164 Ohio App. 3d 792 | Ohio Ct. App. | 2005
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *794
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *795
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *796 {¶ 1} Defendant, Bradley Johnson, appeals from his conviction of and sentence for vehicular homicide.
{¶ 2} On May 1, 2004, defendant was driving his vehicle westbound on U.S. 42 in Cedarville Township, near its intersection with Townsley Road. At that same time, six bicycle riders who were participating in a race, including Robert Batchel, were also traveling westbound on U.S. 42 near Townsley Road. Defendant approached the bicyclists from the rear and attempted to pass them on the *797 left side of the two lane road, crossing a double yellow line. Defendant's speed was later estimated by the Ohio Highway Patrol at 62 miles per hour.
{¶ 3} As defendant approached the intersection of U.S. 42 and Townsley Road, Batchel began to turn left onto Townsley Road from U.S. 42 and was struck by defendant's vehicle. Witnesses indicated that some but not all of the cyclists used a hand signal to indicate their left turn onto Townsley Road and that Batchel did not look back to check for cars before turning. Batchel died at the scene as a result of injuries he sustained when defendant's vehicle struck him.
{¶ 4} The Ohio Highway Patrol's investigation revealed that defendant was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident and that defendant had aided the victim by calling emergency personnel and attempting to administer CPR until medics arrived.
{¶ 5} Defendant was indicted on two misdemeanor charges: vehicular homicide, R.C.
{¶ 6} The trial court convicted defendant on his plea and later sentenced defendant to 180 days in jail with 120 days suspended on condition that defendant have no similar violations within five years, pay a $1,000 fine, and pay $16,175.91 in restitution. In addition, the court ordered community service, mental-health counseling, and a five-year license suspension without driving privileges for work.
{¶ 7} Defendant timely appealed to this court, challenging only his sentence. We suspended execution of defendant's sentence pending this appeal.
{¶ 9} A trial court that imposes a sentence for a misdemeanor has discretion to determine the most effective way to achieve the purposes and principles of misdemeanor sentencing, which are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and to punish the offender. R.C.
{¶ 10} Defendant argues that because most of the sentencing factors in R.C.
{¶ 11} At the outset, we note that in his appellate brief, defendant makes repeated references to a former version of R.C.
{¶ 12} We agree with the state that some of the sentencing factors in R.C.
{¶ 13} With respect to the nature and circumstances of the offense, R.C.
{¶ 14} The Ohio Highway Patrol estimated defendant's speed at 62 miles per hour at the time of the crash. Furthermore, the court found that defendant had some fault with respect to this accident — that he caused the victim's death negligently while operating his motor vehicle. Specifically, defendant passed the cyclists by crossing over a double yellow line, and he failed to sufficiently slow down.
{¶ 15} Regarding the R.C.
{¶ 16} We further note that R.C.
{¶ 17} Before imposing sentence, the trial court reviewed the presentence report and the many letters submitted on behalf of the victim and defendant, and the court heard from witnesses and counsel for both sides as to what the appropriate sentence should be. The trial court indicated that she had changed her mind ten or 15 times as to the appropriate disposition in this case. Although the court did not specifically address the factors in R.C.
{¶ 18} Also in this assignment of error, defendant complains about the maximum fine of $1,000 the trial court imposed. In imposing that fine, the trial court gave this reason:
{¶ 19} "The fine is difficult because there's — you know, there's no amount that makes sense. Mr. Robbins recommends a thousand dollar fine. I'm going to go with that. The only reason for a fine in this case because — I mean, it does not matter at all in that sense, but it's to reimburse the State Patrol for the extensive investigation they did. That is public time, so we'll have Mr. Johnson pay for that."
{¶ 20} In challenging the fine the trial court imposed, defendant argues that the court failed to consider the matters set forth in R.C.
{¶ 21} R.C.
