State v. PeoplesState v. Peoples
Case Information
*1
[Cite as
State v. Peoples
,
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT State of Ohio, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : No. 21AP-45 (C.P.C. No. 15CR-6418) v. : No. 21AP-46
(C.P.C. No. 20CR-1611) Brian Anthony C. Peoples, :
(REGULAR CALENDAR) Defendant-Appellant. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on March 24, 2022 On brief: G. Gary Tyack , Prosecuting Attorney, and Seth L.
Gilbert , for appellee.
On brief: Carpenter Lipps & Leland LLP , Kort Gatterdam and Erik P. Henry , for appellant.
APPEALS from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas KLATT, J.
In these consolidated appeals, [1] defendant-appellant, Brian Anthony C.
Peoples, appeals from judgments of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas revoking his community control in Franklin C.P. No. 15CR-6418 ("15CR-6418") and imposing an 8- year prison sentence to be served consecutively to an 18-month prison sentence imposed in Franklin C.P. No. 20CR-1611 ("20CR-1611"). For the following reasons, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
{¶ 2}
On December 30, 2015, plaintiff-appellee, state of Ohio, charged appellant
in 15CR-6418 with two counts of felonious assault in violation of
that appellant would withdraw his not guilty plea and enter a guilty plea to both counts in
the indictment, with Count 1 carrying a lesser-included one-year firearm specification
under
of the details of the jointly recommended split sentence, and inquired as to his understanding of that sentence. Appellant averred that he understood the sentence and was satisfied with defense counsel's representation. The trial court obtained assurances from both appellant and his counsel that appellant was entering his pleas knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. Appellant then pleaded guilty in accordance with the plea agreement. The trial court accepted appellant's guilty pleas, imposed the jointly recommended split sentence, and entered a nolle prosequi as to the firearm specification in Count 2. The trial court commented that the split sentence was appropriate, as appellant "is suffering some significant consequences for his actions, but yet it certainly gives him an opportunity to move forward with his life, given the young man that he is." (Aug. 3, 2016 Tr. at 17.) The court memorialized appellant's conviction and sentence in a judgment entry filed August 10, 2016. Appellant did not appeal.
{¶ 6} On February 14, 2020—after appellant had served his four-year prison term on Count 1 and was on community control on Count 2—the trial court [2] declared appellant an absconder from community control and issued a capias for his arrest. On March 30, 2020, appellant was arrested on the community control violation and new charges.
{¶ 7}
On April 7, 2020, appellant was indicted in 20CR-1611 on two counts of
having weapons while under disability in violation of
revocation of appellant's community control based on the following violations: (1) failure
to report to the probation department following release from prison; (2) indictment on two
counts of WUD in 20CR-1611; and (3) a misdemeanor conviction in a separate case.
At a plea hearing held in 20CR-1611 on November 9, 2020, the prosecutor
advised the trial court that appellant would withdraw his not guilty pleas and enter a guilty
plea to Count 1 with no firearm specification. As part of the plea agreement, the parties
jointly recommended a prison term of 18 months. The parties also agreed to "argue out the
sentence" for the community control violation in 15CR-6418. (Nov. 9, 2020 Plea/Bond
Hearing at 3.) After ascertaining appellant's understanding of the joint sentencing
recommendation, the trial court engaged in a
weapons disability pursuant to his convictions in 15CR-6418. On March 30, 2020, police officers responding to a robbery call patted down appellant and found a gun on his person; another gun was found inside the house. Appellant told the officers that his DNA would 4 probably be on both guns because he had handled them. Defense counsel offered no additions or exceptions to these facts. Appellant entered a guilty plea in accordance with the plea agreement. The
trial court accepted appellant's guilty plea, imposed the jointly recommended 18-month sentence, and entered a nolle prosequi on the firearm specification in Count 1 and the WUD charge and firearm specification in Count 2. The trial court ordered a presentence investigation ("PSI") report and set sentencing for December 3, 2020. The sentencing hearing was continued until February 3, 2021, at which time
the trial court addressed both 20CR-1611 and the revocation of community control in 15CR-
6418. At the outset, the trial court related what had occurred in the 15CR-6418 case. To
that end, the trial court averred that original defense counsel had argued that the split
sentence recommended by the parties and imposed by the trial court was illegal pursuant
to the Supreme Court of Ohio's decision in
State v. Hitchcock
