STATE OF OHIO v. JOSHUA HICKS
Case No. 11CA933
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ADAMS COUNTY
RELEASED 08/22/12
[Cite as State v. Hicks, 2012-Ohio-3831.]
Harsha, J.
DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
David Kelley, Adams County Prosecutor, and Ken Armstrong, Adams County Assistant Prosecutor, West Union, Ohio, for appellant.
Bruce S. Wallace, Kelly and Wallace Co. LPA, Mt. Orab, Ohio, for appellee.
Harsha, J.
{1} The State of Ohio appeals the trial court‘s decision to dismiss the indictment charging Joshua Hicks with aggravated vehicular assault under
{2} The State contends that Hicks waived his double jeopardy argument under Crim.R. 12 because he failed to raise it before trial began. However, the State advised the court the rule did not require that Hicks raise the issue pretrial. Therefore, the State invited any resultant error.
{3} Next, the State argues that the court erred in dismissing the indictment on double jeopardy grounds. The State acknowledges that Hicks was convicted of OVI under
{4} The State also contends that the trial court erroneously denied its motion to amend the indictment to charge Hicks with vehicular assault under
{5} Finally, the State complains that after the trial court dismissed the indictment, the court ordered the State to pay court costs. The State generally argues that the court lacked authority to make this order. However, by initiating the prosecution against Hicks, the State became liable by implied contract for the payment of court costs taxed as part of the court‘s judgment. The State also argues that a court cannot assess a cost to the State that is “specifically provided for by statute and payable from the county treasury.” However, the State cites no statute that аpplies to the specific court costs at issue in this case, nor are we aware of such a statute. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court‘s judgment.
I. Facts
{6} In May 2011, the Adams County Grand Jury indicted Hicks on one count of aggravated vehicular assault in violation of
II. Assignments of Error
{7} The State assigns the following errors for our review:
- THE COURT ERRED IN DISMISSING THE CHARGE CONTAINED IN THE INDICTMENT ON THE GROUNDS OF DOUBLE JEOPARDY.
- THE COURT ERRED IN DISMISSING THE CHARGE CONTAINED IN THE INDICTMENT AS THE QUESTION OF DOUBLE JEOPARDY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED IN A PRE-TRIAL MOTION.
- THE COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE STATE OF OHIO‘S MOTION TO AMEND THE INDICTMENT UNDER CRIMINAL RULE 7.
- THE COURT ERRED IN TAXING THE COURT COSTS OF THIS ACTION TO THE STATE OF OHIO.
{8} In its second assignment of error, the State contends that the trial court erred in granting Hicks’ motion to dismiss because under Crim.R. 12, hе waived the right to challenge the indictment on double jeopardy grounds. Crim.R. 12 provides:
(C) Prior to trial, any party may raise by motion any defense, objection, evidentiary issue, or request that is capable of determination without the trial of the general issue. The following must be raised before trial:
(1) Defenses and objections based on defects in the institution of the proseсution[.]
* * *
(H) Failure by the defendant to raise defenses or objections or to make requests that must be made prior to trial, at the time set by the court pursuant to division (D) of this rule, or prior to any extension of time made by the court, shall constitute waiver of the defenses or objections, but the court for good cause shown may grant relief from the waiver.
* * *
{9} The State argues that a double jeopardy argument constitutes a defense or objection based on a defect in the institution of the prosecution and must be raised before trial under Crim.R. 12(C)(1). Hicks waited to make his motion to dismiss until after the trial began, i.e., after jeopardy had attached. Therefore, the State claims Hicks waived any double jeopardy argument as a matter of law.
{10} Contrary to the State‘s contention, it did not raise this argument at the trial level. In fact, the State repeatedly told the court that Crim.R. 12 did not require that Hicks make his double jeopardy argument before trial. The following exchange occurred at trial:
THE STATE: * * * [I]t would seem to the prosecution that [the double jeopardy] matter could have been disposed of with a prеtrial motion under Criminal Rule 12. It could have been made and decided without regard to
the timing here today. THE COURT: Could have or must have?
THE STATE: Could have.
THE COURT: Okay.
THE STATE: I‘m not going to go so far as must have but I think it could have been.
THE COURT: Okay.
THE STATE: I don‘t think it actually fits the list of things that must be decided [beforehand] but the fact that the conviction was in February, the indictment not until May, at any point in time after Mr. Hicks was indicted this matter could have been brought to the Court and been decided as to whether or not what he was indicted for was barred by double jeopardy.
* * *
THE COURT: The commentary on Criminal Rule 12, was that just commentary or do you think that there is a basis that the --- because the defense did not bring it up at a final pretrial that they are precluded at this time from bringing it up or do you think it‘s an option of the defendant through his counsel at the time, in this case I think as [defense counsel] has tried to emphasize and I believe he has successfully emphasized that he was cautious on how far to let this go. * * * Do you feel is Criminal 12 just commentary or is it, is there a substantive matter that you think the Court can rule on that would preclude the defendant from bringing the motion for dismissal based upon double jeopardy under 12, Criminal 12?
THE STATE: If I understand the question correctly I don‘t think under Criminal Rule 12 that it wаs required or mandatory that the motion be dealt with [beforehand]. I think that the rule states that any matters that can be decided prior to trial may be brought to the Court by motion and that this is one of those things that could have been dealt with because the prior conviction already existed. I don‘t know that it‘s mandatory but I think the jeopardy in this case it could have attached, thаt could have been determined at any point in time prior to this motion * * *, any time after the indictment because of the prior conviction. * * * I think that the timing of the motion was optional, I don‘t think there‘s a mandatory motion that had to be filed [beforehand] but I think you could have * * *.
{11} “Under the invited-error doctrine, a party will not be permitted to take
IV. Merits of the Double Jeopardy Argument
{12} In its first assignment оf error, the State contends the trial court erred in dismissing the indictment because the State could have prosecuted Hicks without violating his right to be free from double jeopardy. “The Double Jeopardy Clause of the United States Constitution prohibits (1) a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal, (2) a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction, and (3) multiple punishments for the same offense.” State v. Brown, 119 Ohio St.3d 447, 2008-Ohio-4569, 895 N.E.2d 149, ¶ 10. These double-jeopardy protections apply to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. State v. Tolbert, 60 Ohio St.3d 89, 90, 573 N.E.2d 617 (1991). In addition,
{13} The indictment in this case charged Hicks with one count of aggravated vehicular assault in violation of
(A) Nо person, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle, * * * shall cause serious physical harm to another person * * * in any of the following ways:
(1)(a) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance[.]
{15} However, the State failed to make this or any other legal argument against the merits of Hicks’ double jeopardy claim at the trial level. Instead, the State simply moved to amend the indictment to charge Hicks with vehicular assault, implying the State agreed with Hicks’ position that his prosecution in this case violated the Double Jeopardy Clause. We will not address an argument the State raises for the first time on appeal. State v. Standen, 173 Ohio App.3d 324, 2007-Ohio-5477, 878 N.E.2d 657, ¶ 16. Accordingly, we overrule the first assignment of error.
V. Denial of the State‘s Motion to Amend the Indictment
{16} In its third assignment of error, the State contends that the trial court erred when it denied the State‘s motion to amend the indictment because the amеndment would not have changed the name or identity of the crime charged.
{17} However, Crim.R. 7(D) provides:
The court may at any time before, during, or after a trial amend the indictment * * * in respect to any defect, imperfection, or omission in form or substance, or of any variance with the evidence, provided no change is made in the name or identity of the crime charged. * * *
“‘Whether an amendment changes the name or identity of the crime charged is a matter of law.‘” State v. Kittle, 4th Dist. No. 04CA41, 2005-Ohio-3198, ¶ 12, quoting State v. Cooper, 4th Dist. No. 97CA2326, 1998 WL 340700, *1 (June 25, 1998). Therefore, we review this assignment of error de novo. Id.
{18} Here, the indictment alleges that:
On or about December 9, 2010 in Adams County, Ohio JOSHUA HICKS did while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, locomotive, watercraft, or aircraft, to wit: 2000 GMC Sierra, cause serious physical harm to Jerry Clark as a proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance. Said act in violation of Title 29 Ohio Revised Code 2903.08(A)(1)(a) and against the peace and dignity of the State of Ohio. (Emphasis sic.)
The indictment identifies the charged crime as ”Aggravated Vehicular Assault,” a ”F-3,” i.e. a third degree felony. (Emphasis sic.)
