State v. CastonState v. Caston
DECISION AND JUDGMENT
* * * * *
Kеvin J. Baxter, Erie County Prosecuting Attorney, and Mary Ann Barylski, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
Ron Nisch, for appellant.
* * * * *
COSME, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Shawn W. Caston, appeals from the Erie County Common Pleas Court‘s imposition of sentences for both aggravated vehicular assault and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drug of abuse.
{¶2} We hold that aggravated vehicular assault under
I. BACKGROUND
{¶3} On September 23, 2008, Sandusky Police Officer Brad Pfanner was on Cleveland Road in Sandusky, Ohio, when he heard a crash and turned to see appellant‘s vehicle swerving across the road at a high rate of speed. As the vehicle passed Officer Pfanner, he could see that it was damaged; the front bumper was peeled back. Officer Pfanner gave chase, but the vehicle did not pull over when Officer Pfanner caught up to it. Instead, the vehicle stopped at a gas station where the driver fled on foot. The driver was apprehended and identified as appellant.
{¶4} Further investigation revealed that an accident involving a motorcycle had occurred on Cleveland Road in the area where Officer Pfanner heard the crash. The front license plate of appellant‘s vehicle was at the scene of the accident. The operator of the motorcycle was life-flighted to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo.
{¶5} Appellant submitted to field sobriety tests at the Sandusky police station. He did poorly on the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, could not perform the one leg stand, or the walk and turn tests. Appellant also submitted to a breathalyzer test, which indicated his blood alcohol content was .185 percent.
{¶6} The first indictmеnt filed October 10, 2009, contained three counts: aggravated vehicular assault (
{¶7} In exchange for a plea on the remaining counts of the indictment, the state agreed to dismiss Count 3 (tampering with evidence). Appellant pled guilty to Count 1 (aggravated vehicular assault); Count 2 (failure to stop after accident); Count 4 (OVI); and Count 5 (OVI). At the plea change hearing, the state argued that Counts 4 and 5 were committed with a separate animus, allowing that Count 4 should merge with Count 1. The trial court, however, merged Counts 4 and 5 for sentencing. The trial court sentenced appellant to a prison term of five years on Count 1; eleven months on Count 2; and six months on Count 4. The trial court ordered that Counts 1 and 2 be served consecutively to each other but served concurrently with Count 4 for a total of five years, eleven months.
{¶8} Appellant appeals, raising two assignments of error.
II. ALLIED OFFENSES/SEPARATE ANIMUS
{¶9} In his first assignment of error, appellant maintains that:
{¶10} “The trial court‘s decision not to merge the sentences of appellant for two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol with the appellant‘s sentence for aggravated vehicular assault was reversible error.”
{¶12} We agree that Counts 1 and 4 are allied offenses of similar import. However, as to the merger of Counts 4 and 5, we conclude that the trial court had a duty to determine whethеr these two OVI offenses were committed with a separate animus.
{¶13} The state maintained during both the plea change hearing and the sentencing hearing that Counts 4 and 5 were committed with a separate animus. But because no facts exist in the record from which it can be determined whether the two OVI offenses were committed separately or with a separate animus, we must remand this matter to the trial court for further hearing. See State v. Hartwell (Dec. 13, 1989), 2d Dist. No. 11422.
{¶14} Here, where appellant pled guilty to multiple offenses of similar import and the trial court accepted the pleas, the court “has a duty to conduct a hearing and make a determination” as to whether the crimes were committed separately or with a separate animus for each offense prior to entering a judgment sentencing the appellant. State v. Mangrum (1993), 86 Ohio App.3d 156, 158. See State v. Thrower (1989), 62 Ohio App.3d 359, 376; State v. Dunihue (1984), 20 Ohio App.3d 210, 211; State v. Kent (1980), 68 Ohio App.2d 151, 154-156. The trial court may either conduct an evidentiary hearing or accept a stipulated statement of facts and from such facts determine whether or not the OVI offenses of which appellant was convicted were part of the same transaction or act. See State v. Yee (Nov. 18, 1994), 6th Dist. No. E-93-72. See, also, State v. Wills (1994), 69 Ohio St.3d 690, 691.
{¶15} We do not decide in this cаse whether Counts 4 and 5 were committed separately or with a separate animus. The police report suggests that appellant‘s collision with the motorcycle and act of driving away constituted a single course of conduct “bound together by time, space, and purpose.” State v. Hamilton, 8th Dist. No. 91896, 2009-Ohio-3595, ¶ 41. Further, it suggests that appellant‘s conduct was “directed toward a single objective.‘” Wills, supra, quoting State v. Caldwell (Dec. 4, 1991), 9th Dist. No. 14720.
