State v. Starett, 07ca30 (2-13-2009)State v. Starett, 07ca30 (2-13-2009)
{¶ 1} This is аn appeal from an Athens County Common Pleas Court jury verdict finding Appellant, James Starett, guilty of felonious assault and domestic violence. As a result of the jury‘s determination of guilt, Appellant was sentenced to serve a term of eight years in prison, as well as an additional period of post-release control, in connection with the conviction for felonious assault, a felony of the second degree, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 2} On appeal, Appellant asserts that (1) the trial court erred by imposing a sentence without making a finding under R.C.
{¶ 3} Because we find that the trial court made the requisite findings under R.C.
FACTS
{¶ 4} On August 13, 2007, Appellant was indicted on a charge of felonious assault, a felony of the second degree, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 5} The trial court ordered that a pre-sentence investigation report be performed prior to sentencing; however, the record reveals that Appellant would not cooperate and that the report was unable to be performed. As such, the trial court was forced to rely upon the prior pre-sentence investigation report that was conducted in connection with the 2004
{¶ 6} The trial court ultimately sentenced Appеllant to a prison term of eight years on the felonious assault charge and twelve months on the domestic violence charge, to be served consecutively. It is from these convictions and sentences that Appellant now brings his timely appeal, assigning the following errors for our review.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
“I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY IMPOSING A SENTENCE WITHOUT MAKING A FINDING UNDER R.C.
II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY USING AN UNCOUNSELED PRIOR CONVICTION AS AN ELEMENT TO ENHANCE THE DEFENDANT‘S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONVICTION FROM A MISDEMEANOR TO A FELONY.
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN SENTENCING MR. STARETT TO SERVE MAXIMUM AND CONSECUTIVE PRISON TERMS.
IV. TRIAL COUNSEL PROVIDED CONSTITUTIONALLY
INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE, IN VIOLATION OF THE
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
{¶ 7} In his first assignment of error, Appellant contends that the trial court erred by imposing a sentence without making a finding under R.C.
{¶ 8} R.C.
“(5) If the comments of the defendant or the defendant‘s counsel, the testimony they introduce, or any of the other information they introduce alleges any factual inaccuracy in the presentence [sic] investigation report or the summary of the report, the court shall do either of the following with respect to each alleged factual inaccuracy:
(a) Make a finding as to the allegation;
(b) Make a determination that no finding is necessary with respect to thе allegation, because the factual matter will not be taken into account in the sentencing of the defendant.” R.C.
2951.03(B)(5) ; State v. Platz, Washington App. No. 01CA33; 2002-Ohio-6149; State v. Collins, Gallia App. No. 03CA29, 2004-Ohio-3606.
{¶ 9} Prior to sentencing, Appellant informed the trial court of an alleged inaccuracy in the PSI report, as summarized by the prosecution, namely that the report contained information that Appellant had been convicted of theft of a corpse in the state of Texas, a charge which Appellant asserted was untrue. Appellant argues that despite his allegation of this inaccuracy, the trial court did not make the findings as required by R.C.
{¶ 10} It appears from the rеcord that upon sentencing Appellant, the trial court referenced the PSI report that was conducted in connection with Appellant‘s 2004 domestic violence sentencing. A review of the transcript from the sentencing hearing reveals that although an accelerated PSI report was ordered to be performed prior to the sentencing at issue, Appellant apparently refused to cooperate. As a result, a new PSI was not able to be completed and, as such, the trial court relied on the 2004 PSI report instead.
{¶ 11} The record reveals that prior to the trial court‘s on the record review of the 2004 PSI report, the State attempted to summarize the contents of the report for the court, stating that the report indicated that Appellant had
“* * * so, here‘s what, here‘s what the Court has received and this is as of 2004 because I think there was not only the PSI but a violation report typed on April 28, 2004. In 1996 we‘ve got the Texas, whatever happened in Texas but it‘s indicated there were convictions on two counts of uh, burglary of a building and theft from a person or maybe theft of a person, I don‘t know. 2000 there is a DUI in Athens County. 2000 DUI in Tennessee. Criminal Trespass 2001 in Tennessee. In 2002 in Athens County there is aggravated assault, menacing, criminal damaging. Between 2001 and 2003 there were six disorderly conducts. In 2004 we‘ve got the domestic violence whiсh was the underlying for the domestic which made this underlying offense a felony and then 2003, a second degree burglary was reduced to a fourth degree burglary. Mr. Starett was placed on community control, went to SEPTA, and that was revoked and the Court had to send him to prison on that. So that‘s uh, if anybody wants to weigh in on anything else that‘s the record that the Court has received.” (Emphasis added).
