. Fricke advised that he had prior experience being interviewed by the university police. The detectives then executed a pre-interview form with Fricke. Fricke indicated that he understood his rights, and signed the form.
II. Course of the Proceedings
{¶ 19} Fricke was indicted on one count of Rape (drugs/intoxicants) in violation of
III. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Overruling Fricke’s Motion to Suppress, Because Fricke Was Not in Custody when He Made the Statements in Question
{¶ 20} Fricke’s First Assignment of Error states as follows:
APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS WAS IMPROPERLY OVERRULED BECAUSE HIS STATEMENTS WERE OBTAINED DURING A CUSTODIAL INTERROGATON WITHOUT BEING AFFORDED MIRANDA WARNINGS.
{¶ 21} Fricke contends that the statements made to Dix while at his residence should have been suppressed because he was subjected to a custodial interrogation without being advised of his rights pursuant to Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).
{¶ 22} We begin by noting that this issue was not specifically addressed in his motion to suppress. Instead, the motion dealt with statements made after Fricke was transported to the Safety Building.1 Thus, the trial court did not address this issue in its
{¶ 23} Under
{¶ 24} Even if this matter was not waived for appellate review, we would find it without merit. Suspects do not have a right to warnings under Miranda until they are in custody. State v. Moody, 2012-Ohio-3390, 974 N.E.2d 1273, ¶ 12 (2d Dist.). Custodial interrogation consists of “questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way.” Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444, 86 S.Ct. 1602. “In order to determine if a person is in custody for purposes of Miranda, the court must determine whether there was a formal arrest or a restraint on freedom of movement of the degree associated with a formal arrest.” Moody, at ¶ 12. “A seizure equivalent to an arrest exists where there is: (1) an intent to arrest, (2) the seizure is made under real or assumed authority, (3) accompanied by an actual or constructive seizure of the person, and, (4) which is so understood by the person arrested.” Id., ¶ 13.
{¶ 25} Although Fricke was seated in the cruiser for a few minutes, the door was left open, and his feet were out. No one attempted to question him while he was seated
{¶ 26} Accordingly, the First Assignment of Error is overruled.
IV. There Was Probable Cause for the Search Warrant, and the Affidavit in Support of the Search Warrant Did Not Have Materially Misleading Omissions
{¶ 27} Fricke’s Second Assignment of Error provides:
APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS WAS IMPROPERLY OVERRULED BECAUSE THE AFFIDAVIT FOR THE SEARCH WARRANT LACKED PROBABLE CAUSE.
{¶ 28} Fricke contends that the trial court should have granted his motion to suppress evidence obtained during the execution of the search warrant for his residence. He claims that the affidavit in support of the search warrant did not establish probable cause because it omitted relevant evidence that C.C. had been drinking alcohol throughout the evening, that she only drank part of the drink at his house, and that there was no toxicology or DNA evidence. Fricke argues that this information makes it more
{¶ 29} In “determining the sufficiency of probable cause in an affidavit submitted in support of a search warrant, ‘[t]he task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before him, including the “veracity” and “basis of knowledge” of persons supplying hearsay information, there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place.’ ” State v. George, 45 Ohio St.3d 325, 544 N.E.2d 640 (1989), paragraph one of the syllabus, quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238–239, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983). When reviewing the sufficiency of probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant, an appellate court should not substitute its judgment for that of the magistrate by conducting a de novo determination of sufficiency. George, supra, at paragraph two of the syllabus. Rather, “the duty of a reviewing court is simply to ensure that the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed,” and it “should accord great deference to the magistrate‘s determination of probable cause, and doubtful or marginal cases in this area should be resolved in favor of upholding the warrant.” Id.
{¶ 30} In this case, the affidavit in support of the search warrant does reference the fact that C.C. drank “some of the drink” prepared at Fricke’s residence; thus indicating that she did not consume all of the drink. Thus, this claim is without merit. There is no evidence that DNA or toxicology evidence existed at the point the affidavit was prepared.
