State v. WilliamsState v. Williams
Brian T. Goldberg, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellant.
David Kelley, Adams County Prosecutor, and Kris D. Blanton, Assistant Adams County Prosecutor, West Union, Ohio, for Appellee.
Smith, P.J.
{¶1} Pursuant to a voluntary plea of guilty, Jesse Lee Williams was convicted of involuntary manslaughter with a specification and tampering with evidence. Williams now appeals the judgment entry of sentence of the Court of Common Pleas, Adams County, dated February 22, 2019. On appeal, Williams asserts that the trial court erred with regard to imposition of a maximum consecutivе prison sentence of seventeen years. Upon review, we find no merit to Williams’ arguments. Accordingly, we overrule the assignments of error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
{¶2} Jesse Lee Williams, “Appellant,” pled guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter with specification, a violation of
{¶3} Appellant‘s indictment and convictions stemmed from tragic events which occurred in May 2018 at Appellant‘s grandmother‘s garage in Peebles, Ohio. The underlying facts are limited and, as the trial court later commented, a mystery. Appellant, age 20 at the time, killed his seventeen-year-old friend, Bladyn Skaggs, by shooting him at close range with a Smith & Wesson .38 special.
{¶4} During the trial court proceedings, Appellant maintained that the two were close friends who often discussed their emotional issues with each other. Appellant explained to investigating officers that on the incident date, Bladyn Skaggs came over to “hang out” after Skaggs got off work. Appellant initially told responding officers that the two had been talking and
{¶5} The record indicates that much of the physical evidence at the scene did not match Appellant‘s version of the events. For example, the victim‘s car‘s motor was running the entire time the young men were together, a matter of possibly 2-6 hours. Skaggs’ car was pulled up in the front yard in a peculiar manner, with the passenger door open, windshield wipers and headlights running. The pruning shears Appellant claimed the victim charged toward him with were found lying on a shelf with unbroken cobwebs on the handles. In addition to the blood found on and around Skaggs’ body, multiple abrasions were discovered on his forehead above both eyes.
{¶6} At sentencing, the trial court asked Appellant if he wanted to “clear up exactly what happened” and Appellant declined. When he spoke on his own behalf, Appellant stated: “The only thing I would like to say is
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
“I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF APPELLANT BY IMPROPERLY SENTENCING HIM TO CONSECUTIVE PRISON TERMS.”
“II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY IMPOSING A MAXIMUM CONSECUTIVE PRISON SENTENCE THAT WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD.”
“III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY INCLUDING IN THE SENTENCING ENTRY THAT MR. WILLIAMS SHALL BE RESERVED FOR DENIAL FOR TRANSITIONAL CONTROL AND IPP.”
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶7}
The court hearing an appeal under division (A), (B), or (C) of this section shall review the record, including the findings underlying the sentence or modification given by the sentencing court.
The appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence that is appealed under this section or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing court for
resentencing. The appellate court‘s standard for review is not whether the sentencing court abused its discretion. The appellate court may take any action authorized by this division if it clearly and convincingly finds either of the following: (a) That the record does not support the sentencing court‘s findings under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of section 2929.14, or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code, whichever, if any, is relevant;
(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.
State v. Pierce, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 18CA4, 2018-Ohio-4458, at ¶ 6.
{¶8} “[A]n appellate court may vacate or modify a felony sentence on appeal only if it determines by clear and convincing evidence that the record does not support the trial court‘s findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.” Pierce, supra, at ¶ 7, quoting, State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, 1. This is a deferential standard. Id. at 23. Furthermore, “appellate courts may not apply the abuse-of-discretion standard in sentencing-term challenges.” Id. at 10. Additionally, although
{¶9} Further, as noted by the Eighth District Court of Appeals:
It is important to understand that the “clear and convincing” standard applied in
R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) is not discretionary.In fact, R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) makes it clear that “[t]he appellate court‘s standard for review is not whether the sentencing court abused its discretion.” As a practical consideration, this means that appellate courts are prohibited from substituting their judgment for that of the trial judge.It is also important to understand that the cleаr and convincing standard used by
R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) is written in the negative. It does not say that the trial judge must have clear and convincing evidence to support its findings. Instead, it is the court of appeals that must clearly and convincingly find that the record does not support the court‘s findings. In other words, the restriction is on the appellate court, not the trial judge. This is an extremely deferential standard of review.
Pierce, supra, at ¶ 8, quoting State v. Venes, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98682, 2013-Ohio-1891, 992 N.E.2d 453, 20-21.