{¶ 14} Thereafter, the trial court asked defense counsel to opine as to whether the court should treat Count 2 as a revocation or as "a whole new resentencing on the count." Id. Defense counsel responded, "I think it can be either/or, in my opinion. That's probably the safest way to do it." Id. at 10. The prosecutor contended that treating the matter as a revocation would be "cleaner; because then we don't have to go back, resentence on Count 1, even though it would have been time served, and then go from here." Id. Defense counsel then stipulated to the community control violation. Based upon that stipulation, the trial court found appellant in violation of his community control. Thereafter, the prosecutor, responding to defense counsel's assertion that the
original trial judge concluded that prison was unnecessary on Count 2, related the background leading to the imposition of the split sentence in 15CR-6418. To that end, the prosecutor averred that after discussions with both counsel, the original judge proposed the split sentence as an alternative to imposing a sentence of over five years, which, at the time, would have barred appellant from eligibility for judicial release. The original trial judge reasoned that a four-year prison term followed by community control would provide appellant an opportunity to demonstrate that he could "make something of himself." at 14. After relating this background, the prosecutor argued for a prison term consecutive to the 18-month term in 20CR-1611, noting that appellant had committed multiple firearm offenses and that his statements in the PSI interview demonstrated the danger he poses to the public. In response, defense counsel noted that the prosecutor's recitation of the
background leading to the imposition of the split sentence in 15CR-6418 was not part of the record; in addition, he was not present during the discussions with the original trial judge. He then reasserted his position that the original trial judge concluded that a prison term was unnecessary on Count 2. Defense counsel also provided the following additional facts related to 20CR-
1611. Appellant was unarmed when he went to the house to retrieve an X-box game that had been stolen from him. While in the house, someone handed him a firearm. Counsel noted that appellant admitted that he handled the firearm and had been forthright during his PSI interview. Counsel reiterated his position that appellant should be sentenced to time served in 15CR-6418 and that any sentence imposed in that case should run concurrent to the jointly recommended 18-month sentence in 20CR-1611. In 20CR-1611, the trial court imposed the jointly recommended 18-month
sentence on Count 1 and entered a nolle prosequi as to the firearm specification in Count 1 as well as the WUD charge and accompanying firearm specification in Count 2. In 15CR- 6418, the court first noted that it had reviewed the transcripts of the plea and sentencing hearing in that case and found the original trial judge's thoughts and intentions in imposing the split sentence not relevant for purposes of the revocation hearing. The trial court further noted that the transcripts clearly indicated that appellant would be sent to prison for an additional eight years if he violated the terms of his community control. Accordingly, the trial court revoked appellant's community control and imposed the eight-year sentence. The court ordered the sentences in 15CR-6418 and 20CR-1611 to be served consecutively for a total prison term of nine and one-half years. The court found that consecutive sentences "are appropriate; that it's necessary to punish the offender, to protect the public from future crime. It's not disproportionate to the seriousness of the conduct, and that the offender's criminal history demonstrates consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public." at 26. The court memorialized appellant's conviction and sentence in 20CR-1611 in
a judgment entry filed February 3, 2021. That same day, the trial court issued a "Revocation Entry" in 15CR-6418 memorializing his conviction and sentence. Appellant timely appeals both judgments, setting forth four assignments of
error for review:
[I]. The trial court erred in revoking the community control term of an illegally imposed sentence.
[II]. Defendant-appellant's sentence is not supported by competent, credible evidence in the record in violation of the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution; Article I, Sections 10 and 16 of the Ohio Constitution andR.C. 2953.08 ,R.C. 2929.11 ,R.C. 2929.12 , andR.C. 2929.14.
[III]. The trial court's judgment entries failed to include the necessary findings for imposing consecutive sentences underR.C. 2929.14(C)(4) .
[IV]. Appellant was deprived of the effective assistance of trial counsel in violation of Appellant's rights under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, and Section 10 and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
{¶ 21}
In his first assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred
in revoking the community control term imposed on Count 2 in 15CR-6418. As noted
above, appellant essentially agreed to the prosecutor's proposal that the trial court could
either revoke the community control term or conduct a resentencing hearing. As a result,
the trial court's alleged error in revoking the community term will be examined for plain
error.
may be noticed although they were not brought to the attention of the court." Plain error
does not occur unless, "but for the error, the outcome of the [proceeding] would clearly
have been otherwise."