{¶ 31} The affidavit indicated that C.C. and Fricke were together at a bar, and that they left the bar together, and went to his residence. C.C. drank part of an alcoholic drink that Fricke prepared for her. The affidavit notes that C.C. did not remember anything after going to his bedroom until Fricke woke her up at noon. The affidavit states that C.C. woke in her dorm room feeling nauseated. She did not feel hung over, and thought she had been drugged. She believed that she had been sexually assaulted because the tampon she had inserted the night before was gone. The affidavit further notes the contents of the voice message left on C.C.’s telephone that was traced to Fricke’s phone. The call was left by Fricke’s phone at 5:03 a.m. on August 28. The affidavit states that C.C. was treated for sexual assault at Miami Valley Hospital. It further notes that C.C. was able to recognize Fricke’s residence.
{¶ 32} “A search warrant affidavit that is facially sufficient may nevertheless be successfully attacked if the defendant can show by a preponderance of the evidence that the affiant made a false statement intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth.” State v. Stropkaj, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 18712, 2001 WL 1468905, *2 (Nov. 16, 2001). The Supreme Court of Ohio has recognized that omissions can be deemed false statements if they are intended to mislead, or made with reckless disregard to the fact that
{¶ 33} We conclude that the trial court did not err in overruling the motion to suppress. Fricke failed to demonstrate any omission, let alone an omission that would mislead the magistrate. Furthermore, there is sufficient evidence in the affidavit upon which the trial court could rely in finding probable cause to issue the search warrant.
{¶ 34} Fricke’s Second Assignment of Error is overruled.
V. There Is Evidence in the Record to Support Fricke’s Convictions, and they Are Not Against the Manifest Weight of the Evidence
{¶ 35} Fricke’s Third and Fourth Assignments of Error state:
APPELLANT’S CONVICTIONS WERE BASED UPON INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL.
APPELLANT’S CONVICTIONS WERE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
{¶ 36} Fricke contends that the conviction is not supported by the evidence. Specifically, he claims the State failed to present evidence sufficient to demonstrate he placed Lorazepam in C.C.’s drinks. He further contends that the conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence. He argues that C.C. was not a credible witness.
{¶ 37} A sufficiency-of-the-evidence challenge questions whether the State has presented adequate evidence on each element of the offense to allow the case to go to the jury or to sustain the verdict as a matter of law. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). “An appellate court‘s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence
{¶ 38} When a conviction is challenged as being against the manifest weight of the evidence, an appellate court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider witness credibility, 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. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). In a manifest-weight analysis, the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to their testimony are primarily for the trier of facts to resolve. State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967). “Because the factfinder * * * has the opportunity to see and hear the witnesses, the cautious exercise of discretionary power of a court of appeals to find that a judgment is against the manifest weight of the evidence requires that a substantial deference be extended to the factfinder‘s determinations of credibility. The decision whether, and to what extent, to credit the testimony of particular witnesses is within the peculiar competence of the factfinder, who has seen and heard the witnesses.” State v. Lawson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 16288, 1997 WL 476684, *5 (Aug. 22, 1997). This court will not substitute its judgment for that of the trier of fact on the issue of witness credibility unless it is patently apparent that the trier of fact lost its way. State v. Bradley, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 97-CA-03, 1997 WL 691510 (Oct. 24, 1997).
{¶ 39} The evidence in this case supports a finding that C.C. was in Fricke’s presence from the time she met him in the bar until he returned her to her dormitory. Fricke offered her a drink at the bar, following which she began to feel drunk quickly. C.C. testified that she began to feel “super drunk” all of a sudden when she was in the car with Fricke. At that point, she began to feel disoriented. She testified that she was unable to recall how to operate the door handle in the car when she considered getting out of the vehicle. C.C. then went to Fricke’s home, where he made her another drink, which she did not finish. Fricke admitted to the police that C.C. drank at least half of the drink; only a little was left in the glass. After that drink, C.C. had trouble walking, and her vision was impaired. She was also unable to recall the events after she sat on Fricke’s bed.