{¶ 12} In response to the summary by the court, the State informed the court of an additional charge of DUI, drug paraphernalia and operating without a license in 2006. When given an opportunity to address the court prior to sentencing, Aрpellant again disputed the accuracy of the report with respect to the theft of a corpse, or theft of a person, conviction, stating that he felt like he was being “judged for it and it‘s not on record anywhere.” In
“BY THE JUDGE: Thank you. I don‘t uh, there is nothing I have that says theft of a corpse. It says, uh, that 96 thing says, theft from a person. So uh,
BY THE DEFENDANT: Maybe the prosecutor would like to explain because I have, he obviously has something on it, I‘m not understanding it because I feel like I‘m being judged for it.
BY THE JUDGE: Well I think you are being judged for everything that you‘ve done so-” (Emphasis added).
{¶ 13} We hold that although the trial court did not expressly make specific findings under R.C.
{¶ 14} Accordingly, we find that even if the trial court arguably erred in failing to follow the requisite procedures of R.C.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
{¶ 15} Appellant contends, in his second assignment of error, that the trial court erred by using an uncounseled prior conviction as an element to enhance the defendant‘s domestic violence conviction from a misdemeanor to a felony. Appellant contends that the specific issue to be decided is whether an uncounseled plea entered to a prior conviction resulting in jail time may be used as an element to enhance a subsequent charge from a misdemeanor to a felony. Thus, primarily at issue in this appeal is whether Appellant‘s 2004 domestic violence conviction was an uncounseled conviction, which could not be used to enhance thе degree of his current conviction to a fourth degree felony.
{¶ 16} If the instant domestic violence charge is considered a first offense, then it is deemed a misdemeanor of the first degree under
{¶ 17} In Brooke, the Supreme Court of Ohio set forth the following rule of law regarding uncounseled convictions: “Generally, a past conviction cannot be attacked in a subsequent case. However, there is a limited right to collaterally attack a conviction when the state proposes to use the past conviction to enhance the penalty of a later criminal offense. A conviction obtained against a defendant who is without counsel, or its corollary, an uncounseled cоnviction obtained without a valid waiver of the right to counsel, has been recognized as constitutionally infirm. State v. Brandon (1989), 45 Ohio St.3d 85, 86; Nichols v. United States (1994), 511 U.S. 738.” Id. at ¶ 9. Thus, “[a]n uncounseled misdemeanor conviction cannot be used to enhance a sentence in a later conviction. State v. Brandon at 87. An uncounseled conviction is one where the defendant was not represented by
{¶ 18} Although Appellant was not represented by an attorney during the 2004 plea hearing, he may not have been “uncounseled.” State v. Bonds, Cuyahoga App. No. 83866, 2004-Ohio-3483 at ¶ 10. An uncounseled conviction is one where the defendant was not represented by counsel and failed to make a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel.” Id.; citing State v. Vales (Feb. 24, 2000), Cuyahoga App. No. 75653, citing State v. Carrion (1992), 84 Ohio App.3d 27, 31, 616 N.E.2d 261. A defendant who is afforded the right to counsel but rejects that right has not suffered from an uncounseled conviction. Id.
{¶ 19} When an Appellant contests the use of a prior conviction on the ground that he or she has entered an uncounseled plea in the prior case, the burden is on the Appellant to introduce evidence to make a prima-facie showing of constitutional infirmity. Id. at ¶ 14. Thus, “[w]here questions arise concerning a prior conviction, a reviewing court must presume all underlying proceedings were conducted in accоrdance with the rules of law and a[n] [Appellant] must introduce evidence to the contrary in order to establish a prima-facie showing of constitutional infirmity.” Brooke at ¶ 11.
{¶ 20} In determining whether the right to counsel was properly waived in a prior case, a distinction is made between “serious offenses” and “petty offenses.” Neely at ¶ 20.
{¶ 21}
“(E) In misdemeanor cases involving petty offenses the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or no contest, and shall not аccept such pleas without first informing the defendant of the effect of the plea of guilty, no contest, and not guilty.
The counsel provisions of
“(B) Counsel in petty offenses
Where a defendant charged with a petty offense is unable to obtain counsel, the court may assign counsel to represent him. When a defendant charged with a petty offense is unable to obtain counsel, no sentence of confinement may be imposed upon him, unless after being fully advised by the court, he knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waives assignment of counsel.
(C) Waiver of counsel
Waiver of counsel shall be in open court and the advice and waiver shall be recorded as provided in Rule 22. In аddition, in serious offense cases the waiver shall be in writing.”
