2005 Ohio 703 | Ohio Ct. App. | 2005
Lead Opinion
{¶ 2} On March 4, 2003, a complaint was filed in the Painesville Municipal Court, charging appellant with one count of rape, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 3} In the common pleas court, by way of information, appellant was charged with one count of rape, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 4} On May 5, 2003, the common pleas court held a hearing to determine appellant's classification as a sexual predator and to enter a sentence. Although no witness testimony was presented, evidentiary exhibits were formally admitted. These exhibits included: (1) appellant's written, voluntary statement to the police; (2) appellant's psychological evaluation; and (3) a presentence report.
{¶ 5} The aforementioned evidentiary exhibits establish the following facts. On March 3, 2003, appellant approached the victim, a prostitute, to elicit sex. The victim informed appellant that she would accommodate him with oral or vaginal sex, but would not engage in anal sex. Ultimately, appellant and the victim drove to appellant's home in Lake County, Ohio. Once inside the home, appellant pointed a gun at the victim's head and ordered her into his bedroom. Appellant then instructed the victim to disrobe. After she had undressed, appellant forced the victim to lie on her stomach and put her hands behind her back, at which time appellant handcuffed her hands. Appellant proceeded to rape the victim by means of anal and oral intercourse. During the course of the rape, appellant placed his gun on a nightstand next to the bed.
{¶ 6} Following its review of the evidentiary exhibits, the common pleas court adjudicated appellant as a sexual predator, pursuant to R.C. Chapter 2950, and entered sentence. In a May 21, 2003 judgment entry, the common pleas court reiterated its findings regarding appellant's sexual predator classification as announced at the hearing. Specifically, the court stated that it had "reviewed the pre-sentence report, the Psychological Evaluation * * *, and the written statement of [appellant] introduced at the hearing. Based upon the foregoing, and for the reasons stated on the record, the Court hereby finds, by clear and convincing evidence, [appellant] to be a Sexual Predator in that [appellant] has been convicted of a sexually oriented offense and is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses."
{¶ 7} The May 21, 2003 judgment entry also repeated appellant's sentence, which was previously issued following the hearing. The court again considered the applicable sentencing factors and sentenced appellant to an eight-year prison term on the rape count and a three-year prison term on the firearm specification, with the terms to be served consecutively.
{¶ 8} From this judgment, appellant filed a timely notice of appeal and now sets forth the following three assignments of error for our consideration:
{¶ 9} "[1.] The trial court committed reversible error when it labeled the defendant-appellant a sexual predator against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶ 10} "[2.] The trial court erred to the prejudice of the defendant-appellant when it ordered an eight-year term of imprisonment by making findings under the applicable sentencing statute that were not supported by the record.
{¶ 11} "[3.] The trial court erred when it sentenced the defendant-appellant to more than the `statutory maximum' sentence based upon a finding of factors not found by the jury or admitted by the defendant-appellant in violation of the defendantappellant's state and federal constitutional rights to trial by jury."
{¶ 12} Under his first assignment of error, appellant argues that the common pleas court erred by classifying him a sexual predator, as such a classification was against the manifest weight of the evidence. We disagree.
{¶ 13} A trial court's sexual predator classification will not be reversed by an appellate court unless the manifest weight of the evidence fails to support the trial court's decision. State v. Cook,
{¶ 14} R.C.
{¶ 15} In applying the sexual predator definition, a common pleas court can classify an individual as a sexual predator only if it concludes that the state has established both prongs of the definition by clear and convincing evidence. R.C.
{¶ 16} To assist a common pleas court in determining the second prong of the sexual predator definition, specifically, whether appellant is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses, R.C.
{¶ 17} Here, the record demonstrates that the common pleas court considered the factors of R.C.
