STATE OF OHIO v. JOBANJEET BHAMBRA
No. 105283
Court of Appeals of Ohio, EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT, COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
November 9, 2017
2017-Ohio-8485
Civil Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Case No. CR-15-601758-A
Michael J. Cheselka
75 Public Square, Ste. 920
Cleveland, OH 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael C. O‘Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: Kristin M. Karkutt
Assistant County Prosecutor
Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Jobanjeet Bhambra appeals from an order of the trial court denying his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the trial court.
{¶2} On December 30, 2015, Bhambra was indicted along with a codefendant on a multiple-count indictment as follows: Count 1 — rape in violation of
{¶3} Thereafter, Bhambra agreed to accept a plea offer from the state that included an amended charge. On August 3, 2016, the court held a plea hearing, during which the state moved to amend Count 4, attempted rape, to the charge of attempted felonious assault. Bhambra then pleaded guilty to amended Count 4 and Count 5, gross sexual imposition, as indicted, and the state agreed to dismiss the remaining counts of the indictment. On October 14, 2016, the court sentenced Bhambra to three years imprisonment on Count 4 and 18 months on Count 5, to be served concurrently.
{¶5} On December 21, 2016, Bhambra appealed, attaching the trial court‘s order of November 2016. On appeal, however, Bhambra contends in his sole assignment of error that the trial court abused its discretion by permitting the state to amend the indictment from attempted rape to attempted felonious assault at the plea hearing. He argues that the amendment resulted in a change in the identity of the offense charged in the indictment and was therefore improper. Bhambra‘s appeal does not relate to his motion to withdraw his guilty plea or the trial court‘s denial of his motion to withdraw.
{¶6} We note, initially, that a knowing and intelligent guilty plea to an amended indictment waives any alleged error within that indictment on appeal. State v. Johnson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103408, 2016-Ohio-2840, ¶ 21, citing State v. Simmons, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 69238, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 696 (Feb. 27, 1997). Distinguishing between cases where an indictment is amended pursuant to a plea agreement from cases where an indictment is amended and the case proceeds to trial, this court has stated that where the amendment was made pursuant to a plea bargain in open court with the defendant‘s voluntary agreement, after full disclosure, an indictment may be amended without returning to the grand jury. Simmons at 6-7, citing State v. Childress, 91 Ohio App.3d 258, 261, 632 N.E.2d 562 (3d Dist.1993). “Since a counseled guilty plea * * *
{¶7} Here, Bhambra does not argue on appeal that his plea was not entered knowingly and voluntarily. And we find the record, in fact, demonstrates that Bhambra knowingly and voluntarily agreed to the amended indictment to which he entered a guilty plea pursuant to the plea agreement.
{¶8} Prior to the defendant‘s plea, the state advised the court that Bhambra agreed to plead to an amended Count 4, and at this time, the state moved to amend Count 4, attempted rape, to reflect a charge of attempted felonious assault. The state also advised the court that in exchange for the defendant‘s guilty plea to the amended Count 4 as well as Count 5, as indicted, the state would move to dismiss the remaining counts of the indictment. Finally, the state provided that no threats or promises were made to induce the plea.
{¶9} Thereafter, the following
Court: Mr. Bhambra, do you understand that plea arrangement?
Defendant: Yes, I do.
Court: * * * So do you understand, Mr. Bhambra, that you have a right to a grand jury indictment on any charge?
Defendant: Yes, I do.
Court: But if you like this new charge of attempted felonious assault better than the one they charged you with originally, you‘re welcome to waive a grand jury indictment and let them substitute this new crime. Understood?
Defendant: Yes.
Court: But it does mean that you would have to waive any complaint about it. In other words, waive any defect in how you were given notice and served with a new charge called attempted felonious assault. Understood?
Defendant: Yes.
{¶10} The trial court further explained the charges, including the amended count, and the possible sentences for the charges. The court also advised Bhambra of his constitutional rights, to which Bhambra indicated that he understood. When asked if he had any questions, Bhambra stated that he did not, and he pleaded guilty to Count 4, as amended, and Count 5, as indicted. Bhambra further stated that he was not threatened or promised anything in exchange for his plea other than the dismissal of the remaining charges on the indictment. The court then accepted Bhambra‘s guilty plea, finding the plea was intelligent, voluntary, and knowing, and it found him guilty of the two charges.
{¶11} Based upon the above, we find Bhambra‘s guilty plea was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered, and Bhambra knowingly and voluntarily assented, after full disclosure, to the amended indictment pursuant to his plea agreement. Bhambra has therefore waived his right to question the validity of his indictment on appeal.
{¶13} Here, Bhambra argues in his sole assignment of error that the trial court erred in permitting an amendment to his indictment. However, Bhambra only appealed the trial court‘s denial of his motion to withdraw his guilty plea, attaching the trial court‘s order of November 2016 denying his motion. The assignment of error is therefore unrelated to the only order that was timely appealed. Because Bhambra is attempting to bootstrap a claim that is now time-barred, we are without jurisdiction to consider it. State v. Cottrell, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95053, 2010-Ohio-5254, ¶ 20; see
{¶14} Bhambra‘s sole assignment of error is overruled.
{¶15} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant costs herein taxed.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant‘s conviction having been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
TIM McCORMACK, PRESIDING JUDGE
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J., and ANITA LASTER MAYS, J., CONCUR