{¶ 22}
{¶ 23} Appellant argues that he met his initial burden of establishing that his plea in 2004 was uncounseled and maintains that the state cannot satisfy its burden to establish that his plea was knowingly and voluntarily made. He relies on the transcript from the plea hearing to support his position. The State also relies on the same transcript in support of its position that the waiver of counsel was knowingly and intelligently made. Further, the State relies on the written waiver, which was signed by
{¶ 24} A review of the transcript reveals the following colloquy in open court.
“Court: * * * On the domestic violence, you heard what I told the other gentleman as far as being a prеcursor offense, uh, that if convicted of that, a second offense would be a felony? Do you understand that? Do you know what plea you wish to issue, enter to the domestic violence? Not guilty?
Starett: Guilty. Guilty.
Court: If you wish to enter a plea of guilty, uh, you understand you
have a right to an attorney? If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.
Starett: There‘s not one needed.
Court: Hm?
Starett: It‘s not one needed.
Court: All right. There‘s a form, uh, on the desk there called Waiver
of Counsel. I‘d like you to take a minute and read through that. What that says, uh, is that you, uh, understand that you do have a right to an attorney but you choose not to have one.
Starett: No contest, cause I reаlly don‘t know what happened, sir. Uh, I know one thing, uh. I‘d like to say my alcohol [unintelligible]. That‘s how it happened. I‘m sure I‘m guilty of it, cause I was drinking, so. I mean, no contest. I‘m guilty.
Court: Questions on the waiver of counsel?
Starett:
No.”
{¶ 26} In light of these facts, we find there was sufficient evidence in the record to demonstrate that the 2004 waiver occurred in open court, and although not mandated for a petty offense, that the waiver was put into writing and made part of the record. There is also evidence that the trial court explained to Appellant in open court, that if he signed the waiver form, he was аcknowledging that he understood that he was giving up his right to counsel, and also that the crime he was pleading no contest to was a precursor offense that would enhance a second offense to a felony. Thus, Appellant was afforded the right to counsel, which he rejected. As such, his prior plea and conviction were not uncounseled. State v. Carrion, supra at 31. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not err in allowing the prior domestic violence conviction to be used to enhance the subsequent offense. Accordingly, Appellant‘s second assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III
{¶ 27} In his third assignment of error, Appellant contends that the trial court erred in sentencing him to serve maximum and consecutive prison terms. Appellant asserts that the specific issue to be decided is whether the Supreme Court of Ohio‘s remedy in State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, violates the due process clauses of the state and federal constitutions, and whether the Ohio Revised Code, in its current state, authorizes maximum and consecutive prison terms. In particular, Appellant argues that the court‘s holding in Foster deprived him of his liberty interest in the statutory presumption in favor of less-than-maximum and concurrent sentences, an argument which we recently considered in State v. Montgomery, Adams App. No. 07CA858, 2008-Ohio-4753. In Montgomery, we noted that “we have consistently held that the trial court does not violate due process principles by following the remedy mandated by the Supreme Court of Ohio in Foster,” and thus, we adhered to that ruling once again.
{¶ 28} In Foster, the Supreme Court of Ohio found that several of Ohio‘s sentencing statutes, including R.C.
{¶ 29} The Supreme Court released its decision in Foster on February 27, 2006, and the trial court entered Appellant‘s sentences on September 26, 2007. Although he could have raised the argument that his sentences violated due-process principles with the trial court so that it could address the issue, he failed to do so. By not raising this argument in the trial court,
{¶ 30} Nonetheless, and as in Montgomery, Appellant relies on Hicks v. Oklahoma (1980), 447 U.S. 343, 100 S.Ct. 2227, 65 L.Ed.2d 175, for the proposition that, at the time he committed his crimes, Senate Bill 2 created a liberty interest in the statutory presumption that the sentences imposed would consist of a minimum term of imprisonment served concurrent to each other. Appellant‘s reliance is misplaced.
{¶ 31} In Hicks, the trial court instructed the jury that if it found the defendant guilty, it must sentence him to 40-years imprisonment under the habitual offender statute. The jury found the defendant guilty and imposed the mandatory 40-year term. Between the defendant‘s sentencing and his appeal, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals struck down this provision of the habitual offender statute. On appeal, Hicks sought to have his sentence set aside in light of the unconstitutionality of the provision mandating a sentence of 40-years. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed his sentence, concluding that the defendant suffered no prejudice because the sentence handed down was within the range that could have been imposed for his offense. The Supreme Court of the United States reversed. Noting that the
{¶ 32} In Hicks, then, the defendant had an absolute statutory right to have the jury set his term of imprisonment, a right that was impaired by the failure of the jury to know that it could hand down a sentence less than 40-years imprisonment. In contrast, Appellant had no entitlement to minimum, lеss-than-maximum, or concurrent sentences, either at the time he committed his offense or at the time the court entered his sentence. As we have previously explained,
“[t]he law before Foster never mandated imposition of minimum sentences on offenders who had not previously served a prison term, as appellant asks us to do here. By demanding application of a presumption in favor of a minimum sentence, but not allowing any means by which the presumption can be overcome, `appellant essentially seeks the benefit of a state of law that never existed.‘” State v. Hardesty, Pickaway App. No. 07CA2, 2007-Ohio-3889, at ¶ 12, quoting State v. Rosado, Cuyahoga App. No. 88504, 2007-Ohio-2782, ¶ 7, quoting in turn State v. Paynter, 5th Dist. No. CT2006-0034, 2006-Ohio-5542, at ¶ 39.
