STATE OF OHIO v. ROGER AARON ADAMS
Appellate Case No. 09-CA-37
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
May 27, 2011
2011-Ohio-2562
HALL, J.
Trial Court Case No. 2007-CR-197; (Criminal Appeal from Common Pleas Court)
OPINION
Rendered on the 27th day of May, 2011.
NICK A. SELVAGGIO, by SCOTT SCHOCKLING, Atty. Reg. #0062949, 200 North Main Street, Courthouse, Urbana, Ohio 43078 Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
P.J. CONBOY II, Atty. Reg. #0070073, Staton, Fisher & Conboy LLP, 5613 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights, Ohio 45424 Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
HALL, J.
{¶ 1} This matter comes before the court upon Roger Adams’ appeal of the revocation of his community control sanctions and sentence for violations of his community control
{¶ 2} On March 14, 2008, Adams pled no contest to corruption of another with drugs and tampering with evidence, both third-degree felonies. Consequently, Adams was placed on community control sanctions for three years, and sentenced to three years of incarceration for each count, as well as a maximum of three years of discretionary post release control, if the community control sanctions were violated.
{¶ 3} On June 22, 2009, Adams violated his community control sanctions through engaging in drug use and threatening another with physical harm. At the August 6, 2009 hearing for violating his community control sanctions, Adams admitted he violated the terms of his supervision. Subsequently, the trial court imposed the original March 14, 2008 sentence of three years of incarceration for each count, both sentences having been ordered to be served concurrently. Additionally, the trial court imposed a maximum of three years of post release control, if the Adult Parole Authority deems post release control proper. Adams appealed.
{¶ 4} On March 16, 2010, Adams’ appellate counsel filed the brief of appellant without any assignments of error pursuant to Anders v. California (1967), 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493, asserting the absence of any potentially meritorious issues for our review. In the Anders filing, however, appellate counsel did identify what he characterized as “a potential issue relating to the length of the sentence.”
{¶ 5} We notified appellant that his counsel had filed an Anders brief and offered appellant ample time to file a pro se brief. None has been received.
{¶ 6} Pursuant to Anders, we are required to conduct a full examination of all
{¶ 7} In his Anders brief, appellate counsel recognized a potential issue regarding Adams’ sentencing. Appellate review of felony sentencing requires the appellate court to do two things: (1) review the sentence imposed and the trial court‘s compliance with the rules and statutes for sentencing to determine whether the sentence being reviewed is clearly and convincingly contrary to the law; and if not, (2) review the trial court‘s decision for an abuse of discretion. State v. Kalish, 120 Ohio St.3d 23, 2008-Ohio-4912. An abuse of discretion means the trial court‘s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. State v. Hancock, 108 Ohio St.3d 57, 2006-Ohio-160. Under Ohio sentencing law, the severity of a sentence imposed is in the sole discretion of the trial court and will not be set aside on appeal unless it is demonstrated from the record that the trial court unreasonably ignored the applicable sentencing statutes. State v. Williams (1982), 7 Ohio App.3d 160; State v. Steffen (1987), 31 Ohio St.3d 111.
{¶ 8} Pursuant to
{¶ 9} The transcript of the community control violation hearing indicates the trial court “considered the purposes and principles of sentencing, as well as Adams’ criminal history, previous supervision failure and his difficulties on supervision” in imposing its sentence. The record indicates that Adams violated his community control sanctions in many ways prior to this hearing, such as failing to tell his correctional officer of his current location, having contact with minor children, not attending counseling, as well as failing to complete a rehabilitation program. Adams, himself, admitted he had a drug problem and had relapsed. Although Adams’ counsel urged the court to place Adams in another rehabilitation program, instead of incarceration, the court declined to do so since it previously granted this request and Adams was unsuccessful in completing the program and continued to violate his community control sanctions.
{¶ 10}
{¶ 11} The record fails to portray any non-frivolous issues as to whether Adams’
FAIN and FROELICH, JJ., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Nick A. Selvaggio
Scott Schockling
Patrick Conboy II
Roger Aaron Adams
Hon. Roger B. Wilson
