[COURT HEADER – DO NOT DELETE]
IN THE [COURT NAME], [COUNTY] COUNTY, OHIO
State of Ohio, :
Plaintiff, : Case No. [_]
:
v. : Judge [_]
:
[DEFENDANT NAME], :
Defendant. :
DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE
AND REQUEST FOR ORAL HEARING
[// GUIDANCE: Insert court-approved caption formatting if your local rules require a specific layout (e.g., two-column caption, clerk stamp block, etc.).]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Preliminary Statement................................................. ¶1
2. Statement of Relevant Facts.......................................... ¶4
3. Legal Standard........................................................ ¶9
4. Argument.............................................................. ¶12
4.1 Warrantless Search—Per Se Unreasonable............................ ¶13
4.2 Warrant Defects (Probable Cause & Particularity).................. ¶17
4.3 Absence of Exigent Circumstances.................................. ¶22
4.4 Inapplicability of the Good-Faith Exception....................... ¶25
4.5 Fruit-of-the-Poisonous-Tree Doctrine.............................. ¶30
5. Request for Hearing & Evidentiary Relief.............................. ¶33
6. Conclusion & Prayer for Relief........................................ ¶35
7. Certificate of Service............................................... p. 12
[// GUIDANCE: Renumber automatically once drafting is finalized.]
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
¶1 NOW COMES the Defendant, [DEFENDANT FULL LEGAL NAME] (“Defendant”), by and through undersigned counsel, and respectfully moves this Honorable Court, pursuant to the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution, and Ohio R. Crim. P. 12(C)(3), to suppress all evidence obtained as a result of the unlawful search and seizure described below.
¶2 Defendant further moves the Court to exclude all derivative evidence and statements as fruits of the initial illegality and requests an evidentiary hearing to determine the admissibility of said evidence.
¶3 This Motion is supported by the following Memorandum of Law, any exhibits and affidavits filed contemporaneously herewith, and such additional evidence and authority as may be presented at the hearing on this matter.
STATEMENT OF RELEVANT FACTS
¶4 On [DATE], officers of the [LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCY] conducted [brief description: “a warrantless search of Defendant’s vehicle” OR “an entry into Defendant’s residence pursuant to Warrant No. []”].
¶5 [Insert concise, chronologically ordered facts establishing: (a) absence of warrant or defects in warrant; (b) lack of probable cause; (c) lack of exigent circumstances; (d) how evidence was obtained and preserved.]
¶6 The officers seized the following items: [ITEM 1], [ITEM 2], [ITEM 3], collectively referred to herein as the “Challenged Evidence.”
¶7 [If statements are at issue] During the course of the unlawful detention, officers interrogated Defendant and obtained incriminating statements without the benefit of Miranda warnings.
¶8 The complete body-worn camera videos, dispatch logs, and affidavit(s) supporting Warrant No. [] are incorporated herein by reference and attached as Exhibits A–C.
LEGAL STANDARD
¶9 Evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment or Article I, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution must be suppressed. See Ohio R. Crim. P. 12(C)(3).
¶10 The prosecution bears the burden of proving the legality of a warrantless search or, in the case of a warrant, the existence of probable cause and particularity.
¶11 Where the State cannot meet this burden, suppression and exclusion of derivative evidence are mandatory.
ARGUMENT
4.1 Warrantless Search—Per Se Unreasonable (¶13–16)
¶13 A warrantless search is presumptively unreasonable. U.S. Const. amend. IV; Ohio Const. art. I, § 14.
¶14 No recognized exception—consent, exigent circumstances, search incident to lawful arrest, inventory, or automobile exception—was present here.
¶15 [Detail why each potential exception is factually inapplicable.]
¶16 Because the State cannot overcome the presumption of unreasonableness, the Challenged Evidence must be suppressed.
4.2 Warrant Defects (Probable Cause & Particularity) (¶17–21)
¶17 Should the State rely on Warrant No. [___], Defendant asserts that the supporting affidavit lacks particularized facts linking the alleged criminal activity to the place to be searched and items to be seized.
¶18 The affidavit relies on [boilerplate language/conclusory statements], which are insufficient to establish probable cause.
¶19 The warrant further fails to describe with sufficient particularity [the place or items].
¶20 The magistrate therefore lacked a substantial basis for finding probable cause.
¶21 Any evidence seized pursuant to an invalid warrant must be suppressed.