{¶ 40} There is DNA evidence supporting a finding that Fricke had vaginal and anal intercourse with C.C. She had vaginal tenderness, and anal tearing. She was also bruised all along her legs, and had a cut to her lip. While C.C. did not remember having sex, the voice mail left by Fricke’s cell phone on C.C.’s cell phone contains statements by C.C. saying stop, and a male voice, which Fricke admitted was his, asking why she was pushing him away.
{¶ 41} Fricke contends that the evidence demonstrates that C.C. was impaired due to drinking prior to meeting him. However, there is evidence in the record upon which the jury could find to the contrary. There is evidence that the next day she only had a small trace of alcohol in her urine, and that there would have been more if she had ingested a large amount of alcohol. Further, C.C. testified that she did not feel drunk
{¶ 42} Evidence was presented that Fricke had a prescription for Lorazepam 1 milligram pills, and that he had previously had a prescription for .5 milligram pills. He admitted that he did not like taking the drug, and that he did not take it every day as prescribed. Thus, the jury could infer that he had extra pills on hand. Furthermore, the evidence showed that Fricke was a paramedic, and had completed a nursing program. Thus, the jury could infer that he was familiar with the effects of the drug. Indeed, the fact that he texted C.C. at 5:27 p.m. the day he dropped her at her dorm, asking whether she was awake, raises a reasonable inference that he was aware that he knew how impaired she was.
{¶ 43} There is also evidence in the record that after Fricke was initially contacted by university police via his cell phone, he sent a text message to a friend that he was “freaking out,” and that he thought “that girl is crying rape or something.” Furthermore, at the time the police executed the search warrant of Fricke’s room, they did not find any Lorazepam, despite the fact that his other prescription medication was present, as well as other medications and supplements. Finally, the police recovered Lorazepam in the interview room that Fricke was placed in while awaiting his interview.
{¶ 44} We conclude that the record contains evidence upon which the jury could reasonably rely in concluding that Fricke put Lorazepam in C.C.’s drink. There is evidence upon which a reasonable juror could rely in finding that Fricke possessed Lorazepam with the purpose to administer it to, and with the intent to impair, C.C., and that he did so by placing it in one or both of the drinks he supplied her with the purpose of
{¶ 45} We next turn to Fricke’s claim that the convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence. Fricke contends that C.C. was not credible, because she did not initially tell the police about the drink he served her at the bar, and because she had been drinking before meeting him. He further argues that she was drugged after he dropped her off at her dorm.
{¶ 46} With regard to the drink at the bar, the State presented the testimony of the bartender, who stated that she had sold a drink that was, as testified to by C.C., red in color. Thus, the jury was free to find that C.C.’s testimony regarding this was credible. Defense counsel vigorously cross-examined C.C. during trial. The issue is one of credibility, which the jury resolved in C.C.’s favor.
{¶ 47} With regard to Fricke’s claim that C.C. was impaired due to drinking, we again note that there was little alcohol in her urine the next day, and both she and her friend testified that she was not impaired due to the drinks she had ingested. Finally, C.C.’s testimony was that she did not become impaired until after the drink at the bar, and that the effects of that drink hit her rapidly. She further testified that once she ingested the drink at Fricke’s house she quickly became so impaired that she had difficulty walking and had vision impairment. There was evidence that Lorazepam is an immediate-release drug, and that its effects are felt rapidly. Thus, C.C.’s testimony, which the jury was free to believe, supports a finding that the drug was administered with the drinks given to her by Fricke. From our review of the evidence, we conclude that this is not the exceptional case where a jury has lost its way, resulting in a manifest miscarriage of justice.
{¶ 48} Fricke’s Third and Fourth Assignments of Error are overruled.
VI. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse its Discretion by Overruling Fricke’s Motion for a New Trial
{¶ 49} Fricke’s Fifth Assignment of Error provides as follows:
THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY OVERRULING APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL.
{¶ 50} Fricke contends that he is entitled to a new trial because of alleged irregularities in the jury deliberations. Specifically, he claims that following the verdict, the trial court asked the jury foreman whether the jury found C.C. was drugged at the bar, at Fricke’s home, or both. Fricke claims that the foreman responded “that there had been no determination that [Mr. Fricke] did in fact put the drug in [CW’s] [sic] drink, only that it was ‘logical’ that he ‘probably’ did it.”2 Fricke cites to an affidavit executed by Deena M. DeGroff as evidence of this statement. The State disputes this account.
