Our Spring Training seminar will focus on a variety of topics including drone use; cyber crime trends and prevention; open dumping; OPAA legislative update; victim’s advocate ethical considerations; as well as a half day dedicated to domestic violence topics including voir dire, initial response, victim contact, evidence collection, case investigation, report writing, trial testimony, and battered women’s syndrome. We hope to see you there!

Thursday, April 23rd

8:00 - 9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 - 10:30 A Prosecutor’s Guide to Investigating Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) and Addressing Drone Complaints
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)/Drones involves new and fast evolving technology that the general public is embracing. Law enforcement is getting calls regarding how to handle complaints on the sUAS's and their operators. The Courts are trying to figure out how to address these complaints. There are two types of operators that law enforcement and the Courts will be dealing with: commercial operators & hobbyists. This presentation will cover how to handle a complaint, differences between hobbyist and commercial Operator, Part 91.13 Federal Aviation regulations (FAR) Careless or Reckless Operation and 14 CFR 107.23(a) Hazardous Operation, "No Drone Zones", what ORC sections may apply for charges, how to recognize what might be evidence on the sUAS and where to locate the evidence, aircraft right-of-way, when and how to get the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) involved.
James (Doug) Daniels
Senior Law Enforcement Training Officer / Part 107 Remote Pilot
Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy
Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost

10:30 - 10:45 Break

10:45 - 11:45 Cyber Security Doesn’t Cost a King’s Ransom
Last year cyber attacks affected at least 2 county prosecutor’s offices in the State of Ohio, causing data loss, significant down time, and general havoc. This presentation will cover best practices for you and your staff to react to, or ideally prevent, cyber attacks on the county network by utilizing tools typically already available on your systems at no cost, or from outside vendors at little cost. We will talk about issues that can arise, dealing with active situations, and how the National Guard can be involved should your office or county be hit with a cyber attack.
Richard W. Kerwood, CW4
Chief Warrant Officer, US Army National Guard

11:45 - 12:45 Lunch

12:45 - 1:45 Prosecution of Domestic Violence
This session will address evidence needed to effectively prosecute domestic violence cases. Prosecutors will learn how to prove essential elements of domestic violence using the evidence based approach. Prosecutors will learn how to use experts in Battered women’s syndrome to educate the jury on counterintuitive victim behavior. Thomas J. Kroll, Assistant Prosecutor and
Angela Alexander, Assistant Prosecutor
Both Summit County

1:45 - 2:00 Break

2:00 - 3:00 How to Interview and Prepare Domestic Violence Victims
Prosecutors will learn why location of the victim interview is important and how to use the trauma informed approach to the interview. The victim advocate can assist prosecutors in the interview and why it is important to utilize them.
Angela Alexander, Assistant Prosecutor
Summit County

3:00 - 4:00 Protection Order Enforcement
Prosecutors will learn how to effectively prosecute violations of both temporary and civil protection orders and why this is important.
Thomas Kroll, Assistant Prosecutor and
Angela Alexander, Assistant Prosecutor,
Both with Summit County

4:00 - 5:00 Domestic Violence Case Law Update
Prosecutors will be provided with a case law update on topics relevant to domestic violence prosecution. Specifically, forfeiture by wrongdoing, excited utterance, present sense impression and hostile witness testimony
Thomas Kroll, Assistant Prosecutor and
Angela Alexander, Assistant Prosecutor,
Both with Summit County

Friday, April 24th

8:00 - 9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 - 10:00 OPAA Legislative Update
The 133rd General Assembly has been, let’s say, interesting. It is only a little more than half over and the two most active periods are yet to come - the spring calendar that just started and lame duck starting after the general election. This presentation will discuss the environment on capitol square, and will include updates on recently enacted pieces of legislation and priority criminal justice legislation pending in the 133rd G.A.
Louis Tobin, Executive Director
Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association

10:00 - 10:15 Break

10:15 - 11:45 A Prosecutor’s Guide to Open Dumping and Illegal Disposal
Open dumping and illegal disposal of solid waste, scrap tires, and construction and demolition debris is a major problem in Ohio’s communities. This activity raises significant concerns regarding public health and safety, the environment, property values, and quality of life. Protecting Ohio’s children and families from such nuisances is something we can all step up to address. Your presenters represent a collaborative effort among sister-Agencies that seek to enlist your assistance in this effort.
Sally Montell, Supervising Attorney, Criminal Prosecution Unit
Environmental Enforcement Section
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and
Heather Robinson, Director, Environmental Unit
Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office

11:45 - 12:45 Lunch

12:45 - 1:45 Victim’s Advocates Ethical Considerations
Unethical or questionable behavior puts prosecutors, their offices and funding at risk. This presentation will look at advocate ethics and how to spot unethical behavior from advocates and develop an “Advocate Ethics” policy so attendees can be more proactive in protecting victims.
Liz Poprocki, MA, RAAS, CA
Executive Director, Ohio Victim Witness Association

We have requested approval of 10.0 general hours of CLE from the
Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education.

The registration fees for OPAA members are $250.00 for both days, and $150.00 for one day only. Registration fees for non-members are $500.00 and $300.00. These fees cover all materials, continental breakfasts, breaks, and lunches on both days. To help defray the cost of food guarantees, cancellations after Friday, April 17th will be assessed a $100.00 penalty if scheduled to attend both days, and a $60.00 penalty if scheduled for one day only. Please send registrations to OPAA by April 15th.

The room rate at the Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square is $149.00 for single or double occupancy. Room reservations may be made by phone at 800-325-3535, or online at: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1573498997429&key=GRP&app=resvlink. If you choose the online option, be aware that you can only book three (3) rooms at a time. WHICHEVER METHOD YOU USE, PLEASE MAKE MULTIPLE RESERVATIONS USING INDIVIDUAL NAMES, AND GET INDIVIDUAL CONFIRMATION NUMBERS, RATHER THAN MAKING ALL RESERVATIONS IN THE SAME NAME AND SAME CONFIRMATION NUMBER. Some counties have had disastrous results when canceling a reservation that was made under a single name and a single confirmation number for multiple persons. Be sure to tell the Sheraton you are with OPAA to obtain our rate. To avoid paying tax, accommodations must be paid for with either an office check or office credit card. Personal payment, even though it will be reimbursed by the office, is not tax exempt by state law. Also, provide the Sheraton with a tax exemption form. The cut off date for our block of rooms is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27th. To avoid being charged a penalty in the event that a room reservation must be cancelled, the Sheraton requires that the cancellation be made 48 hours prior to the day of arrival. (If you are checking in on Wednesday, April 22, that would be 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April 20th.) Hotel check-in time is 3:00 p.m., and check-out time is 12:00 noon. Early check in and late check out are based on availability.

Our contract with the Sheraton anticipates that attendees will pay the above rate of $149.00 for sleeping rooms. Attendees SHOULD NOT request the government rate as it violates the spirit, if not the letter, of our agreement.

OPAA is now providing all course materials in electronic format. Approximately 48 hours prior to the course date, seminar registrants will receive an email that will include a link to a PDF of the course materials. Since reliable wi-fi access at meeting facilities can’t be guaranteed, we suggest registrants download the materials to their devices or print the material for use during the seminar.