State v. Jones

{¶ 1} In this case, we are asked to clarify the trial judge’s duties under Crim.R. 11 when accepting a plea in a misdemeanor case involving a petty offense. The Seventh District Court of Appeals certified a conflict, which we accepted along with the state’s discretionary appeal. We reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and remand for consideration of the second assignment of error.

I. Case Background

{¶ 2} Appellee, Joseph Jones Sr., was charged with three counts of domestic violence for allegedly hitting his fiancee’s children with a bug zapper. Two days before trial, Jones filed a…