{¶ 33} Appellant also relies on Hicks for the proposition that the Foster remedy deprived him of his “substantial liberty interest in the appellate procedures devised by the state legislature to ensure compliance with the statutory [sentencing] scheme.” Again, we considered this exact argument in State v. Montgomery, supra. As in Montgomery, Appellant does not explain how his right to meaningful appellate review has been altered by the court‘s decision in Foster. Montgomery at ¶ 26. In any case, we have explained that “`[a defendant‘s] right to appeal any sentence that was contrary to law remained the same before and after Foster.‘” State v. Shepherd, Scioto App. No. 06CA3106, 2008-Ohio-3350, at ¶ 11, quoting VanHoose at ¶ 26.
{¶ 34} Finally, Appellant argues that in addition to violating his right to due process, his sentences were illegal because consecutive sentences are no longer supported by Ohio law. Appellant argues that the only authorization for consecutive sentences is found in R.C.
“`the common law vests trial courts with the authority to impose consecutive sentences without a statute to the contrary.” As we observed in Hogan, that argument ignores the Foster decision where the Ohio Supreme Court held “[t]rial courts have full discretion to impose a prison sentence within the statutory range and are no longer required to make findings or give their reasons for imposing maximum, consecutive, or more than the minimum sentences.” Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, at paragraph seven of the syllabus. The Foster court also observed, “If an offender is sentenced to multiple prison terms, the court is not barred from requiring those terms to be served cоnsecutively. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, at ¶ 105.‘”
Therefore, consecutive sentences are authorized under the current state of the law.
{¶ 35} Further, with respect to the imposition of consecutive
sentences, the Unites States Supreme Court recently reasoned that:
“Most States continue the common-law tradition: They entrust to judges’ unfettered discretion the decision whether sentences for discrete offenses
shall be served consecutively or concurrently. In some States, sentences for multiple offenses are presumed to run consecutively, but sentencing judges may order concurrent sentences upon finding cause therefore. * * * It is undisputed that States may procеed on the first two tracks without transgressing the Sixth Amendment .” Oregon v. Ice (2009), ___ S.Ct. ___, 2009 WL 77896.Thus, Ohio‘s revised sentencing scheme, post-Foster, which essentially allows trial judges the discretion to impose or not impose consecutive sentences, passes constitutional muster, according to Oregon, supra.2
{¶ 36} Accordingly, because Appellant has failed to demonstrate that the trial court‘s order requiring maximum and consecutive sentences has resulted in a denial of due process, either at the trial or appellate level, and because Appellant has failed to demonstrate that consecutive sentences are contrary to law, we conclude that his third assignment of error is withоut merit and is therefore overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV
{¶ 37} In his fourth assignment of error, Appellant contends that trial counsel provided constitutionally ineffective assistance in violation of the
{¶ 38} We begin our review of Appellant‘s assigned error by considering the test for determining ineffective assistance of counsel. To obtain the reversal of a conviction on grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel, an appellant must show (1) his counsel‘s performance was deficient, and (2) such deficient performance prejudiced the defense so as to deprive him of a fair trial. State v. Shepherd, Scioto App. No. 3106, 2008-Ohio-3350; citing Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052; State v. Issa (2001), 93 Ohio St.3d 49, 67, 2001-Ohio-1290, 752 N.E.2d 904. To demonstrate prejudice, an appellant must show a reasonable probability exists that, but for the alleged errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. State v. White (1998), 82 Ohio St.3d 16, 23, 1998-Ohio-363, 693 N.E.2d 772; State v. Bradley (1989), 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373, at paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶ 39} Because the trial court did not err by imposing maximum and consecutive sentences, Appellant cannot show that trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to raise this argument. Shepherd, supra. Further, because the imposition of a non-minimum sentence in this case did not violate due process principles, Appellant cannot show either a
{¶ 40} Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and that the Appellee recover of 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 Athens County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Exceptions.
Kline, P.J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion as to Assignments of Error I, II, and IV, and Concurs in Judgment Only as to Assignment of Error III. Abele, J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion.