STATE OF OHIO, Plaintiff-Appellee, vs. DAVID E. BROWN, II, Defendant-Appellant.
Case No. 16CA3544
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ROSS COUNTY
Released: 04/28/17
[Cite as State v. Brown, 2017-Ohio-2647.]
McFarland, J.
APPEARANCES:
Chase B. Bunstine, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellant.
Matthew S. Schmidt, Ross County Prosecuting Attorney, and Pamela C. Wells, Ross County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellee.
McFarland, J.
{¶1} David E. Brown, II, appeals the judgment entry of sentence dated April 6, 2016 in the Ross County Court of Common Pleas, in which he entered guilty pleas to kidnapping,
FACTS
{¶2} On August 28, 2015, Appellant was indicted on two counts: Count One, kidnapping, a violation of
{¶3} Appellant was arraigned on September 2, 2015 and pleaded not guilty. A status conference was held on October 7, 2015, at which time the parties advised the trial court that the State was planning to again present the matter to the grand jury for the purpose of adding another repeat violent offender specification. On October 23, 2015, a second indictment was filed which set forth the same allegations as in the original indictment and contained the additional repeat violent offender specification as to Count Two.
{¶4} Appellant was arraigned a second time on October 28, 2015. On November 16, 2015, Appellant changed his plea pursuant to a plea agreement and negotiated recommended sentence. Appellant pleaded guilty to both counts and the State agreed to dismiss both specifications on the condition that Appellant would testify against his co-defendants in the case.1 The State further agreed to recommend an eight-year sentence on each count, to be served concurrently.
{¶5} At the change of plea hearing, Appellant‘s counsel stated: “There is some concern here, obviously about Mr. Brown testifying against Codefendants, for his safety and for his family‘s safety.” However, after further discussion of the parties, the trial court engaged in the required
{¶6} However, on December 2, 2015, Appellant pro se forwarded a handwritten “Motion to Withdraw Plea of Guilty.” On December 9, 2015, the trial court held a status conference. Appellant‘s counsel advised he
{¶7} On March 23, 2016, the trial court held a hearing on Appellant‘s motion to withdraw his guilty plea. When given the opportunity to address the court, Appellant began:
Appellant: Just that, you know, I mean, I was planning on going through with the deal but there‘s been threats made against my family and stuff and I just don‘t feel comfortable putting my children at risk, you know over, over something that involves me and has nothing to do with them. I would rather, you now, just take what I have to do and not have them under any kind of threat.
The Court: Okay, I mean, who is making the threats?
Appellant: Um, I mean, I really don‘t know. There‘s just been threats, there‘s been knocks at my house, there‘s been things done to vehicles, so -
The Court: Well what are the things that have been done? How are you relating those to your case?
Appellant: I mean because nothing was going on before I took the plea deal and my family is, you know, have had windows knocked out, have had car tires slashed. There‘s been things, um, you know, just threats made, people knocking on the door all hours of the night.
The Court: Alright, is there anything else that you wish for me to consider?
Appellant: No, that‘d be it, Your Honor.
{¶9} Appellant‘s sentencing occurred on March 31, 2016. When given the opportunity to speak, Appellant stated:
“* * * Just that you should know I‘m sorry about what happened. I done the best I could for that man, you know, without putting myself in the same position he was in and um, you know, I just feel that this guilty plea is not something that I should be held to because I believe that pressure was put on me by those other charges by the police department to get me to take a deal and I was talked to somebody and they told me that because I was under the influence of depression drugs and I was under the influence of street drugs when I took that deal that I should not be held to it and I just want that to go on record that I‘m not comfortable with this guilty plea that I had to take. I feel I was forced to take it by the prosecutor and the detectives from the Chillicothe police department and the sheriff‘s department putting that pressure on me, trying to trump up charges on me and they just tried to do it again, the same kind of charges.
* * *
I don‘t believe I did anything; I did not felonious assault that guy or did I kidnap him. I was there, and you know if I would of done anything like I did when the people was around I would have been down there with him.”
{¶10} The trial court imposed the previously negotiated and recommended sentence. This timely appeal followed. Where relevant, additional facts will be set forth below.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
“I. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT DENIED APPELLANT‘S MOTION TO WITHDRAW HIS GUILTY PLEA.”
