STATE OF OHIO, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RODNEY HOLLIS, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 109092
COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
November 12, 2020
2020-Ohio-5258
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED AND REMANDED
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: November 12, 2020
Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Case No. CR-19-639152-A
Appearances:
Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney, and Anna Faraglia, Daniel T. Van, and Tasha L. Forchione, Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, for appellee.
Joseph V. Pagano, for appellant.
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., J.:
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Rodney Hollis brings the instant appeal challenging his indefinite prison sentence of 18 to 22 years for two counts of rape, kidnapping, and felonious assault. Appellant argues that his sentence is contrary to law because the record does not support the imposition of consecutive sentences,
I. Factual and Procedural History
{¶ 2} This appeal pertains to an incident that occurred on April 1, 2019. Following her shift at Progressive Field, the victim was enjoying a drink at a bar while she waited for her boyfriend to pick her up. Appellant initiated a conversation with the victim, and they spoke with one another inside the bar. The victim left the bar and walked to a nearby bus shelter where she waited for her boyfriend.
{¶ 3} Appellant followed the victim to the bus shelter. The encounter between appellant and the victim was captured by an RTA surveillance camera, and the video footage was played in open court during the sentencing hearing. After pacing back and forth in front of the victim and removing his jacket and outer clothing, appellant placed one hand and arm across the victim’s neck and used his other arm to restrain the victim and prevent her from fighting back. Appellant removed the victim’s pants and underwear and sexually assaulted her. The victim lost consciousness during the assault.1 At one point in the video, appellant is seen putting his clothing back on and getting up off of the ground; at this point the victim is still laying on the ground. When the victim tried to get up off of the ground,
{¶ 4} The victim was eventually able to get the attention of two pedestrians walking by. One of the pedestrians called 911. The video shows appellant walking away from the bus shelter as Cleveland police and EMS personnel arrived on the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital, and a rape-kit examination was performed. The victim spoke with investigators and identified appellant as the individual that attacked her at the bus shelter.
{¶ 5} Appellant was arrested. When appellant spoke to police, he maintained that the encounter with the victim was consensual.
{¶ 6} Appellant was charged for his involvement in the April 1, 2019 incident. In Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-19-639152-A, a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury returned an 11-count indictment on April 18, 2019, charging appellant with (1) rape, in violation of
{¶ 7} Appellant was arraigned on April 23, 2019. He pled not guilty to the indictment.
{¶ 8} The parties reached a plea agreement during pretrial proceedings. On July 8, 2019, appellant pled guilty to an amended Count 1 without the underlying specifications; an amended Count 2 without the underlying specifications; an amended Count 3 with the sexual motivation specification, but without the underlying notice of prior conviction, repeat violent offender, and sexually violent predator specifications; and an amended Count 4 without the underlying specifications. The remaining counts and specifications were nolled.
{¶ 9} The trial court referred appellant to the probation department for a presentence investigation report. The trial court also referred appellant to the court psychiatric clinic for an examination pursuant to
{¶ 10} During the change-of-plea hearing, the trial court explained the change in felony sentencing pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Act. (Tr. 16-22.) The trial court also advised appellant that the Reagan Tokes Act applied to Counts 1, 2, 3, and 4, such that the sentences on these counts were indefinite sentences, and that the maximum sentences on Counts 1, 2, and 3 was 16 and one-half years, and the maximum sentence on Count 4 was up to 12 years.
{¶ 12} The trial court held a sentencing hearing on September 10, 2019. The trial court sentenced appellant to a prison term of eight years on Count 1, three years on Count 2, five years on Count 3, and two years on Count 4. The trial court ordered the counts to run consecutively to one another. The trial court’s sentencing journal entry provides, in relevant part,
The court imposes prison terms consecutively finding that consecutive service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish defendant; that the consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of defendant’s conduct and to the danger defendant poses to the public; and that, defendant’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by defendant.
{¶ 13} Pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Act, the trial court imposed an indefinite sentence, with an aggregate minimum prison term of 18 years and an aggregate maximum prison term of 22 years. The trial court explained that the Reagan Tokes Act applied to Counts 1, 2, 3, and 4 because they were all qualifying offenses. The trial court advised appellant about the presumptive release date pursuant to
{¶ 14} On October 8, 2019, appellant filed the instant appeal challenging the trial court’s sentence. He assigns two errors for review:
I. Appellant’s sentence is contrary to law because the record does not support the imposition of consecutive sentences.
II. Appellant’s sentence is invalid because it was imposed pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Act Amendments, S.B. 201, which violates the United States and Ohio Constitutions.
