State v. GrahamState v. Graham
HENDRICKSON, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Anthony Graham, appeаls the decision of the Warren County Court of Common Pleas denying his motion to modify or reduce his prison sentence. For the reasons detailed below, we affirm the decision of the trial court.
{¶ 2} On October 9, 2007, appellant and his accomplice, Winston Thomas, were stopped by law enforcement personnel for committing a lane violation while traveling northbound on I-71 in Turtlecreek Township. Thereafter, a canine unit was dispatched to the
{¶ 3} On October 15, 2007, appellant and Thomas were indicted as co-defendants for possession of marijuana in violation of
{¶ 4} In the meantime, on July 11, 2008, appellant was tried and convicted on both counts for possession of marijuana and trafficking in marijuana, both second-degree felonies. The jury also made an additional finding that appellant was trafficking in marijuana in an amount that equaled оr exceeded 20 thousand grams. The trial court then merged the two counts and the state elected to proceed on the trafficking charge. Based on the sentencing legislation in effect at the time, the trial court was required to sentence appellant to a mandatory maximum eight-year рrison term. Accordingly, appellant was sentenced to an eight-year prison term and $7,500 fine, as well as a five-year driver‘s license suspension. This court affirmed appellant‘s convictions on direct appeal in State v. Graham, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2008-07-095, 2009-Ohio-2814.
{¶ 5} Following appellant‘s conviction and sentence, appellant‘s co-defendant, Thomas, was apprehended on federal drug charges and sentenced to 37 months in federal prison in the Mashannon Valley Correctional Center located in Pennsylvania. On June 7, 2010, Ohio filed a detainer against Thomas and on April 18, 2012, Thomas was transported back to Warren County to face thе drug charges pertinent to this appeal. Following a jury trial, Thomas was convicted of the same offenses as appellant, i.e., possession of marijuana and trafficking in marijuana. As in appellant‘s case, the jury also returned a finding that Thomas was trafficking in an amount that equaled or exceeded 20 thousand grams. The trial
{¶ 6} On May 2, 2013 appellant filed a “motion for disparity of sentence pursuant to
{¶ 7} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 8} THE APPELLATE COURT SHOULD EXERCISE ITS RIGHT UNDER
{¶ 9} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues this court should modify his prison sentence because of the disparity between the eight-year mandatory mаximum prison term he received and the six-year prison term Thomas received. Appellant‘s complaint centers on the fact that, at the time of appellant‘s conviction and sentence, the penalty for trafficking marijuana in excess of 20 thousand grams was a mandatory maximum eight-year prisоn term. However, because Thomas absconded and was not subsequently convicted and sentenced until after the passage of
{¶ 10} We review felony sentences pursuant to the standard of review set forth in
{¶ 11} In the present case, appellant was convicted on two counts for possession of marijuana in violation of
Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the amount of the drug involved equals or exceeds twenty thousand grams, trafficking in marihuana is a felony of the second degreе, and the court shall impose as a mandatory prison term the maximum prison term prescribed for a felony of the second degree.
Accordingly, the trial court‘s imposition of an eight-year prison term fell within the permissible statutory range. Moreover, because of the clear language contained in
The Court inquired if the Defendant had аnything to say in mitigation regarding the sentence. The Court has considered the record, oral statements, any victim impact statement and presentence report prepared, as well as the principles and purposes of sentencing under
R.C. §2929.11 , and has balanced the seriousness and recidivism factors underR.C. §2929.12 .The Court further finds the Defendant is not amenable to an available community control sanction and that prison is consistent with the purposes and principles of
R.C. §2929.11 .
{¶ 13} On appeal, appellant focuses on the fact that his prison term is longer than the prison term imposed on Thomas to supрort his motion to modify or reduce sentence. Appellant complains he received a longer prison term than Thomas in spite of the fact that Thomas absconded from custody and evaded authorities after the charges were brought in Warren County. Therefore, appellant argues an inеquality and disparity exists between his sentence and Thomas’ sentence. As such, appellant argues that his sentence should be modified to be equal to or less than the sentence imposed on Thomas.
