State v. Jackson
2022 Ohio 807
| Ohio Ct. App. | 2022Background
- Stefhan Jackson pleaded guilty in six felony cases (aggravated robbery, felonious assault, aggravated burglary, burglary, and multiple firearm specifications) as part of a plea bargain.
- Trial court imposed an aggregate prison term of 20 to 23 years on September 21, 2020.
- One case (Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-20-650761) was sentenced under the Reagan Tokes Law: a three-year firearm specification to be served prior to a 6–9 year indefinite term for burglary, ordered consecutively.
- The court ordered restitution to victims in five matters (amounts: $167; $500; $270; $300; $2,000); the prosecutor presented victim requests and a sentencing memorandum; a presentence investigation report existed.
- Defense counsel did not object to the restitution amounts at sentencing and told the court he had “no information to the contrary.”
- Jackson appealed, raising (1) Reagan Tokes’ constitutionality (separation of powers and due process) and (2) insufficiency of proof for restitution.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument (State) | Defendant's Argument (Jackson) | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutionality of Reagan Tokes indefinite sentence | Reagan Tokes valid; sentence properly imposed in CR-20-650761 | Law violates separation of powers and due process | Affirmed; this court’s en banc decision in Delvallie rejects Jackson’s challenges; sentence upheld |
| Sufficiency of proof for restitution | Restitution properly based on victim requests, PSR, and prosecutor’s memorandum; no objection at sentencing | Amounts were estimates and unsupported; should be vacated | Affirmed; no plain error or abuse of discretion—victim requests/PSR and lack of objection support restitution |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Marbury, 104 Ohio App.3d 179 (8th Dist. 1995) (abuse-of-discretion standard for restitution review)
- Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217 (1983) (definition of "abuse of discretion")