II. Law and Analysis
A. Consecutive Sentences
{¶ 15} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences.
{¶ 16} We review felony sentences under the standard set forth in
{¶ 17}
(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction imposed pursuant to section
2929.16 ,2929.17 , or2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was under postrelease control for a prior offense.(b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of the courses of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender’s conduct.
(c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender.
{¶ 18} Conformity with
{¶ 19} In the instant matter, appellant first argues that “the [trial] court failed to make all of the findings necessary to justify the imposition of consecutive sentences.” Appellant’s brief at 10. Specifically, appellant contends that the trial court failed to make the second
{¶ 20} In making the first two findings under
{¶ 21} The trial court’s statement that consecutive sentences “cannot be disproportionate to the crime” is sufficient to constitute a finding that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to “the seriousness of the offender’s conduct” under
{¶ 22} As noted above, however, there are two components to the proportionality finding under
{¶ 23} The record reflects that the trial court did not make an explicit, specific finding that consecutive sentences were not disproportionate to the danger appellant poses to the public. However, the trial court’s statements during the sentencing hearing, when viewed in their entirety, clearly indicate that the trial court considered proportionality with respect to both the seriousness of appellant’s conduct and the danger appellant posed to the public. See State v. Hicks, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 107055, 2019-Ohio-870, ¶ 14-16, citing State v. Gonzalez, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105952, 2018-Ohio-1302, ¶ 11-13; see also State v. McGowan, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105806, 2018-Ohio-2930, ¶ 19-25 (the trial court’s failure to explicitly make the proportionality finding did not preclude the imposition of consecutive sentences where trial court’s statements during the sentencing hearing, when viewed in their entirety, indicated that the court considered proportionality both with regard to the seriousness of defendant’s conduct and the danger he posed to the public); State v. Morris, 2016-Ohio-7614, 73 N.E.3d 1010, ¶ 27-34 (8th Dist.) (the proportionality finding could be discerned from the record and the trial court’s
{¶ 24} After reviewing the record from the sentencing hearing, we are able to discern from the trial court’s statements that the trial court found both that
{¶ 25} The record reflects that the trial court made the third required finding during the sentencing hearing. In making the third finding, the trial court determined that
I cannot make the finding that the crimes committed were while [appellant] was awaiting trial or sentencing, or that he was under a sanction or under post-release control. I don’t see that in my file.
I can make the finding, however, that the harm in this matter was so great or unusual that a single term does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct. Again, this is based on multiple factors that happened in this case, one being the victim’s testimony, her statement to the Court today; the physical harm that was imposed upon her in addition to the rapes that happened, those being the basis of the felonious assault, having her head slammed into the ground, the fact that she did lose consciousness during the course of the event. So I can make that finding based on the conduct that was observed on the video.
And I do find that his criminal history specifically related to a prior kidnapping and attempted rape show that consecutive terms are needed to protect the public.
(Tr. 72-73.)
{¶ 26} Finally, the trial court incorporated its consecutive-sentence findings into its September 10, 2019 sentencing journal entry, as required by Bonnell. The trial court’s sentencing journal entry provides, in relevant part,
The court imposes prison terms consecutively finding that consecutive service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish defendant; that the consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of defendant’s conduct and to the danger defendant poses to the public; and that, defendant’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by defendant.
{¶ 27} For all of the foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court made the requisite findings during the sentencing hearing under
{¶ 28} Appellant further contends that even if the trial court made the requisite findings, the imposition of consecutive sentences was not supported by the record. Specifically, appellant argues that consecutive sentences “are in excess of what is necessary to incapacitate [him], deter him from committing future crimes and to rehabilitate him.” Appellant’s brief at 13. In support of this argument, appellant asserts that the trial court did not “adequately explain why appellant’s conduct required the imposition of consecutive sentences” and that the trial court
{¶ 29} After reviewing the record, we cannot say that the record clearly and convincingly does not support the trial court’s findings under
{¶ 30} Appellant’s argument that the trial court failed to consider his mental health issues is entirely unsupported by the record. During the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor asserted that “the [s]tate appreciates the mental illness that one has” but argued that mental illness “doesn’t excuse one’s behavior.” (Tr. 60.) The prosecutor further stated, “[w]e live in a civilized society, and until we find a place to assist people with mental health problems, this will continue; but until then, [appellant] needs to be incarcerated so he doesn’t do it again.” (Tr. 61.)