{¶ 18} "[a.] The defendant has a prior criminal record, including Theft, and various traffic offenses including two convictions for Driving under Suspension;
{¶ 19} "[b.] Defendant has a history of mental illness and/or mental disability, to wit; mood disorder, ADHD, post-traumatic stress syndrome, major depressive disorder, poly substance dependency, and anti-social personality disorder with mixed features;
{¶ 20} "[c.] The nature of the offender's sexual conduct was extremely forceful, violent and shocking;
{¶ 21} "[d.] The nature of the defendant's actions during the commission of the sexually oriented offense displayed cruelty and threats of cruelty by taking a firearm, pointing it at the victim's head and ordering her to disrobe. The defendant then placed the gun on a table next to the bed, handcuffed the victim behind her back, and then forcibly performed anal intercourse and then oral sex;
{¶ 22} "[e.] Additional behavior characteristics that contributed to the defendant's conduct include the following:
{¶ 23} "[1.] Defendant has no insight and no idea why he did what he did;
{¶ 24} "[2.] Defendant has anger problems;
{¶ 25} "[3.] Defendant has dominance control needs;
{¶ 26} "[f.] Additional factors the court considered include:
{¶ 27} "[1.] Dr. John Fabian's opinion that, actuarially the defendant presented as a low to moderate risk to re-offend, and clinically the defendant presented as a moderate risk to re-offend;
{¶ 28} "[2.] This offense involved an unrelated victim;
{¶ 29} "[3.] The defendant and victim were strangers;
{¶ 30} "[4.] The deviant nature of the defendant's conduct."
{¶ 31} Despite these determinations, appellant contends that the court's judgment classifying him as a sexual predator was against the manifest weight of the evidence. In support of this position, appellant argued that the following factors demonstrate a lower risk of recidivism: (1) there were no male victims; (2) appellant was not diagnosed with pedophilia, paraphilia, or as a sexual deviant; (3) this incident concerned the solicitation of a prostitute and began as a consensual encounter; and (4) appellant's psychological evaluation did not recommend that he be classified a sexual predator and determined him to be a moderate risk to re-offend, while the actuarial risk was medium-low.
{¶ 32} "To adjudicate a defendant as a sexual predator, the trial court need not find that a majority of [the factors of R.C.
{¶ 33} That being said, after reviewing the surrounding circumstances, it is evident that the court based its sexual predator adjudication upon clear and convincing evidence. While the record accurately reflects the absence of some factors which would support a sexual predator adjudication, an adequate number of factors found by the common pleas court demonstrated that appellant was likely to commit a sexually oriented offense in the future. Namely, the court recognized the extremely deviant and violent nature of appellant's actions. Although appellant's conviction was based upon the single rape of a female, his use of a deadly weapon and extreme force during the rape demonstrates a higher likelihood of recidivism.
{¶ 34} Moreover, regardless of the victim's initial consent to have sex with appellant, it is clear that appellant forced her, by violent means, to engage in anal and oral intercourse. This is further corroborated by the victim's prior specific refusal to engage in anal sex and appellant's use of a firearm and handcuffs to restrain the victim.
{¶ 35} Although the psychological evaluation failed to expressly recommend that appellant be classified a sexual predator and determined him to be a moderate clinical risk to re-offend, while the actuarial risk was medium-low, this alone does not establish that the court's adjudication was against the manifest weight of the evidence. It is within the discretion of the trial court to assess the significance of the psychological evaluation's findings, including its weight and credibility, and then consider the totality of the circumstances presented in the case. State v. Davis, 11th Dist. No. 2002-L-127, 2003-Ohio-6741at ¶ 32. See, also, State v. Krivanek, 11th Dist. No. 2001-L-030, 2002-Ohio-3963, at ¶ 25.
{¶ 36} Here, the court was able to weigh the findings of the psychological evaluation against the surrounding circumstances and concluded that appellant should be classified a sexual predator. As mentioned previously, clear and convincing evidence confirmed the deviant and violent nature of appellant's conduct. In addition, the psychological evaluation diagnosed appellant with a multitude of various mental illnesses. These mental illnesses, in conjunction with the court's findings that appellant has no insight as to why he raped the victim, that he has anger problems, and that he has dominance control needs, further substantiate a sexual predator adjudication.
{¶ 37} Based upon the foregoing, the court's adjudication of appellant was not against the manifest weight of the evidence, as its judgment was supported by clear and convincing evidence. Appellant's first assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 38} Under his second assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred in sentencing him to an eight-year prison term on his rape conviction. Specifically, appellant contends that a mitigating factor existed based upon the victim facilitating the offense, per R.C.
{¶ 39} A reviewing court will not reverse a sentence unless the appellant establishes that the trial court failed to comply with the applicable statutory requirements or that it abused its discretion by failing to consider sentencing factors. State v. Rupert, 11th Dist. No. 2001-L-169, 2002-Ohio-7268, at ¶ 5. "The term `abuse of discretion' connotes more than an error of law or of judgment; it implies that the court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable." State v.Adams (1980),
{¶ 40} Under R.C.
