State v. Stayton

Gorman, Judge.

Sylvia Stayton appeals from her conviction for obstructing official business in violation of R.C. 2921.31(A). Her conviction was the result of a much publicized incident in which she admittedly tried to prevent a police officer from issuing traffic citations to two parked automobiles by feeding the expired meters. The thrust of her argument on appeal is that, whether viewed as the act of a Good Samaritan or an officious intermeddler, her conduct did not rise to the level of obstructing official business. We disagree.

I. The State’s Case

At trial, the state relied principally upon…