STATE OF OHIO/CITY OF TWINSBURG, Appellee v. MICHAEL SRP, Appellant
C.A. No. 26029
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
May 23, 2012
2012-Ohio-2285
MOORE, Presiding Judge.
APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT ENTERED IN THE STOW MUNICIPAL COURT CASE No. 2010 TRC 4334
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
MOORE, Presiding Judge.
{¶1} Appellant, Michael Srp, appeals from his conviction in the Stow Municipal Court. This Court affirms.
I.
{¶2} In the early morning hours of May 14, 2010, a police officer with the City of Twinsburg initiated a traffic stop for a weaving violation. Several sobriety tests were conducted on the driver, Michael Srp. When he was unable to successfully complete the tests, he was taken into custody. It was discovered that he had a blood alcohol concentration of .154. Mr. Srp was cited for operating a vehicle under the influence, operating a vehicle with a prohibited blood alcohol concentration, and weaving in violation of the Twinsburg Codified Ordinance. Mr. Srp initially entered a plea of not guilty. He subsequently filed a motion to dismiss for want of probable cause. After a hearing was held on the motion, and the motion was denied, Mr. Srp entered a plea of no contest to operating a vehicle under the influence. Pursuant to a plea
{¶3} Mr. Srp moved this Court for leave to file a delayed appeal, and the motion was granted. Mr. Srp raises one assignment of error for our review.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN USING AND FINDING SUPPRESSIBLE FACTS SUFFICIENT BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT TO CONVICT [MR. SRP].
{¶4} Initially, we note that Mr. Srp‘s assignment of error provides a roadmap for our review and, as such, directs our analysis of the trial court‘s judgment. Hamlin-Scanlon v. Taylor, 9th Dist. No. 23773, 2008-Ohio-411, ¶ 8;
{¶5} In his sole assignment of error, Mr. Srp contends that there was insufficient evidence to convict him for operating a vehicle under the influence. As previously noted, Mr. Srp pled no contest to operating a vehicle under the influence. The Rules of Criminal Procedure provide that a “plea of no contest is not an admission of defendant‘s guilt, but is an admission of
{¶6} Mr. Srp was convicted of driving under the influence in violation of
{¶7} Because Mr. Srp pled no contest to the complaint, he is now precluded from challenging the factual merits of the underlying charges. See Bird, 81 Ohio St.3d at 584. The State fulfilled its obligation by alleging sufficient facts to charge a violation for operating a vehicle under the influence. See id. By pleading no contest, Mr. Srp admitted the truth of the
III.
{¶8} Mr. Srp‘s sole assignment of error is overruled. The judgment of the Stow 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 Stow Municipal Court, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to
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.
Costs taxed to Appellant.
CARLA MOORE
FOR THE COURT
CARR, J.
BELFANCE, J.
CONCUR
DUANE L. DOYLE, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
DAVID MAISTROS, Attorney at Law, for Appellee.