State v. Long
,
Because no provision of the Revised Code authorizes trial courts to impose community-control sanctions on one felony count to be served consecutively to a prison term imposed on another felony count, we must conclude that trial courts may not do so. We accordingly * * * conclude that unless otherwise authorized by statute, a trial court may not impose community- control sanctions on one felony count to be served consecutively to a prison term imposed on another felony count. at ¶ 24. Appellant acknowledges that recent caselaw from this court and other
appellate courts addressing
Hitchcock
in light of the Supreme Court's subsequent
jurisprudence on void/voidable sentences set forth in
Harper
6756, this court addressed a split sentence imposed in 2010, prior to
Hitchcock.
On direct
appeal, Thompson did not raise any issue concerning the split sentence. After his
community control was revoked in 2019, Thompson appealed, arguing that under
Hitchcock
his split sentence was contrary to law. Thompson further contended, relying on
State v. Fischer
128 Ohio St.3d 92,
error rendered his sentence void and thus subject to collateral attack. We noted that in Harper, the Supreme Court of Ohio " 'realign[ed]' its void sentence jurisprudence and returned to the 'traditional understanding of what constitutes a void judgment.' " Id. at ¶ 11, quoting Harper at ¶ 4. We further observed that under Harper " '[a] sentence is void when a sentencing court lacks jurisdiction over the subject-matter of the case or personal jurisdiction over the accused.' " Id. quoting Harper at ¶ 42. We also stated that "[w]hen a sentencing court has jurisdiction to act, sentencing errors render the sentence 'voidable, not void, and [the sentence] is not subject to collateral attack.' " Id. , quoting Harper at ¶ 5. Finally, we noted that " '[i]f a judgment is voidable, the doctrine of res judicata bars a party from raising and litigating in any proceeding, except a direct appeal, claims that could have been raised in the trial court.' " Id. , quoting Henderson at ¶ 19. We determined that the trial court possessed subject-matter jurisdiction over
Thompson's case and personal jurisdiction over Thompson. at ¶ 12, citing
Harper
at
¶ 25 (common pleas courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over felony cases) and
Henderson
at ¶ 36 (in criminal matters, a trial court acquires personal jurisdiction by
lawfully issued process, followed by the arrest and arraignment of the defendant and the
entry of a plea to the charge). We thus found that "any error in the exercise of the trial
court's jurisdiction rendered [Thompson's] sentence voidable, not void."
Id.
, citing
State v.
Pettus
, 1st Dist. No. C-190678,
Dist. No. 2020-T-0031,
guilty pleas to two felonies in 2008; he was sentenced to a community control term consecutive to a prison term. Christy did not appeal. In 2019, Christy's community control was revoked. On appeal, Christy argued that his 2008 sentence was void pursuant to Hitchcock and thus subject to collateral attack. Citing Harper , Henderson , Thompson and Hall , the court concluded that Christy's original sentence was voidable, not void; thus, having failed to raise any argument regarding his sentence to a term of community control consecutive to a prison term in a direct appeal, his claims were barred by the doctrine of res judicata. at ¶ 27. Here, appellant concedes that he did not appeal his split sentence; however,
he argues that his claim is not barred by the doctrine of res judicata because, unlike in
Thompson Hall
and
Christy
the split sentence imposed in his case was jointly
recommended. Therefore, argues appellant, his ability to appeal was limited by
a defendant from collaterally attacking a split sentence that was jointly recommended. In
State v. Robey
5th Dist. No. 2021-CA-00010,
{¶ 33}
On appeal from the revocation, Robey argued that the trial court erred in
finding it had the authority to conduct revocation proceedings and impose a prison term on
the violations of community control because his original sentence violated
Hitchcock
, Ohio St.3d 215,
argument regarding the jointly recommended nature of the original split sentence.