{¶ 41} R.C.
{¶ 42}
The court's determination that the mitigating factor of R.C.
{¶ 43} R.C.
{¶ 44} Again, the record before us supports a finding that appellant has demonstrated a pattern of drug and alcohol abuse. Appellant's presentence report shows that he began consuming alcohol at the age of eleven. His use of alcohol increased, and by the age of fifteen appellant was consuming four beers and three shots of hard liquor on a daily basis. Nevertheless, appellant claimed that his use of alcohol had decreased, as he currently only consumes one to two beers annually. Appellant also noted that he had never attended related treatment. The court had sufficient evidence before it to disbelieve appellant's claim of having no current substance abuse problems.
{¶ 45} The presentence report further established that appellant had admitted to smoking marijuana when he was thirteen years old. He claimed, however, that his use of marijuana decreased with age and that he last smoked marijuana six years ago. Appellant further admitted to a history of using LSD, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, mushrooms, and Robitussin DM cough syrup. Despite this history of drug abuse, appellant maintained that he did not have a drug abuse problem and, therefore, never attended related treatment.
{¶ 46} Appellant's presentece report confirms that he claimed he no longer abused drugs or alcohol. The common pleas court may believe all, part, or none of appellant's self-serving statements that were incorporated in the presentence report, as it was in the best position to assess his credibility. See, e.g., State v. Postway, 12th Dist. No. CA2002-06-154, 2003-Ohio-2689, 2003 Ohio App. LEXIS 2434, at 8, citingState v. Hopfer (1996),
{¶ 47} Finally, whether appellant "shows genuine remorse" is a factor, per R.C.
{¶ 48} Here, appellant argues that his statements included in the presentence report demonstrated his remorse. Specifically, appellant submits that the presentence report confirmed that his actions made him feel "sick, depressed, and angry." Because the common pleas court was in a better position to evaluate the sincerity of appellant's statements, we find that the court was within its broad discretion to determine appellant had failed to show any remorse.
{¶ 49} Based upon the foregoing analysis, the court did not abuse its discretion by sentencing appellant to an eight year prison term on his rape conviction. Appellant's second assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 50} Under his third assignment of error, appellant contends that, per Blakely v. Washington (2004),
{¶ 51} In Blakely, the defendant pleaded guilty to kidnapping involving the use of a firearm, a class B felony. In the state of Washington, the statutory maximum for a class B felony was ten years; however, other provisions of Washington law limited the range of sentences a judge could impose. Consequently, the "standard" statutory range for the offense to which the defendant pleaded guilty was forty-nine to fifty-three months. Although the guidelines set forth the "standard" sentence, a court could enlarge the "standard" sentence if it found any of a non-exhaustive list of aggravating factors justifying the departure. In Blakely, the trial court determined the defendant acted with "deliberate cruelty" and imposed a sentence of ninety-months, a thirty-seven month upward departure from the "standard."
{¶ 52} The United States Supreme Court reversed the sentence, holding a trial court may not extend a defendant's sentence beyond the statutory maximum when the facts supporting the enhanced sentence are neither admitted by the defendant nor found by the jury. Id. The court defined the statutory maximum as "the maximum sentence a judge may impose solelyon the basis of the facts reflected in the jury verdict or admitted bythe defendant." Id. at 2537. (Emphasis sic.)
{¶ 53} Here, appellant pleaded guilty to rape under R.C.
{¶ 54} R.C.
{¶ 55} "(B) * * * if the court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a felony elects or is required to impose a prison term on the offender, the court shall impose the shortest prison term authorized for the offense pursuant to division (A) of this section, unless one or more of the following applies:
{¶ 56} "(1) The offender was serving a prison term at the time of the offense, or the offender previously served a prison term.
{¶ 57} "(2) The court finds on the record that the shortest prison term will demean the seriousness of the offender's conduct or will not adequately protect the public from future crime by the offender or others."
{¶ 58} The common pleas court did not determine that appellant had served a prior prison term. Instead, to support an upward departure from the minimum three-year prison term, the court relied upon a finding that the shortest prison term would demean the seriousness of appellant's conduct and not adequately protect the public from future crime.
{¶ 59} Appellant contends that to overcome the presumption of the minimum three-year prison term, the trial court engaged in a fact-finding process when it considered the factors of R.C.