{¶ 22} We are aware that defendant failed to object or otherwise raise any challenge in the trial court to his fine, or to any other part of his sentence for that matter. Ordinarily, a failure to bring an error to the attention of the trial court at a time when the court could correct that error constitutes a waiver of all but plain error. State v. Wickline (1990),
{¶ 23} Failure to object does not waive "plain error," however. Wickline, supra; Crim.R. 52(B). Plain error does not exist unless it can be said that but for the error, the outcome of the trial would clearly have been different. State v. Long
(1987),
{¶ 24} Because the trial court was not authorized by law to impose a financial sanction upon defendant for the purpose of reimbursement of the Ohio Highway Patrol for the costs of its investigation in this case, and any such payments collected from defendant could not be passed on to that law enforcement agency as the court directed, the $1,000 fine imposed upon defendant for that purpose constitutes an abuse of the trial court's discretion and plain error. Accordingly, we will reverse and vacate that portion of the trial court's sentence imposing a fine.
{¶ 25} The first assignment of error is overruled in part and sustained in part.
{¶ 27} Defendant argues that at various times throughout this case, the trial judge engaged in improper ex parte communications with the prosecutor, victim advocate, and probation officer, creating an appearance of impropriety and partiality that violates the Code of Judicial Conduct and defendant's due process rights. See Disciplinary Counsel v.O'Neill,
{¶ 28} Defendant failed to raise this issue at any time in the trial court below, thereby waiving all but plain error. Because this record does not support defendant's allegations, as discussed below, no plain error is demonstrated.
{¶ 29} To support his first claim of an ex parte communication, defendant cites a statement by the trial court at the plea hearing wherein the court indicated that it had reviewed this case with both the prosecutor and defense counsel on a previous occasion and that the victim advocate participated in that discussion. The court's statement plainly indicates that defense counsel was present during that discussion. Therefore, this claim of an ex parte communication is refuted by the record.
{¶ 30} Defendant's next example of an alleged ex parte communication stems from events occurring at the sentencing hearing, when the prosecutor allegedly emerged from the judge's chambers just prior to that hearing. When the hearing began, the prosecutor stated:
{¶ 31} "We've had lengthy discussions on this case prior to the initial plea being entered, and I think our position was stated pretty clearly at that time. Again, I've talked with Counsel Schooley this morning and basically restated our position. Again, I think the court is aware of that."
{¶ 32} There is no evidence regarding what the prosecutor and the trial judge may have discussed in chambers prior to the sentence hearing. We will not speculate about such matters. Furthermore, the discussions that the prosecutor referred to when the hearing commenced appear to be the same discussions that the trial court referred to during the plea hearing, which we have addressed. Those discussions about this case took place before defendant's plea was entered and included defense counsel. No ex parte communication has been demonstrated.
{¶ 33} Defendant next complains that an ex parte communication occurred between the trial court and the probation officer who prepared the presentence investigation report while that report was being prepared. To support this claim, defendant points out that when the trial court offered that probation officer an opportunity to speak at sentencing, he stated:
{¶ 34} "Thank you, your Honor. You will see the recommendation, as I spoke with you, you will see 90 days in jail, 30 days suspended. I worded that wrong. I apologize. It was actually six months in jail, 90 days suspended."
{¶ 35} Contrary to defendant's suggestion, this exchange does not demonstrate that the court was involved in the process of the presentence investigation or that it influenced the probation officer's recommendation. At most, it reveals that the probation officer communicated his recommendation to the trial court, a practice *802 that is not improper and occurs in any event when the court receives the presentence report.
{¶ 36} In this case, the presentence report was provided to the prosecutor and defense counsel before the sentencing hearing. The record contains no evidence that supports defendant's suggestion that the trial court urged the probation officer to orally amend the presentence report recommendation, from 90 days with all time suspended to 180 days with 90 days suspended, at the urging of the victim's family. On this record, all that is demonstrated is that the probation officer's recommended sentence was incorrectly stated and that he corrected his misstatement at the sentencing hearing. No improper ex parte communication has been demonstrated.
{¶ 37} As a final example of an alleged ex parte communication, defendant points to the many letters sent to the trial court on the victim's behalf by his family, friends, and co-workers. The court indicated at sentencing that it had reviewed all of the written correspondence it received, some of which was submitted on behalf of defendant as well as the victim. Defendant alleges that none of that correspondence was provided to him, despite the court's earlier statements at the plea hearing that it would share with defense counsel any letters received, and therefore defendant was unable to review the documents for accuracy.