{¶16} However, it was never determined whether the crash was an intervening event sufficient to conclude that appellant made a decision to leave the victim and drive away. See State v. Newberry, 6th Dist. No. H-01-020, 2002-Ohio-3972, ¶ 23. Each OVI case must be decided on its particular facts.
{¶17} Although we remand Counts 4 and 5 for consideration of whether the OVI offenses were committed with a separate animus, we proceed to consider whether Counts 1 and 4 are allied offenses of similar import.
A. Double Jeopardy Clause
{¶19} This case involves the double jeopardy prohibition against multiple punishments for the same offense. We are mindful of both the Supreme Court of Ohio and the United States Supreme Court‘s decisions that the Double Jeopardy Clause only prevents courts from imposing sentences greater than those intended by the legislature, thus does not prevent all multiple punishments arising out of the same offense. State v. Rance (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 632, 635. See Missouri v. Hunter (1983), 459 U.S. 359, 366, 103 S.Ct. 673, 74 L.Ed.2d 535, and State v. Moss (1982), 69 Ohio St.2d 515, 518. See, also, State v. Williams, 124 Ohio St.3d 381, 2010-Ohio-147, ¶ 12.
{¶20} The test for determining a violation of the double jeopardy prohibition is “whether each offense requires proof of an element that the other does not.” Rance, 85 Ohio St.3d at 634-635, citing Blockburger v. United States (1932), 284 U.S. 299, 304, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306. In Rance, the Supreme Court of Ohio found that
{¶21} Ohio‘s multiple-count statute,
{¶22} “(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute two or more allied offenses оf similar import, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of only one.
{¶23} “(B) Where the defendant‘s conduct constitutes two or more offenses of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.”
{¶24} A two-step analysis is required to determine whether two crimes are allied offenses of similar import. See, e.g., State v. Blankenship (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 116, 117; State v. Rance (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 632, 636. The first step requires a comparison of the elements of the two offenses. “If the elements of the offenses correspond to such a dеgree that the commission of one crime will result in the commission of the other, the crimes are allied offenses of similar import and the court must then proceed to the second step. In the second step, the defendant‘s conduct is reviewed to determine whether the defendant can be convicted of both offenses. If the court finds either that the crimes were committed separately or that there was a separate animus for each crime, the defendant may be convicted of both offenses.” Blankenship, 38 Ohio St.3d at 117.
C. Allied Offenses of Similar Import
{¶26} Count 1, aggravated vehicular assault,
{¶27} “(A) No person, while operating or particiрating in the operation of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, locomotive, water craft, or aircraft, shall cause serious physical harm to another person or another‘s unborn in any of the following ways:
{¶28} “(1)(a) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinаnce.”
{¶29} Count 4, operation while under the influence,
{¶30} “(A)(1) No person shall operate any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley within this state, if, at the time of the operation, any of the following apply:
{¶31} “(a) The person is under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them.”
{¶32} To be guilty of aggravated vehicular assault under
{¶33} Appellant maintains that the two offenses are offenses of similar import because, he asserts, when OVI is the predicate offense underlying a charge of aggravated vehicular аssault pursuant to
{¶34} The state contends upon appeal that the offenses cannot be allied because an individual can operate a motor vehicle whilе under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of both, without causing anyone serious physical harm. As such, the state argues that the offense of aggravated assault requires proof of an element (serious physical harm) that is not found in the OVI offense.
{¶35} Because a violation of
{¶36} In State v. Zima, 102 Ohio St.3d 61, 2004-Ohio-1807, the Supreme Court of Ohio specifically considered the elements of the statutory provisions now before us, as well as the alternative element of vehicular assault based on recklеss operation. See
{¶37} Considering whether the accused was being prosecuted for the same offense, the court in Zima relied upon its prior holding in State v. Best (1975), 42 Ohio St.2d 530, in which it applied the “same elements” test articulated in Blockburger v. United States (1932), 284 U.S. 299, 304, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306, holding that “the test to be applied to determine whether there are two offenses or only one is whether each provision requires proof of a fact which the other does not.” Zima at ¶ 19, quoting Best at paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶38} The Zima court observed, however, that “the offense of driving under the influence is one of two alternative elements of aggravated vehicular assault, the other
(1) Analysis of Ohio Caselaw
{¶39} The Ohio Supreme Court‘s decision regarding the successive prosecutions in Zima is consistent with its earlier decision in State v. Rance (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 632, and its later decisions in State v. Cabrales, 118 Ohio St.3d 54, 2008-Ohio-1625, State v. Brown, 119 Ohio St.3d 447, 2008-Ohio-4569, State v. Winn, 121 Ohio St.3d 413, 2009-Ohio-1059, State v. Harris, 122 Ohio St.3d 373, 2009-Ohio-3323, and State v. Williams, 124 Ohio St.3d 381, 2010-Ohio-147. These decisions have successively рrovided guidance to Ohio courts in determining how the statutes apply to the nuances of individual cases involving a determination of whether certain crimes are allied offenses of similar import.
{¶40} In State v. Rance (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 632, 635, the court emphasized the importance of legislative intent, holding that “when a legislature signals its intent to either prohibit or permit cumulative punishments for conduct that may qualify as twо crimes, application of Blockburger would be improper; the legislature‘s expressed intent is dispositive.” See Ohio v. Johnson (1984), 467 U.S. 493, 499, 104 S.Ct. 2536, 81 L.Ed.2d 425. The Rance court determined that the General Assembly clearly intended to allow multiple sentences for certain offenses as permitted in Ohio‘s multiple-count
{¶41} Rance also held that any finding of allied offenses of similar import under
{¶42} Comparing the elements in the abstract, the court in Rance concluded that involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery are not allied offenses of similar import since “the commission of one will not automatically result in thе commission of another.” Rance, 85 Ohio St.3d at 639. The court found that because each of the offenses charged requires proof of an element that the other does not, they are not allied offenses of similar import.
{¶43} A decade later, in State v. Cabrales, 118 Ohio St.3d 54, 2008-Ohio-1625, ¶ 21, the Supreme Court of Ohio rejected a narrow interpretation of Rance that favored a strict textual comparison of the compared offenses under
{¶44} In its most recent decision in State v. Williams, 124 Ohio St.3d 381, 2010-Ohio-147, ¶ 23, the Supreme Court of Ohio concluded that “Since felonious assault is an offense of violence,
{¶45} Relying on its holding in Cabrales, the court in Williams concluded that the commission оf one crime will necessarily result in the commission of another.
{¶46} Appellant cites the decisions of several appeals courts to support his argument. Consistent with the ruling in Zima, Ohio appellate courts in State v. Duncan, 5th Dist. No. 2009CA028, 2009-Ohio-5668, ¶ 62, State v. West, 2d Dist. No. 23547, 2010-Ohio-1786, ¶ 43, and State v. Phelps, 12th Dist. No. CA2009-09-243, 2010-Ohio-3257, ¶ 31, have all held that violations of aggravated vehicular assault under
{¶47} In this case, as in Zima, Duncan, Williams, West, and Phelps, since a predicate offense (OVI) exists as an element of another offense (aggravated vehicular assault), the two offenses are allied offenses of similar import. Accordingly, we proceed to step two to determine whether appellant acted with a separate animus.
{¶48} The state asserted both during the plea change and sentencing hearings that the aggravated vehicular assault in Count 1 аnd the OVI in Count 4 upon which appellant was sentenced, were not committed separately, or with a separate animus. The state also asserted that the two OVI charges on Counts 4 and 5 should not merge because they were committed with a separate animus.
{¶49} The judgment entry however, merged Counts 4 and 5. On appeal, the state changed its position and argued against thе merger of the aggravated vehicular assault in Count 1 and the OVI in Count 4.
{¶50} The state did not object to or address in its brief, its earlier assertion that the two OVI offenses had been committed with a separate animus. Despite the merger of the two OVI charges, appellant cannot be sentenced on both the aggravated vehicular assault and the remaining OVI (Count 4). Instead, on remand, the state must elect which allied offense (Count 1 and 4) to pursue at sentencing. The state‘s argument that the two OVI offenses were committed with a separate animus is not relevant to sentencing on Counts 1 and 4.
{¶51} In State v. Whitfield, 124 Ohio St.3d 319, 2010-Ohio-2, the Supreme Court of Ohio addressed the proper manner in which courts of appeal should remand cases after finding errors committed in sentencing on allied offenses. It held that “the trial court should fulfill its duty in merging the offenses for purposes of sentencing, but remain cognizant that
{¶52} Accordingly, appellant‘s first assignment of error is well-taken and this matter is remanded for a new sentencing hearing.
III. NUMERICAL COMPARISON OF SENTENCE
{¶53} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues that:
{¶54} “The sentence of the trial court was an abuse of discretion as it did not properly apply the requirements of
{¶55} Based on this court‘s disposition of appellant‘s first assignment of error, we conclude that appellant‘s second assignment of error is moot.
IV. CONCLUSION
{¶56} On consideration whereof, the court finds that substantial justice has not been done the party complaining and the judgment of the Erie County Common Pleas Court is reversed as to appellant‘s sentence. Appellee is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24.
JUDGMENT REVERSED, IN PART, AND REMANDED.
Peter M. Handwork, J.
_______________________________
JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, P.J.
_______________________________
Keila D. Cosme, J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE
This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of Ohio‘s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court‘s web site at: http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/newpdf/?source=6.