{¶ 31} Defense counsel detailed appellant’s difficult upbringing and involvement in the foster care system. Furthermore, defense counsel asserted, “[appellant] has an IQ of 67. He has PTSD. He has a tenth grade education after repeating three separate grades through elementary school. Woefully inadequate education. * * * Chronic severe depression.” (Tr. 66.)
{¶ 32} The record reflects that the trial court took the statements made by the prosecutor and defense counsel during the sentencing hearing into
{¶ 33} Regarding the April 1, 2019 incident, appellant forcibly slammed the victim to the ground. Appellant slammed the victim’s head into the cement pavement. During the assault, appellant had his hand or arm across the victim’s neck. The victim lost consciousness during the assault. (Tr. 59, 61.) In addition to violently attacking the victim and causing physical harm, appellant raped the victim.
{¶ 34} Appellant became involved in the juvenile system in 2001 and has an adult criminal history dating back to 2004. Appellant has prior convictions for kidnapping and attempted rape. According to defense counsel, following appellant’s prior kidnapping and attempted rape convictions, appellant “spent almost a year in Columbus going through a child sexual rehabilitation program[.]” (Tr. 67.) Although defense counsel asserted that appellant “seemed to do very well” during the period of time he was in that program, the program did not effectively modify appellant’s conduct. Furthermore, neither appellant’s involvement in the juvenile
{¶ 35} For all of the foregoing reasons, we find that the record before this court clearly and convincingly supports the trial court’s
{¶ 36} We note that the trial court’s sentencing journal entry contains a clerical error. As noted above, regarding the third consecutive-sentence finding, the trial court determined that
{¶ 37} Finally, in order to preserve the issue for further appellate review, and as an alternative basis for modifying the trial court’s sentence, appellant appears to argue that the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentences and an aggregate prison term of 18 to 22 years is contrary to law based on the sentencing factors set forth in
{¶ 38} A sentence is contrary to law if the sentence falls outside the statutory range for the particular degree of offense or the trial court failed to consider the purposes and principles of felony sentencing set forth in
{¶ 39} Although the trial court must consider the principles and purposes of sentencing, as well as any mitigating factors, the court is not required to use particular language nor make specific findings on the record regarding its consideration of those factors. State v. Wilson, 129 Ohio St.3d 214, 2011-Ohio-2669, 951 N.E.2d 381, ¶ 31; State v. Jones, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99759, 2014-Ohio-29, ¶ 13. In fact, unless the defendant affirmatively shows otherwise, it is presumed that the trial court considered the relevant sentencing factors under
{¶ 41} During the sentencing hearing, the trial court explicitly referenced the overriding purposes and principles of felony sentencing. (Tr. 68.) The trial court went on to discuss the applicable
{¶ 42} For all of the foregoing reasons we find that the trial court’s indefinite, aggregate prison term of 18 to 22 years in prison is not contrary to law.
{¶ 43} Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.
B. Reagan Tokes Act
{¶ 44} As noted above, the trial court sentenced appellant pursuant to the indefinite sentencing scheme set forth under the Reagan Tokes Act. In his second assignment of error, appellant argues that his sentence is invalid because the Reagan
The Reagan Tokes Law (S.B. 201) was enacted in 2018 and became effective on March 22, 2019.
R.C. 2901.011 . Under the law, qualifying first-and second-degree felonies committed on or after March 22, 2019 are now subject to the imposition of indefinite sentences. The law specifies that these indefinite terms will consist of a minimum term selected by the sentencing judge from a range of terms set forth inR.C. 2929.14(A) and a maximum term determined by formulas set forth inR.C. 2929.144 .Additionally, the law establishes a presumptive release date at the end of the minimum term imposed.
R.C. 2967.271(B) . However, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) may rebut that presumption and keep the offender in prison for an additional period not to exceed the maximum term imposed by the sentencing judge.R.C. 2967.271(C) .
State v. Barnes, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28613, 2020-Ohio-4150, ¶ 28-29.
{¶ 45} Appellant committed the acts giving rise to this case on April 1, 2019, and the offenses to which he pled guilty, rape, kidnapping, and felonious assault, were qualifying felonies of the first- and second-degree.