{¶ 38} The letters defendant complains about are a part of the trial court file in this case, and as such, that material is ordinarily available to both parties on request and does not constitute ex parte communication. There is no allegation by defendant that he attempted to obtain and review the letters but was denied access. The record fails to support defendant's claim that improper ex parte communications occurred.
{¶ 39} The second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 41} Defendant argues that his due process rights were violated because during sentencing, the trial judge was briefly overcome with emotion and began to cry. According to defendant, the court became so sympathetic toward the victim's family that the court lost its sense of fairness and impartiality and became biased against defendant. We disagree.
{¶ 42} Judicial bias is a hostile feeling or spirit of ill will or undue friendship or favoritism toward one of the litigants or his attorney, with the *803
formation of a fixed anticipatory judgment on the part of the judge, as distinguished from an open state of mind that will be governed by the law and the facts. State v. LaMar,
{¶ 43} As previously discussed, this case involved a tragic accident that resulted in the sudden, unexpected death of the victim. The court recognized that both the victim and defendant were outstanding, model citizens. Understandably, emotions were running high at the sentencing hearing. During that proceeding, a number of the victim's family members and friends spoke about how the victim's death had affected them. Immediately thereafter, the court acknowledged that the families of both the victim and the defendant were in tremendous pain and that nothing the court might do would take that pain away because the court could not bring the victim back. The following then took place:
{¶ 44} "The accident in this case — I'm sorry. Judges are not supposed to cry. See how you people got to me. Robbie, I think that is your fault.
{¶ 45} "The accident in this case had some fault on the part of the Defendant, obviously, and the fault is I think something, as his Counsel points out, that probably every one of us does on the road is we forget that we are pushing 2,000 pounds of glass and steel down the road." (T. 57-58).
{¶ 46} The fact that the trial judge was briefly overcome with emotion and cried does not demonstrate judicial bias. It merely demonstrates that the trial judge is human and can understand and relate to other people's feelings and emotions. A review of the sentence hearing in its entirety fails to reveal any undue friendship or favoritism toward the victim's family, much less the formation of a fixed anticipatory judgment.LaMar, supra.
{¶ 47} The trial judge stated at the sentencing hearing that she had heard all of the witnesses, read all of the letters submitted by supporters of both parties, and had "changed her mind ten or fifteen times about what should be done." We further note that the court suspended more of defendant's jail time than its probation officer had recommended. No judicial bias against defendant has been demonstrated.
{¶ 48} The third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 50} Defendant argues that he was denied fundamental fairness because in imposing sentence, the trial court failed to follow its own sentencing precedent in vehicular-homicide cases. Specifically, defendant cites one other *804 vehicular-homicide case in which this same trial judge did not impose any prison term, probation, or community service as part of the sentence. The state in response has identified four other vehicular-homicide cases in which this same trial judge imposed a combination of sanctions, including jail time, community-control sanctions, fines, and restitution, just as was done in this case.
{¶ 51} Sentences imposed for misdemeanor offenses must be "consistent with sentences imposed for similar offenses committed by similar offenders." R.C.
{¶ 52} Contrary to defendant's claim, the trial court did not impose the most severe sentence it could have, because it suspended over one-half of the jail time it imposed, which it was not obligated to do. More importantly, the sentence imposed was within authorized statutory limits and consisted of a combination of sanctions, including a jail term, community control, and financial sanctions, which are specifically authorized by R.C.
{¶ 53} In any event, we conclude that if defendant intends to argue that the sentence imposed in a particular misdemeanor case is so inconsistent with sentences imposed by that same court for similar offenses committed by similar offenders as to be disproportionately harsh, defendant must object or otherwise raise that issue in the trial court, affording that court an opportunity to correct the question. Having failed to do that here, defendant has waived all but plain error. No plain error is demonstrated.