However, in its recitation of the facts of the case, the court acknowledged that the split
sentence was jointly recommended by the parties,
id
. at ¶ 4, and we presume the court was
aware of
claims, we find appellant's argument that the trial court erred in revoking his community
control rather than resentencing him or permitting him to withdraw his guilty plea
pursuant to
resentencing did not deprive appellant the opportunity to argue for a lesser sentence.
Indeed, defense counsel contended that an eight-year sentence on Count 2 was
unnecessary. The trial court was free to impose a prison term of less than eight years or
even to continue appellant on community control.
him to withdraw his guilty plea pursuant to
{¶ 40}
In his second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred in
imposing an aggregate nine and one-half year sentence that is not supported by the record
and is contrary to law. More specifically, appellant asserts that the trial court failed to
properly consider and apply the sentencing factors set forth in
purposes of sentencing, which are " 'to protect the public from future crime by the offender
and others, to punish the offender, and to promote the effective rehabilitation of the
offender using the minimum sanctions that the court determines accomplish those
purposes without imposing an unnecessary burden on state or local government.' "
State
v. Jones
,
forth in
standards—including the standard of review—for felony-sentencing appeals.' "
State v.
Lake
10th Dist. No. 20AP-549,
more than a mere 'preponderance of the evidence,' but not to the extent of such certainty
as is required 'beyond a reasonable doubt' in criminal cases, and which will produce in the
mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established."
Cross v. Ledford
purposes and principles of sentencing set forth in
appellant repeats his argument that the original sentencing judge determined that a prison term was not appropriate on that count. However, we find no error in the trial court's determination that the original trial judge's thoughts and intentions in imposing the split sentence were not dispositive as to the sentence to be imposed at the revocation hearing. Further, we disagree with appellant's contention that his new conviction in 20CR-1611 did not warrant imposing an eight-year prison term. It is undisputed that the jointly recommended sentence in 15CR-6418 provided that a violation of the terms of community control (including a violation of Ohio law) subjected appellant to imposition of an eight- year prison term, and that appellant violated his community control via his conviction in 20CR-1611. As to 20CR-1611, appellant argues that the facts of the case demonstrate that
none of the "more serious" factors in
factors in
imposed in 20CR-1611 is not reviewable under
1611 is unreviewable pursuant to
{¶ 52}
Appellant also asserts that the trial court failed to comply with
specific factual findings on the record.
Jones
,
explanation for its sentencing decisions. Specifically, the court stated that it had reviewed the PSI report in 20CR-1611 and the transcript of the plea and sentencing proceedings in 15CR-6418. The court further asserted:
So I have a situation where he was on community control for a violent gun offense, where him and another gang member were shooting at each other and two innocent bystanders got hit. It's something that happens almost daily in our community, and it just doesn't stop. We've got an ongoing gun problem. People, kids, shooting each other, gang members shooting each other. And in this particular case, two innocent people got hit.
That being said, the defendant did prison time on that case, four years. And the idea with - - between everybody was that upon his release, let's see if he could do something with himself, put him on control, all the programs and everything that goes with that. He absconded, didn't report.
And I understand there might have been confusion because he had probation and post-release control and maybe he was confused about where he was supposed to report. Although, the ODRC officials say they told him where to report. But that's not the issue. The issue is he then goes out and commits another offense, the new weapon under disability charge.
So after doing four years in prison for having a gun and shooting innocent people, he gets out and immediately picks up a new gun charge, and * * * I'm not going into account all the problems he had a ODRC with fights and gangs and contraband and all the other statements.
So I'm not necessarily revoking him or sentencing [him] because he didn't check in with probation. Although that's not really great of him. The issue here is I would revoke him because of the new gun offense that he picked up.
That being said, the transcript indicates clearly that the defendant shall be sent to ODRC for an additional eight years if he violates the terms of his probation, and he violated those terms of probation. So I am going to revoke his community control on the 2015 case, impose the eight years in prison that was on the shelf that Judge Schneider gave him.
Again, considering the purposes and principals [sic] of sentencing and all the relevant sentencing factors and the statements in the presentence investigation, the ongoing violence and gun issues we have, constantly being lectured that we have to do something about gun violence, * * * I feel like this is what needs to be done. at 24-26. The statements made by the trial court clearly indicate that the court
considered the purposes and principles of sentencing and the seriousness and recidivism factors when it revoked appellant community control and imposed the eight-year sentence previously contemplated for a violation of community control. Finally, appellant's contention that the trial court did not consider the
sentencing factors under
(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, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was under post- release 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.