(B) The court imposing a prison term on an offender under division (A)(1)(a) or (2)(a) of section
2929.14 of the Revised Code for a qualifying felony of the first or second degree shall determine the maximum prison term that is part of the sentence in accordance with the following:* * *
(2) If the offender is being sentenced for more than one felony, if one or more of the felonies is a qualifying felony of the first or second
degree, and if the court orders that some or all of the prison terms imposed are to be served consecutively, the court shall add all of the minimum terms imposed on the offender under division (A)(1)(a) or (2)(a) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a qualifying felony of the first or second degree that are to be served consecutively and all of the definite terms of the felonies that are not qualifying felonies of the first or second degree that are to be served consecutively, and the maximum term shall be equal to the total of those terms so added by the court plus fifty per cent of the longest minimum term or definite term for the most serious felony being sentenced.
{¶ 46} As noted above, the trial court imposed an indefinite sentence pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Act and ordered appellant to serve the four counts consecutively. Pursuant to
{¶ 47} The record reflects that appellant failed to raise a constitutional challenge to the Reagan Tokes Act — either during the change-of-plea hearing or sentencing hearing — in the trial court.
The “[f]ailure to raise at the trial court level the issue of the constitutionality of a statute or its application, which issue is apparent at the time of trial, constitutes a waiver of such issue and a deviation from this state’s orderly procedure, and therefore need not be heard for the first time on appeal.” State v. Awan, 22 Ohio St.3d 120, 489 N.E.2d 277 (1986), syllabus. See also State v. Quarterman, 140 Ohio St.3d 464, 2014-Ohio-4034, 19 N.E.3d 900, ¶ 15 (courts have discretion to decline consideration of forfeited constitutional challenges raised for the first time on appeal).
State v. Young, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 108868, 2020-Ohio-4135, ¶ 20.
{¶ 48} In State v. Dames, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109090, 2020-Ohio-4991, the defendant-appellant filed an appeal challenging the trial court’s indefinite sentence of seven to ten and one-half years, imposed pursuant to the Reagan Tokes
{¶ 49} In the instant matter, the trial court detailed the effect of the Reagan Tokes Act on appellant’s sentence at both the change-of-plea and sentencing hearings. Like Dames, appellant and his counsel had multiple opportunities to object to the application of the Reagan Tokes Act or raise a constitutional challenge to the Act in the trial court. Like Dames, appellant failed to do so, and as a result, has forfeited his constitutional challenge to the Reagan Tokes Act. Dames at ¶ 12; see Barnes, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28613, 2020-Ohio-4150, at ¶ 31, 37, citing State v. Brewer, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26153, 2015-Ohio-693, ¶ 36; State v. Alexander, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-12-204, 2020-Ohio-3838, ¶ 8, citing State v. Garcia, 12th Dist. Madison No. CA2019-11-030, 2020-Ohio-3232, ¶ 19, and Quarterman at ¶ 20 (the Twelfth District declined to address defendant-appellant’s constitutional challenge to the Reagan Tokes Act because the defendant forfeited the issue by failing to raise his constitutional challenge in the trial court).
{¶ 50} Furthermore, like Dames, appellant failed to raise a plain error argument in this appeal, and we decline to construct a plain error argument on appellant’s behalf. Dames at ¶ 13-14, 18; see State v. Conant, 4th Dist. Adams No. 20CA1108, 2020-Ohio-4319, ¶ 40 (declining to address defendant-appellant’s constitutional challenge to the Reagan Tokes Act on appeal because the defendant did not challenge the constitutionality of the Reagan Tokes Act in the trial court at sentencing and did not raise a plain error argument on appeal). Accordingly, we decline to address the issue for the first time in this appeal. See Dames at ¶ 12; Young, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 108868, 2020-Ohio-4135, at ¶ 21.
{¶ 51} We recognize the Ohio Supreme Court’s holding in Quarterman, 140 Ohio St.3d 464, 2014-Ohio-4034, 19 N.E.3d 900, that appellate courts may still review a forfeited constitutional issue or a trial court’s decision for plain error or ‘“where the rights and interests involved may warrant it.’” Id. at ¶ 16, quoting In re M.D., 38 Ohio St.3d 149, 527 N.E.2d 286 (1988), syllabus. In Barnes, the Second District exercised this discretion, reviewing a challenge to the Reagan Tokes Act despite the defendant’s failure to object to an indefinite sentence or the Reagan Tokes Act’s sentencing provisions in the trial court, and concluded that the Reagan
{¶ 52} First, in determining whether a statute is constitutional, this court presumes constitutionality. Harrold v. Collier, 107 Ohio St.3d 44, 2005-Ohio-5334, 836 N.E.2d 1165, ¶ 36, citing State v. Thompkins, 75 Ohio St.3d 558, 560, 664 N.E.2d 926 (1996). As this court recognized in Dames, other appellate courts in the state of Ohio, in applying this presumption of constitutionality, have concluded that the Reagan Tokes Act was constitutional, did not violate the defendants’ due process rights, and did not violate the separation of powers doctrine. Dames, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109090, 2020-Ohio-4991, at ¶ 16, citing State v. Guyton, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-12-203, 2020-Ohio-3837, State v. Ferguson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28644, 2020-Ohio-4153, and State v. Leet, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28670, 2020-Ohio-4592.