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶11}
B. LEGAL ANALYSIS
{¶12} In our prior decisions, we have set forth a list of factors that we consider when determining whether a trial court abused its discretion by denying a presentence motion to withdraw a plea: ” ‘(1) whether the accused was represented by highly competent counsel; (2) whether the accused was given a full Crim.R. 11 hearing before entering the plea; (3) whether a full hearing was held on the withdrawal motion; and (4) whether the trial court gave full and fair consideration to the motion.’ ” Hoke, supra, at 13, quoting State v. Campbell, 4th Dist. Athens No. 08CA31, 2009-Ohio-4992, at ¶ 7,
{¶13} On appeal, Appellant argues his motion pursuant to
{¶14} In Cuthbertson, the defendant mailed the court a pre-sentence request to withdraw his plea to murder with a firearm specification. At the hearing conducted on the motion, Cuthbertson elaborated:
“Basically, I changed my mind because, first of all, I‘m innocent. Second, I thought about the entire situation with my attorney, with my mom and everybody that is involved in this case, and I felt that it was my life that was at stake and wanted to determine what would happen for the rest of my life. My mom encouraged me a lot to take this plea bargain. She really knows nothing about the law, and I guess I considered her life a lot and that made me decide and think about my son, and I guess I felt that also I wouldn‘t even get a fair trial. I discussed it with my attorney for 14 months. I never wanted to take a plea bargain, and I had no plans to take a plea bargain and come time for trial that‘s all I ever heard was plea bargain, plea bargain, and it was like the only thing for me to do. That‘s not what I wanted to do.
* * *
Basically because, I guess, first of all, I‘m human. I‘m entitled to make a mistake on my decisions. I think the prosecution should, or whoever is going to determine what is going to happen with this situation, needs to prove me guilty on the charges they charged me with. I don‘t want to spend the rest of my life in prison because of what somebody else did or I was with somebody that did something.”
{¶15} On cross-examination, Cuthbertson repeated that he was pressured to plead guilty. The appellate court noted the appropriate standard of review for pre-sentence motions and addressed the additional factors to be used in consideration of such motions, noting that no one factor was conclusive.3 However, the Seventh District Appellate Court disagreed with the trial court‘s conclusion that Cuthbertson‘s motion was based on a “change of mind.” The appellate court observed:
“First, there is no allegation that the state‘s case would be prejudiced upon withdrawal of the plea.
* * *
Admittedly, the required hearing on the motion to withdraw occurred, and appellant was able to attempt to explain his position. Nonetheless, the transcript leaves one with the impression that appellant‘s attorney was preoccupied with making a record to establish that he did not coerce the plea rather than attempt to assist appellant in a successful plea withdrawal. It is also worth noting that appellant took it upon himself to seek plea withdrawal by means of a letter to the court. The letter stated specific reasons for his desire to withdraw his plea, and these reasons were repeated at the hearing.
* * *
[T]he timing of the motion was surely reasonable. Lastly, appellant has set forth the possibility of a defense to the charge by maintaining his claims that he was not the perpetrator of the murder yet implying that he was present. In conclusion, when a defendant claims he is innocent and wishes to withdraw his plea of guilt prior to sentencing, a comparison of the interests and potential prejudice to the respective parties weigh heavily in the interests of the accused.
* * *
Absent any showing of some other real prejudice to the state which occurred solely as a result of entering into a plea bargain, as here, the potential harm to the state in vacating the plea is slight, whereas the potential harm to the defendant in refusing to vacate the plea is great. Accordingly, we hold that the failure of the lower court to allow appellant to withdraw his plea was unreasonable.”
{¶16} Here, we are not persuaded Cuthbertson is completely on point. Upon review of the relevant facts, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Appellant‘s pre-sentence motion to withdraw his plea. We have considered the applicable factors and we agree that Appellant‘s motion was made within a reasonable time. Appellant changed his plea on November 16, 2015 and his sentencing was expected to be in late January 2016. He requested to withdraw his plea, approximately 2 weeks after changing his plea, on December 2, 2015.