{¶ 60} The instant case is distinguishable from Blakely because appellant tendered an unchallenged confession in addition to a voluntary plea. Such a confession did not exist in Apprendi or Blakely. The only admitted facts in those cases were contained within the respective guilty pleas. Barring further input from the Ohio Supreme Court as to when additional evidence may be considered, we conclude the trial court may use the facts admitted in an uncontested confession, in conjunction with a voluntary plea, to determine whether the shortest prison term would demean the seriousness of the offender's conduct or would not adequately protect the public from future crime. See, e.g., State v. Curd, 11th Dist. No. 2003-L-030, 2004-Ohio-7222, at ¶ 100.
{¶ 61} An examination of the guilty plea and the facts admitted by appellant demonstrates that the court could adequately consider the factors of R.C.
{¶ 62} In addition, appellant's guilty plea admitted to engaging in sexual conduct with another when purposefully compelling the other to submit by force or threat of force. See, e.g., R.C.
{¶ 63} Accordingly, appellant's sentence could be calculated without resolution of factual issues beyond the admitted facts. As applied in this matter, Ohio's sentencing scheme is not unconstitutional in light ofApprendi and Blakely. Appellant's third assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 64} Our analysis has determined that appellant's first, second and third assignments of error are without merit. We hereby affirm the judgment of the common pleas court.
Rice, J., concurs,
O'Neill, J., dissents with Dissenting Opinion.
Dissenting Opinion
{¶ 65} I must respectfully dissent. I believe Blakely v. Washington requires resentencing in this matter. Further, I disagree that a confession can be utilized to satisfy the "findings" necessary to depart from the minimum sentence in a criminal matter. Finally, I do not agree with the use of an element of an offense to justify a departure from the minimum sentence.
{¶ 66} In enacting Senate Bill 2, with an effective date of July 1, 1996, the Ohio General Assembly radically altered its approach to criminal sentencing. The new law essentially designated three classes of citizens who would have statutorily defined roles in determining the amount of time an individual would be incarcerated for a particular crime. The three classes defined were: (1) the Ohio General Assembly; (2) judges; and (3) jurors.
{¶ 67} Senate Bill 2 also provided three distinct areas of judicial limitations when it set about its task of providing "truth in sentencing." Those would be: (1) sentences imposed beyond the minimum; (2) sentences imposing the maximum; and (3) consecutive sentences. The objective was apparently to provide a degree of consistency and predictability in sentencing.
{¶ 68} It is clear that the legislature did not interfere with the role of juries to determine guilt. Thus, the first task in sentencing went to juries. In the second phase, the legislature reserved unto itself the role of establishing minimum sentences that would be imposed once the finding of guilt, either by trial or admission, was accomplished. And finally, the new law set forth the "findings" that were required before a judge would be permitted to depart from the minimum or impose consecutive sentences. Thus, everyone had a clearly defined role to play.
{¶ 69} The first major pronouncement by the Ohio Supreme Court concerned the "findings" necessary to support the imposition of a maximum sentence. In Edmondson, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that a trial court must "make a finding that gives its reasons" on the record for the imposition of a maximum sentence.1
{¶ 70} Following that pronouncement, the Supreme Court of Ohio, inState v. Comer, required the sentencing courts to make their "findings" and give reasons supporting those findings on the record "at the sentencing hearing."2 Thus, it is clear that the courts, in applying Senate Bill 2, imposed duties upon judges to make specific findings to support their sentences whenever they went beyond the minimum; or imposed maximum sentences or consecutive sentences.
{¶ 71} In 2004, however, the United States Supreme Court issued its judgment in Blakely v. Washington and made it clear that judges making "findings" outside a jury's determinations in sentencing violated constitutional guarantees.3 Specifically, the court held:
{¶ 72} "Our precedents make clear, however, that the `statutory maximum' for Apprendi purposes is the maximum sentence a judge may imposesolely on the basis of the facts reflected in the jury verdict oradmitted by the defendant. * * * In other words, the relevant `statutory maximum' is not the maximum sentence a judge may impose after finding additional facts, but the maximum he may impose without any additional findings. When a judge inflicts punishment that the jury's verdict alone does not allow, the jury has not found all the facts `which the law makes essential to the punishment,' * * * and the judge exceeds his proper authority."4
{¶ 73} Thus, it is clear that the statutory judicial "findings," which provide the framework for all sentencing in Ohio, are prohibited by the United States Supreme Court.