{¶ 14} Appellant correctly notes that “a sentence imposed for a felony shall be * * * consistеnt with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar offenders.”
{¶ 15} Based on our review of the evidence, we find no error in the trial court‘s denial of apрellant‘s motion to modify or reduce his prison sentence. Although, appellant‘s co-defendant, Thomas, received a shorter prison term than appellant, that fact alone does not require a finding that the trial court erred in its sentencing decision. See State v. Lee, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-09-182, 2013-Ohio-3404, ¶ 13 (a sentence is not contrary to law beсause the trial court failed to impose a sentence that is the same as another offender who committed similar conduct); State v. Isreal, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-07-170, 2011-Ohio-1474, ¶ 73. In this case, the record reflects the trial court properly considered all relevant sentencing factors including, the purposes and principles of
{¶ 16} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 17} APPELLANT WAS DEPRIVED OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL DUE TO INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
{¶ 18} In his second assignment of error, appellant alleges he was denied effective assistance of counsel. For the first time on aрpeal, appellant essentially argues his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to seek a new trial after Thomas had been captured, in order for appellant to be retried jointly with Thomas. Appellant‘s argument is without merit.
{¶ 19} “To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that his or her counsel‘s actions were outside the wide range of professionally
{¶ 20} Wе note appellant failed to raise the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel in his motion to modify or reduce sentence. In his motion, appellant quoted numerous cases involving the joinder of cases and stated the “intention[ ] of quoting the above case law in this action, is to show some of the many circumstances and different situations, that co-defendants have had their cases merged together and tried together.” Appellant further explained the “ending [sic] result of co-defendants having their cases merged together, usually ends in those co-defendants receiving the same punishmеnt.” At no point did appellant complain his counsel was ineffective for failing to seek a new trial following Thomas’ arrest. “It is well-settled that issues not raised in the trial court may not be raised for the first time on appeal.” State v. Abney, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2004-02-018, 2005-Ohio-146, ¶ 17, citing State v. Awan, 22 Ohio St.3d 120, 122 (1986); State v. Guzman-Martinez, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2010-06-059, 2011-Ohio-1310, ¶ 9. Therefore, because appellant did not specifically raise this issue with thе trial court, this matter is waived and we need not consider it for the first time on appeal.
{¶ 21} However, even if appellant‘s argument were properly raised, we would still reach the same conclusion. It is well-established,“‘[a]ttorneys need not pursue every conceivable avenue; they are entitled to be selective.‘” State v. Were, 118 Ohio St.3d 448, 2008-Ohio-2762, ¶ 222, quoting State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St.3d 516, 542 (2001). Furthermore, “[c]ounsel is not deficient for failing to raise a meritless issue.” State v. Massey, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 12AP-649, 2013-Ohio-1521, ¶ 13.
{¶ 22} Based on our review of the record and the argument raised in appellant‘s brief, we fail to see any merit to appellant‘s assignment of error. As we have previously stated, “the petitioner bears thе burden to submit evidentiary materials demonstrating the lack of competent counsel and that the defense was prejudiced by counsel‘s ineffectiveness.” State v. Hackney, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA96-08-071, 1997 WL 10916, *1 (Jan. 13, 1997). While appellant complains his counsel was ineffective for failing to request a retrial following Thomas’ transfer to Warren County, appellant fails to present any evidence that: (1) his counsel was notified when Thomas was placed in custody and returned to Warren County, or (2) appellant notified counsel of his interest in seeking a new trial upon Thomas’ return to Warren County. Indeed, appellant does not even indicate whethеr his trial counsel, appellate counsel, or some other counsel of record was ineffective for the alleged failure to request a retrial, nor has appellant presented any evidence that he was still represented by counsel at the time he alleges his counsel should have filed the motion for retrial.
{¶ 23} Furthermore, the record in this case reflects that appellant failed to raise the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel until more than five years after his conviction and more than four years after the completion of his direct appeal.1 Finally, while appellant
{¶ 24} Judgment affirmed.
RINGLAND, P.J., and S. POWELL, J., concur.