{¶ 51}
{¶ 52} The trial court was free to determine whether to credit the affidavit of DeGroff. The State did not place any affidavit into the record opposing the affidavit, but did dispute the claim in a memorandum in opposition to the motion for new trial. Of
{¶ 53} Furthermore, Fricke is seeking to introduce the statement of a juror concerning the jury’s deliberative process. However,
{¶ 54} The Fifth Assignment of Error is overruled.
VII. Based on the Facts in this Case, the Offenses of Contaminating a Substance for Human Consumption and Rape by Means of Impairing the Victim’s Judgment by Administering any Drug, Intoxicant, or Controlled Substance Are Allied Offenses of Similar Import
{¶ 55} The State’s sole assignment of error states:
CONTAMINATING A SUBSTANCE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION AND RAPE UNDER
R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(a) AND(A)(1)(c) ARE NOT ALLIED OFFENSES OF SIMILAR IMPORT. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT MERGED THOSE OFFENSES FOR SENTENCING.
{¶ 56} The State conceded that for purposes of sentencing, the two counts of Rape merged. The State then elected to proceed to sentencing on Count I, Rape
{¶ 57} The merger of offenses is governed by
(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of only one.
(B) Where the defendant‘s conduct constitutes two or more offenses of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.
{¶ 58} In State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St.3d 153, 2010–Ohio–6314, 942 N.E.2d 1061, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that when determining whether two offenses are allied offenses of similar import subject to merger under
In determining whether offenses are allied offenses of similar import under
R.C. 2941.25(A) , the question is whether it is possible to commit one offense and commit the other with the same conduct, not whether it is possible to commit one without committing the other. State v. Blankenship (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 116, 119. (Whiteside, J., concurring) (“It is not necessary that both crimes are always committed by the same conduct but, rather, it is sufficient if both offenses can be committed by the same conduct. It is a matter of possibility, rather than certainty, that the same conduct will constitute commission of both offenses.” [Emphasis sic] ). If the offenses correspond to such a degree that the conduct of the defendant constituting commission of one offense constitutes commission of the other, then the offenses are of similar import.If the multiple offenses can be committed by the same conduct, then the court must determine whether the offenses were committed by the same conduct, i.e., “a single act, committed with a single state of mind.” State v. Brown, 119 Ohio St.3d 447, 2008–Ohio–4569, at ¶ 50 (Lanzinger, J., dissenting).
If the answer to both questions is yes, then the offenses are allied offenses of similar import and will be merged.
Conversely, if the court determines that the commission of one offense will never result in the commission of the other, or if the offenses are committed separately, or if the defendant has separate animus for each
offense, then, according to R.C. 2941.25(B) , the offenses will not merge.
{¶ 59} Fricke was convicted of
{¶ 60} The evidence in this case proves that Fricke placed Lorazepam in C.C.’s drink. By knowingly placing the drug in the drink with knowledge that C.C. was likely to ingest the drink, Fricke completed the element of deceptively and/or surreptitiously administering a drug or controlled substance. By using Lorazepam to substantially impair C.C. and prevent resistance to sexual conduct, Fricke completed the offense of knowingly mingling a chemical substance with a drink. The State’s case was based upon the theory that Fricke contaminated C.C.’s drink with a substance that he knew she would ingest, and which he knew would impair her ability to resist any sexual conduct. The entire prosecution was based upon the theory that Fricke’s conduct was the same for both offenses; both offenses required the conduct of placing the Lorazepam in C.C.’s drink.
{¶ 61} The State’s sole assignment of error is overruled.
VIII. Conclusion
{¶ 62} All of Fricke’s assignments of error, and the State’s sole assignment of error, being overruled, the judgment of the trial court is Affirmed.
DONOVAN, J., and WELBAUM, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Mathias H. Heck
Kirsten A. Brandt
Bradley S. Baldwin
Hon. Timothy N. O’Connell