4.3 Absence of Exigent Circumstances (¶22–24)
¶22 The State may claim exigent circumstances; however, mere convenience, generalized safety concerns, or the potential dissipation of evidence without concrete facts cannot justify a warrantless entry.
¶23 Officers had ample time and opportunity to secure a warrant but failed to do so.
¶24 Without true exigency, the search violates constitutional protections and necessitates suppression.
4.4 Inapplicability of the Good-Faith Exception (¶25–29)
¶25 The good-faith exception does not apply where:
a. The warrant is so lacking in probable cause or particularity that reliance is objectively unreasonable; or
b. Officers were reckless or dishonest in preparing the affidavit; or
c. The magistrate wholly abandoned the detached and neutral role.
¶26 Each of these disqualifying factors is present here as set forth in ¶17–21.
¶27 Alternatively, if officers relied on non-existent or revoked consent, such reliance is not objectively reasonable.
¶28 As the State cannot meet its burden of establishing objective good faith, suppression is required.
¶29 Excluding the evidence furthers the deterrent purpose of the exclusionary rule.
4.5 Fruit-of-the-Poisonous-Tree Doctrine (¶30–32)
¶30 Evidence obtained directly or indirectly from an unconstitutional search or seizure is inadmissible.
¶31 This extends to physical evidence, testimonial statements, and any investigative leads derived from the illegality.
¶32 Accordingly, all physical items listed in ¶6, any subsequent laboratory analyses, and Defendant’s statements on [DATE] must be suppressed.
REQUEST FOR HEARING & EVIDENTIARY RELIEF
¶33 Defendant respectfully requests that the Court schedule an evidentiary hearing pursuant to Ohio R. Crim. P. 12(D) to allow examination of witnesses, including the affiant-officer(s), and to resolve factual disputes regarding the legality of the search, seizure, and any asserted exceptions.
CONCLUSION & PRAYER FOR RELIEF
¶34 WHEREFORE, Defendant prays that this Court:
1. Conduct an evidentiary hearing;
2. Suppress the Challenged Evidence identified herein;
3. Exclude all derivative evidence and statements; and
4. Grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
Respectfully submitted,
[ATTORNEY NAME] (Bar No. [____])
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[Address]
[City, State Zip]
[Phone] | [Email]
Counsel for Defendant
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Motion to Suppress Evidence was served upon [Prosecutor’s Name], Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, [County] County Prosecutor’s Office, via [E-SERVICE/FAX/HAND DELIVERY/U.S. MAIL] on this ___ day of [MONTH], 20__.
[ATTORNEY NAME]
EXHIBIT LIST (Placeholders)
• Exhibit A – Affidavit & Warrant No. [___]
• Exhibit B – Body-Worn Camera Footage (DVD/USB)
• Exhibit C – Dispatch/Radio Logs
[// GUIDANCE: Ensure all exhibits are properly labeled and that the filing conforms to local e-filing specifications (e.g., PDF format, audio/video submission procedures).]
PROPOSED ORDER (separate page)
IN THE [COURT NAME], [COUNTY] COUNTY, OHIO
State of Ohio, : Case No. [____]
Plaintiff, :
: ORDER
v. :
:
[DEFENDANT NAME], :
Defendant. :
Upon consideration of Defendant’s Motion to Suppress Evidence, the memoranda of the parties, and the evidence and testimony presented, the Court finds that the search and seizure at issue violated Defendant’s rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution. Accordingly, the Motion is GRANTED.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. The physical evidence seized on [DATE] as itemized in the Motion is suppressed;
2. All derivative evidence, including laboratory analyses and Defendant’s statements obtained subsequent to the unlawful search, are suppressed;
3. The State shall refrain from any direct or indirect use of the suppressed evidence at trial.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: __ 20 ____
JUDGE [_]
[// GUIDANCE: Local practice may require the proposed order to be uploaded as a standalone document rather than appended to the motion.]
PRACTICAL CHECKLIST
☐ Verify caption complies with local rule 2.1(A).
☐ File motion within deadlines of Ohio R. Crim. P. 12(D).
☐ Serve prosecutor via approved service method.
☐ Attach sworn affidavit(s) if alleging factual matters outside the record.
☐ Calendar the hearing date once issued by the clerk.
☐ Prepare cross-examination outlines for affiant-officer(s).
[// GUIDANCE: Date and service compliance are common grounds for denial—double-check filing cut-off dates.]