State v. Sandlin

The issue certified in this case is “whether a conviction for violation of R.C. 4511.19 which ‘shall be considered a previous or subsequent conviction’ pursuant to R.C. 2953.31(A), precludes a defendant from satisfying the statutory definition of a ‘first offender’ contained in R.C. 2953.31(A) even if the conviction sought to be expunged resulted from or was connected with the R.C. 4511.19 violation.”1

A court may order all official records pertaining to a criminal conviction sealed (or expunged) if the offender is a “first offender” and meets certain other criteria not pertinent to this…