{19} The State claims it asked the court to amend the indictment to a charge for “aggravated vehicular assault,” in violation
{20} Moreover, the amendment would have changed the identity of the crime charged. The amendment would have changed the degree of the offense from a third degree felony (
{21} Contrary to the State‘s argument, the proposed amendment would not have merely added the “omitted element of ‘recklessness‘” to the indictment. All of the information contained in the indictment refers to a charge under
{22} Moreover,
{23} Because the proposed amendment would have altered the name and identity of the charged offense in violation of Crim.R. 7(D), the trial court correctly denied the State‘s motion to amend the indictment. Accordingly, we overrule the third assignment of error.
VI. Order Directing the State to Pay Court Costs
{24} In its fourth assignment of error, the State complains that the trial court ordered it to pay court costs after dismissing the indictment. The State generally argues that the trial court lacked any authority to make this order. However, “‘[t]he duty to pay court costs is a civil obligation arising from an implied contract.‘” State v. Joseph, 125 Ohio St.3d 76, 2010-Ohio-954, 926 N.E.2d 278, ¶ 20, quoting Strattman v. Studt, 20 Ohio St.2d 95, 253 N.E.2d 749 (1969), paragraph six of the syllabus. “That court costs are а civil obligation is true in both criminal and civil cases: ‘By being involved in court proceedings, any litigant, by implied contract, becomes liable for the payment of court costs if taxed as a part of the court‘s judgment.‘” Id., quoting Strattman at 103. Therefore, we see no reason why as a general matter, the trial court could not order the
{25} The State makes a more specific аrgument that a trial court cannot asses a cost to the State that is “specifically provided for by statute and payable from the county treasury.” (Appellant‘s Br. 14). However, after making this declaration the State fails to cite any statute that requires the Adams County treasury to pay court costs in this case, and we are unaware of such a statute. Instead, the Stаte directs our attention to two cases from other appellate districts, which as we explain below, do not support the State‘s argument.
{26} The State cites the Fifth District‘s decision in State v. Songer, 5th Dist. No. 03COA051, 2004-Ohio-1281. In Songer, the trial court declared a mistrial and ordered the State to post a bond to apply to the juror fees and indigent counsel fees on retrial. When the State failed to post the bond, the court dismissed the indictment. The Fifth District reversed, holding that jury fees and indigent counsel fees “are specifically provided for by statute,
{27} The State also cites State v. Christian, 7th Dist. No. 04 JE 20, 2005-Ohio-905. In Christian, the Seventh District reversed the trial court‘s decision to assess the costs for prospective jurors against the State, based in part on Songer. Again, this case
{28} Finally, the State cites an Ohio Attorney General opinion, 2005 Ohio Atty.Gen.Ops. No. 14, for the proposition that “court costs in criminal casеs are paid from the county treasury.” (Appellant‘s Br. 14). However, “Attorney General opinions are not binding on courts; at best, they are persuasive authority.” State ex rel. Van Dyke v. Pub. Emps. Retirement Bd., 99 Ohio St.3d 430, 2003-Ohio-4123, 793 N.E.2d 438, ¶ 40. Moreover, the Attorney General reached his conclusion based on the fact that various statutes on particular types of courts costs specify those costs are to be paid from the county treasury. We are not inclined to infer a legislative intent to subject county treasuries to liability for all court costs in failed state criminal prosecutions simply because they must pay certain costs by statute. See generally State ex rel. Dayton Law Library Assn. v. White, 163 Ohio App.3d 118, 2005-Ohio-4520, 836 N.E.2d 1232 (2d Dist.), ¶ 19-21, aff‘d, 110 Ohio St.3d 335, 2006-Ohio-4573, 853 N.E.2d 651.
{29} Because a trial court can order a litigant to pay court courts based on an implied contract and the State cites no authority that precludes the court from ordering it to pay the costs of its failed prosecution in this case, we overrule the fourth assignment of error.
VII. Summary
{30} Having overruled each of the assignments of error, we affirm the trial court‘s judgment.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and that Appellant shall pay the costs.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeаl.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Adams County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Suрreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Exceptions.
Abele, P.J. & McFarland, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court
BY: _________________________
William H. Harsha, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.