{¶ 54} The fourth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 56} Defendant complains that in imposing community service as part of his sentence, the trial court did not specify at the sentencing hearing the number of hours or the type of service to be performed by defendant. Rather, the court took that matter under advisement. Defendant argues that that procedure violates his rights to due process.
{¶ 57} The trial court observed that by suspending a portion of defendant's jail time on certain specific conditions, the court was better able to maintain some *805
control over defendant and impose certain requirements, such as prohibiting future similar conduct and requiring the immediate payment of restitution to the victim's family. Defendant has not directed our attention to any authority that holds such a sentence unlawful. To the contrary, the court is charged with determining the most effective way to achieve the purposes and principles of misdemeanor sentencing set out in R.C.
{¶ 58} At the sentence hearing, the victim's family requested that defendant be required to perform some type of community service related to traffic/bicycle safety. The trial court mentioned that having defendant go to schools and talk to young drivers about this incident might be one possibility, but on the other hand, there is some question whether defendant's distraught mental and emotional state as a result of this accident might prevent him from doing that. The court indicated that it would not decide the precise terms of defendant's community service at this time, preferring instead to have defendant think about what type of service he might be able to do while he serves the jail-term portion of his sentence. The court stated that it would take up the issue of community service again at a later date.
{¶ 59} The court is authorized by R.C.
{¶ 60} R.C.
{¶ 61} The fifth assignment of error is sustained in part.
{¶ 63} Defendant argues that the trial court improperly awarded restitution for the victim's funeral expenses and lost wages for the victim's sister and the *806
victim's son. As support for his claim, Defendant cites R.C.
{¶ 64} R.C.
{¶ 65} "(A) In addition to imposing court costs pursuant to section
{¶ 66} "(1) Restitution by the offender to the victim of the offender's crime or any survivor of the victim, in an amount based on the victim's economic loss.
{¶ 67} "* * *
{¶ 68} "The court shall determine, or order to be determined, the amount of restitution to be paid by the offender. The court may base the amount of restitution it orders on an amount recommended by the victim, the offender, a presentence investigation report, estimates or receipts indicating the cost of repairing or replacing property, and other information. The court shall hold a hearing on restitution if the offender, victim, or survivor disputes the amount of restitution."
{¶ 69} The restitution in this case was requested by the victim's family and submitted to the court via the victim-witness advocate. The restitution requested totaled $16,175.91 and included the following: a $5,826.35 funeral bill; $945 for burial; $3,630.56 for a headstone; $480 for lost wages for the victim's sister; $294 for lost wages for the victim's son; and $5,000 for the victim's bicycle and related gear. The trial court indicated that receipts were available for these items, including the victim's racing bicycle, which was expensive.
{¶ 70} A review of the record reveals that receipts were provided to the trial court for the funeral bill, the burial expenses, and the headstone. Also, a receipt was provided for the amount of lost wages claimed by the victim's sister as a result of the victim's death. No receipt was submitted for the lost wages claimed by the victim's son or for the cost of the victim's racing bicycle and related gear.
{¶ 71} R.C.
{¶ 72} The restitution ordered by the court for expenses associated with the victim's funeral, burial, and headstone, as well as for the victim's racing bicycle, is proper because those items represent economic loss suffered by the victim's estate as a direct result of defendant's offense. Nevertheless, defendant challenges the amount of restitution, particularly with respect to the bicycle, for which no receipts were submitted to the trial court. R.C.
{¶ 73} The sixth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 75} In this assignment of error, defendant argues that the cumulative effect of all of the trial court's sentencing errors denied him due process of law. Except for the period of his term of community service and the "plain error" we have noted with respect to the fine, which are severable matters, we have found no merit in any of defendant's other claimed sentencing errors. There is no "cumulative effect."
{¶ 76} The seventh assignment of error is overruled. The judgment of the trial court is reversed in part, and the cause is remanded for resentencing on the matters of community service and the fine, if any, to be imposed. The judgment is otherwise affirmed.
Judgment reversed in part and affirmed in part, and cause remanded.
*808BROGAN, P.J., and YOUNG, J., concur.
FREDERICK N. YOUNG, retired from the Court of Appeals, Second District, sitting by assignment.