{¶ 53} Second, because appellant did not object to the trial court’s imposition of an indefinite sentence nor challenge the constitutionality of the Reagan Tokes Act below, the trial court did not rule on the constitutionality of the Reagan Tokes Act. As this court recognized in Dames, “the Ohio Supreme Court has observed that justice is better served when there is a lower court decision to consider.” Dames at ¶ 17, citing Sizemore v. Smith, 6 Ohio St.3d 330, 333, 453 N.E.2d 632 (1983), fn. 2.
{¶ 54} Third, appellant failed to raise a plain error argument with respect to the Reagan Tokes Act, much less make a showing that plain error occurred below.
{¶ 55} Finally, the state argues that appellant’s constitutional challenge to the Reagan Tokes Act is not ripe for review because the Act’s provisions that authorize the ODRC to extend appellant’s sentence beyond the minimum term imposed by the trial court have not been applied. Because appellant failed to preserve his constitutional challenge to the Reagan Tokes Act, we need not address the state’s ripeness argument. See Dames, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109090, 2020-Ohio-4991, at ¶ 21.
{¶ 56} We note, however, that some of the other appellate districts in the state of Ohio have held that constitutional challenges to the Reagan Tokes Act are not ripe for appellate review. See State v. Downard, 5th Dist. Muskingum No. CT2019-0079, 2020-Ohio-4227; State v. Manion, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas No. 2020 AP 03 0009, 2020-Ohio-4230; State v. Kibler, 5th Dist. Muskingum No. CT2020-0026, 2020-Ohio-4631; State v. Maddox, 6th Dist. Lucas No. CL-19-1253, 2020-Ohio-4702. In Downard, the Fifth District concluded that the appropriate manner in which to challenge the constitutionality of the Reagan Tokes Act, and specifically the provisions under
{¶ 57} During oral arguments, appellant argued that the constitutional issue is, in fact, ripe for review. In support of his assertion, appellant directed this court to State v. Velliquette, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-19-1232, 2020-Ohio-4855. In Velliquette, based on prior precedent from the Sixth and Fifth Districts,2 the court held that “the issue of constitutionality regarding potential extensions to appellant’s presumed minimum prison term [under the Reagan Tokes Act] to be not ripe for review.” Id. at ¶ 32. The Sixth District did, however, recognize that other appellate districts in the state of Ohio have issued conflicting decisions on the ripeness issue:
[w]e note that other jurisdictions have implicitly determined the issue to be ripe for review by addressing the constitutional challenge to the [Reagan] Tokes provisions regarding future, possible extensions of a prison term beyond the presumed minimum term. The Second District Court of Appeals found the law constitutional in State v. Barnes, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28613, 2020-Ohio-4150, State v. Leet, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28670, 2020-Ohio-4592, and State v. Ferguson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28644, 2020-Ohio-4153. The Twelfth District Court of Appeals also determined the law was constitutional in State v. Guyton, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-12-203, 2020-Ohio-3837, State v. Rogers, 12th Dist. No. Butler CA2019-11-194, 2020-Ohio-4102, and State v. Morris, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-12-205, 2020-Ohio-4103.
Velliquette at ¶ 30. Based on these conflicting decisions, the Velliquette court certified a conflict, sua sponte, to the Ohio Supreme Court for a review and determination on the issue of whether the sentencing provisions under the Reagan
{¶ 58} For all of the foregoing reasons, appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 59} Judgment affirmed. This case is remanded to the trial court for the limited purpose of issuing a nunc pro tunc sentencing entry accurately reflecting the consecutive-sentence findings made by the trial court during the sentencing hearing.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
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 convictions having been affirmed, any bail pending is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court for correction of the journal entry.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., JUDGE
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, A.J., and MICHELLE J. SHEEHAN, J., CONCUR