Have you ever been criminally charged without probable cause to charge you?
You may be due justice in the form of financial compensation.
MANSFIELD, OH — Legal scrutiny is intensifying around the use of warrantless arrests and criminal charges filed without sufficient evidence in Mansfield Municipal Court, as local and state laws emphasize strict adherence to probable cause requirements. Legal professionals are highlighting potential constitutional violations when individuals are arrested or prosecuted without the necessary legal basis.
Legal Foundation for Warrantless Arrests
Under Ohio Revised Code § 2935.03, police officers in Ohio, including those operating within the City of Mansfield, are permitted to arrest individuals without a warrant if the offense is committed in the officer’s presence or under certain statutory exceptions. Despite this allowance, officers must still have probable cause—a reasonable basis to believe that a crime has occurred and the individual arrested committed it.
This requirement is reinforced by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and clarified by the U.S. Supreme Court in Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89 (1964), where the Court ruled:
“Whether an arrest is made with or without a warrant, the constitutional requirement of probable cause remains the same.”
🔗 Read the full opinion in Beck v. Ohio
Mansfield Municipal Court’s Role
The Mansfield Municipal Court, which oversees misdemeanor cases and conducts preliminary hearings in felony matters, plays a critical gatekeeping role in reviewing arrests and filings. Following an arrest without a warrant, the court is responsible for determining whether probable cause existed and whether the case may proceed.
Prosecutorial Obligations and Ethical Standards
In the City of Mansfield, misdemeanor prosecutions are managed by the Mansfield Law Director’s Office. Prosecutors must ensure that all charges filed with the court meet the minimum standard of probable cause. If charges are initiated without this standard, they are subject to legal challenge and may be dismissed.
In addition, prosecutors are governed by the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, specifically Rule 3.8(a), which states:
“A prosecutor in a criminal case shall refrain from prosecuting a charge that the prosecutor knows is not supported by probable cause.”
🔗 Read the full Professional Conduct Rules
Violations of this rule may lead to sanctions imposed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, up to and including suspension or disbarment by the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Civil Liability for Malicious Prosecution
Individuals who have been charged or arrested without probable cause may have civil remedies available. In Trussell v. General Motors Corp., 53 Ohio St.3d 142 (1990), the Ohio Supreme Court held that plaintiffs in a malicious prosecution case must show:
- The prosecution ended in their favor,
- It was initiated without probable cause,
- The action was motivated by malice.
🔗 Read the full opinion in Trussell v. General Motors
Legal Resources and Next Steps
Anyone in Mansfield who believes they have been subject to a warrantless arrest without probable cause or charged unlawfully is advised to contact a defense attorney.
This article is the first in a series of articles to be published. Follow us on Facebook.
