Basic Rights

The court wants you to be aware of your basic rights: 

1.    The law requires this court to bring you to trial within thirty days of the date charged.

2.    You are entitled to be informed of the nature of the charges filed against you; to read the affidavit or complaint filed against you, and if you do not understand the nature of the charges, have them explained to you.

3.    You have the right to know the identity of the complainant.

4.    You have the right to be represented by counsel.

5.    You have the right to a trial by jury in certain cases. In this event, your case will be transferred to the Warren County Municipal Court.

6.    You have the right to be informed of the extent of possible punishment if convicted.

You can enter any one of three pleas:

-A plea of no contest is not an admission of guilt, but is an admission of the truth of the facts stated in    the affidavit. It is then for the court to determine whether the admitted facts constitute the offense.

-A plea of not guilty should be entered if you dispute the facts stated in the affidavit or feel they do not constitute the offense. A trial date will then be set.

-If you plead guilty, you will be given an opportunity to tell the court anything you feel may mitigate or lesson the sentence.

If you do not respond or appear for your case in court, a bench warrant will be issued. As this is a Mayor’s Court, you have a right to appeal any decision of the court within 10 days of the final disposition in the court.  To appeal the case, it will be necessary to complete the notice of appeal form with the clerk. This will entitle you to a trial de novo (new trial) in the Warren County Municipal Court located in Lebanon, Ohio.