{¶ 74} Following the United States Supreme Court's release ofBlakely, this court determined that a trial court's reliance on a previous conviction as evidenced in the record would still be permissible for the purpose of imposing a sentence greater than the minimum.5 As stated by this court in State v. Taylor:
{¶ 75} "Under R.C.
{¶ 76} It is clear that, for Blakely purposes, a trial court is permitted to take judicial notice that a defendant has served a prior prison term, for that is not a "finding." It is a judicial acknowledgement of an indisputable fact. The trial court merely acknowledges the prior prison term and does not have to weigh conflicting evidence to make a factual finding. As such, a defendant's Sixth Amendment rights are not compromised by the exercise.
{¶ 77} Other courts have taken a more literal approach to this question, particularly in the area of maximum and consecutive sentences. I believe the Eighth District Court of Appeals properly applied theBlakely standard when it held:
{¶ 78} "This standard, however, must now be assessed in light of the United States Supreme Court ruling in Blakely v. Washington, * * * which states that the `statutory maximum' is not the longest term the defendant can receive under any circumstances, but is `the maximum sentence a judge may impose solely on the basis of facts reflected in the jury verdict or admitted by the defendant.'8 The jury did not make a finding that Quinones had committed a worst form of the offense or that he posed the greatest likelihood of recidivism, nor did he admit to either. * * * Therefore, the sentences * * * must be vacated and remanded for resentencing in light of Blakely."9
{¶ 79} I believe that a distinction must be made between "findings," which courts make to justify maximum or consecutive sentences and "acknowledging" the existence of a prior sentence in a criminal matter, which would permit the court to exercise its discretion in departing from a minimum sentence. Clearly, Blakely no longer permits courts in Ohio to "find" that a defendant has committed the "worst form of the offense" or that his actions predict the "greatest likelihood of recidivism" without either an admission by the defendant or a finding by the trier of fact.
{¶ 80} As so eloquently stated by the United States Supreme Court inBlakely: {¶ 81} "This case is not about whether determinate sentencing is constitutional, only about how it can be implemented in a way that respects the Sixth Amendment."10
{¶ 82} The court went on to state that the Sixth Amendment was not a "limitation of judicial power, but a reservation of jury power."11 In what I believe to be the true thrust of this landmark case, the United States Supreme Court finally held that "[t]he framers would not have thought it too much to demand that, before depriving a man of three more years of his liberty, the State should suffer the modest inconvenience of submitting its accusation to the `unanimous suffrage of twelve of his equals and neighbours,' * * * rather than a lone employee of the state."12
{¶ 83} As I noted in my dissenting opinion in State v. Curd, I do not believe the Blakely requirements can be satisfied through a defendant's confession.13 In this case, Schaub's confession was not admitted into evidence during a jury trial. Rather, it was admitted as an exhibit at the sentencing hearing. The majority labels the confession as "unchallenged." By entering a guilty plea, Schaub no longer needed to challenge the validity of his confession, since there was no trial.
{¶ 84} The ultimate holding of Blakely is that a defendant's Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial has been violated when a judge makes findings that increase a sentence based on facts not found by a jury or admitted as part of the plea agreement.14 Blakely is not overcome by considering extra-judicial admissions, introduced at a sentencing hearing before a judge.
{¶ 85} In addition, as I stated in my dissenting opinion in State v.Curd:
{¶ 86} "I am troubled by the majority's use of an element of an offense, in this case the `force or threat of force' in the rape statute, standing alone, as justification for a trial court to find that the minimum sentence would demean the seriousness of the crime. The Ohio Legislature has classified rape as a first-degree felony.15 As such, the Ohio Legislature has set the minimum term for the offense at three years.16 Finally, the Ohio Legislature has specifically indicated that in order to sentence a defendant to a term longer than the minimum, the court must make findings pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 87} In conclusion, I believe the trial court erred in sentencing the defendant to a term greater than the minimum in this matter; and, as a matter of law, I would hold that trial courts are only permitted to depart from the minimum sentence based upon facts admitted via a guilty plea or found by the trier of fact. The only exception I believe permissible, consistent with Blakely, is the indisputable fact of a prior conviction, which would then permit judges to do their statutory job. And that job is, and always has been, to sentence criminals within the determinate bracket established by the Ohio General Assembly.