{¶17} We next observe that the record reflects Appellant was given a full
{¶18} We further find no indications in the record that Appellant was not represented by highly competent counsel. It is reasonable to assume that Appellant‘s counsel negotiated the very favorable plea agreement and recommended sentence on Appellant‘s behalf. During the change of plea hearing, Appellant acknowledged he was “very satisfied” with his counsel.4
{¶19} However, we cannot find that either Appellant‘s pro se request or the motion filed on his behalf set out specific reasons for the withdrawal. His stated reason at the motion hearing was the threats and fear for his family. At the motion hearing, Appellant did not voice any allegations that the police department, the prosecutor, and the detectives were pressuring
{¶20} We further find Appellant‘s request was given full and fair consideration. Although his handwritten request and the written motion did not set out specific reasons, both Appellant and his counsel were given time to explain his stated reason. Yet, at the hearing, the State presented evidence that Appellant had voiced concerns for his and his girlfriend‘s safety when initially interviewed, and long before his request to change his plea. Detective Rourke testified he interviewed Appellant twice, on the date when he was arrested, and that he had “voiced concerns for his safety and the safety of a girlfriend.” On cross-examination, Detective Rourke reiterated that Appellant did not identify a specific source who had threatened him and did not identify specific acts, as mentioned at the hearing. Further, Appellant did not mention his children or other immediate family had been threatened. The State urged that Appellant was well aware of possible ramifications of testifying against his codefendants. In overruling Appellant‘s motion, the trial court noted that Appellant was not able to identify specific persons making the threats or that the threats were, in fact,
{¶21} The Cuthbertson court relied heavily on the fact that there was no allegation that the State‘s case would be prejudiced upon withdrawal of the plea and further cited lack of prejudice to the State as one of the most important factors. However, the appellate court also questioned the effectiveness of Cuthbertson‘s counsel in arguing for grant of the motion, commenting that counsel seemed more preoccupied with “making a record” than attempting to assist Cuthbertson in a successful plea withdrawal.
{¶22} Importantly, we observe that Cuthbertson proclaimed first and foremost that he was innocent. And the appellate court commented that Cuthbertson had set forth the “possibility of a defense to the charge by maintaining his claims that he was not the perpetrator yet implying that he was present.” The Cuthbertson court noted the potential harm to Cuthbertson in refusing to vacate his plea was great. Id. at 900.
{¶23} By contrast, in the case at bar, at the motion hearing Appellant did not stoutly proclaim innocence. It was only after his motion was denied that Appellant acknowledged a lesser measure of involvement and culpability, stating: “I don‘t believe I did anything; I did not felonious assault that guy or did I kidnap him. I was there * * *.” In State v. Powers, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 03CA21, 2004-Ohio-2720,
{¶24} For the foregoing reasons, we find no merit to Appellant‘s argument and further find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling Appellant‘s pre-sentence motion to withdraw his plea. As such,
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
{¶ 25} I respectfully concur in judgment only with the majority opinion.
{¶ 26} I start with the premise that ” ‘a presentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea should be freely and liberally granted.’ ” State v. Ketterer, 126 Ohio St.3d 448, 2010-Ohio-3831, 935 N.E.2d 9, ¶ 57 quoting State v. Xie at 527. Brown‘s motion to withdraw his guilty plea was made prior to his sentencing. Brown filed the motion at issue in December 2015. At the motion hearing, Brown stated, “I was planning on going through with the deal but there‘s been threats made against my family and stuff and I just don‘t feel comfortable putting my children at risk, you know over, over something that involves me and has nothing to do with them.” March 23, 2016 Hrg., p. 3-4. He went on to explain that his family‘s home and personal property had been vandalized. He added that he did not know who was making the threats but “nothing was going on before [he] took the plea deal.” Id. at p. 4. After considering the factors in State v. Xie, the trial court denied Brown‘s motion.
{¶ 27} A few days later, at Brown‘s sentencing hearing, but prior to the actual sentencing of Brown, the trial court gave Brown the opportunity to address the court. Brown again indicated that he wanted to withdraw his
{¶ 28} I believe that the statements Brown made could be construed as a second motion to withdraw his plea. Brown once again indicated to the trial court that he wanted to withdraw his plea. Brown did not base his second request on the same reasons that he stated in his first motion to withdraw his plea; and there is no requirement in
{¶ 29} Therefore, pursuant to State v. Xie, I believe that the trial court should have conducted a hearing “to determine whether there [was] a reasonable and legitimate basis for the withdrawal of the plea” rather than proceeding immediately to sentencing. 62 Ohio St. 3d 521, 527, 584 N.E.2d 715 (1992). Of particular concern to me is the fact that Brown states that he was under the influence of drugs at the time that the guilty plea was entered. I am mindful, however, of the fact that Brown had originally stated that he was not under the influence of any drugs.
{¶ 30} That being said, Brown does not argue on appeal that the trial court erred in failing to hold a hearing on his second motion to withdraw his guilty plea. I refuse to make Brown‘s argument for him. His appeal presents the issue whether the trial court erred in denying his first motion to withdraw his guilty plea; and I do not believe that the trial court erred with respect to that decision. Therefore, I concur in judgment only with the majority opinion.
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and costs be assessed to Appellant.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Ross County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Harsha, J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion.
Hoover, J.: Concurs in Judgment Only with Concurring Opinion.
For the Court,
BY: ____________________________
Matthew W. McFarland, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.