{¶ 58}
Thus, under
appellate court "may liberally review the entirety of the sentencing transcript to discern
whether the trial court made the requisite findings." ' " at ¶ 24, quoting
State v Hairston
10th Dist. No. 17AP-416,
court made all the factual findings required by
overruled. In his third assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred
in failing to include in the sentencing entry in 20CR-1611 and the revocation entry in 15CR-
6418 the necessary findings for imposing consecutive sentences pursuant to
ineffective assistance of counsel. We disagree. In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, appellant
must satisfy a two-part test. First, appellant must demonstrate that his counsel's
performance was deficient.
Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). To
establish deficient performance, appellant must show that his counsel committed errors "so
serious that counsel was not functioning as the 'counsel' guaranteed the defendant by the
Sixth Amendment."
Id.
If appellant can so demonstrate, he must then establish that he
was prejudiced by the deficient performance.
Id.
To show prejudice, appellant must
establish that there is a reasonable probability that, but for his counsel's errors, the result
of the proceeding would have been different. A "reasonable probability" is one sufficient to
undermine confidence in the outcome of the proceeding.
Id.
at 694. In considering
ineffective assistance of counsel claims, courts indulge a strong presumption that counsel's
conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.
State v. Conway
{¶ 66} Appellant claims that his counsel was ineffective in acquiescing to a revocation of community control on Count 2 in 15CR-6418 instead of either requesting resentencing or requesting permission for appellant to withdraw his guilty plea. Appellant maintains that his counsel never addressed the impact of the jointly recommended sentence on his ability to appeal that sentence. As noted in our discussion of appellant's first assignment of error, appellant's
counsel initially agreed with the prosecutor's averment that the trial court could either revoke appellant's community control on Count 2 and impose the original eight-year sentence of resentence appellant on Count 2, but ultimately did not object when the trial court treated the matter as a revocation. For the reasons stated in our disposition of the first assignment of error, the trial court had no authority to resentence him in 15CR-6418, as the split sentence was voidable and thus subject to res judicata. Moreover, even had the trial court conducted a resentencing hearing, there is no evidence to suggest that it would have imposed a sentence of less than eight years. Appellant's counsel vigorously argued for a lesser sentence. However, the trial court rejected those arguments and imposed the eight- year sentence. Further, we cannot conclude that appellant's counsel was ineffective in failing
to request withdrawal of appellant's guilty plea in 15CR-6418. Even had counsel made such
a request, appellant would have been unable to demonstrate any manifest injustice under
split sentence imposed, not the legality of the plea itself. He does not argue that his plea
was not entered knowingly, voluntarily, or intelligently or that but for the split sentence he
would not have pleaded guilty. Even if he had argued that he would not have pleaded guilty
had he known the split sentence was illegal, there is no manifest injustice here because
appellant received the exact sentence "to which he agreed in exchange for his guilty plea."
Id.
at ¶ 18 (no manifest injustice where trial court erroneously advised the defendant that
the prison terms were non-mandatory). Further, any motion to withdraw his guilty plea
would have been barred by res judicata, as he did not file an appeal in 15CR-6418. at
¶ 23 ("[r]es judicata bars a defendant from raising claims in a
but having sustained appellant's third assignment of error, the judgment of the Franklin
County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed in part and reversed in part. The matter is
remanded for the trial court to issue nunc pro tunc judgment entries in 15CR-6418 and
20CR-1611 incorporating the
Judgments affirmed in part and reversed in part; cause remanded with instructions.
SADLER, J., concurs.
JAMSISON, J., concurs in judgment only.
Notes
[1] By journal entry filed February 9, 2021, this court sua sponte consolidated the appeals docketed under case Nos. 21AP-45 and 21AP-46 for purposes of filing, briefing, oral argument, and determination.
[2] A successor trial judge replaced the original trial judge in 2019.
[3] The trial court averred that the email exchanges occurred while the Covid-19 pandemic prohibited in- person court appearances. We note that the emails are not part of the record on appeal; hence, we know neither the dates the emails were exchanged nor the contents of those emails.