B. LEGAL ANALYSIS
1. Consecutive Sentence
{¶10} Appellant argues that the trial court could not impose
{¶11} Under
{¶12} Because a court speaks through its journal, State v. Brooks, 113 Ohio St. 3d 199, 2007-Ohio-1533, 863 N.E.2d 10224, at ¶ 47, the court should also incorporate its statutory findings in the sentencing еntry. State v. Bonnell, supra, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E. 3d 659, at ¶ 29; State v Hart, 4th Dist. Athens No. 13CA8, 2014-Ohio-3733, at ¶ 38. The findings required by the statute must be separate and distinct findings; in addition to any findings relating to the purposes and goals of criminal sentencing. Bever, supra, at ¶ 17; State v. Nia, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99387, 2013-Ohio-5424, at ¶ 22.
{¶13} In this case, the trial court not only made the required findings, but also fully explained the reasons in open court as it imposed the consecutive sentence. These specific findings will be more fully discussed below. However, given that the trial court made all of the necessary findings on the record before imposing consecutive sentences, we view the failure to incorpоrate the statutory findings into the sentencing entry as a simple clerical mistake. In State v Moore, 4th Dist. Adams No. 18CA1070, 2019-Ohio-1467, we observed at ¶ 20, “[S]uch a clerical mistake may be corrected by the court through a nunc pro tunc entry to reflect what actually occurred in open court.” Bonnell, supra, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, at ¶ 30.
{¶14} Based on the foregoing, it appears that we need not vacate nor remand the trial court‘s judgment. We hereby overrule Appellant‘s first assignment of error, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. However, pursuant to App.R. 9(E), we instruct the trial court to issue a nunc
2. Maximum Sentence
{¶15} Appellant was sentenced to eleven years, the maximum allowable sentence for involuntary manslaughter, and a stated prison term of three years on the specification for using a firearm to commit the offense of involuntary manslaughter. He was also sentenced to a prison term of three years for the tamрering with evidence conviction. A sentencing court must consider the purposes and principles of sentencing in accordance with
{¶16} As set forth above, appellate courts review felony sentences under the standard set forth in
{¶17}
(A) A court that sentences an offender for a felony shall be guided by the overriding purposes of felony sentencing. The overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the public from futurе 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 resources. To achieve those
purposes, the sentencing court shall consider the need for incapacitating the offender, deterring the offender and others from future crime, rehabilitating the offender, and making rеstitution to the victim of the offense, the public, or both. (B) A sentence imposed for a felony shall be reasonably calculated to achieve the three overriding purposes of felony sentencing set forth in division (A) of this section, commensurate with and not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender‘s conduct and its impact upon the victim, and consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar offenders.
(C) A court that imposes a sentence upon an offender for a felony shаll not base the sentence upon the race, ethnic background, gender, or religion of the offender.
{¶18}
{¶19} In this case, both the sentencing transcript and sentencing entry reflect that the trial court considered the record; the oral statements of counsel and Appellant; the oral statements of the victim‘s mother, grandmother, and older sister; a letter from the victim‘s eight-year old sister read into the record; twenty-five letters written оn behalf of Appellant; and the presentence investigation report. The trial court commented that the presentence investigation report was the ” largest, most voluminous presentence investigation report the Court has considered. And I think, for the right reasons. Thoroughness of the preparation of it by the probation department.” The record reflects the trial court also considered the
{¶20} Appellant‘s chief argument, however, is that his sentence is not clearly and convincingly supported by the record. Appellant assеrts that the trial court did not adequately consider the statutory sentencing factors. Appellant points to his very limited criminal record;1 his limited education; and his lack of history for alcohol or drug abuse. Because of these facts, Appellant concludes that the seventeen-year maximum sentence is excessive and not supported by the record. For the reasons which follow, we disagree.
{¶21} We have reviewed the entire record, including the presentence investigation report. The triаl court read from it at length during sentencing. Then, the trial court spoke of balancing the recidivism factors and stated that he could not find genuine remorse. While the trial court acknowledged the
Mr. Williams, where I take exception to the remorse is thоse of us that toil in this room, we seek only the truth. And you have refused to give the truth. * * * There‘s not a person that could figure out what happened because you refuse to tell us. What we know didn‘t happen is that Mr. Bladyn Skaggs did not have a weapon. * * * The physical evidence defies your words. And so we will always be left to wonder. And I think it‘s so unfair to Ms. Parker, to the sisters, to the father, to your own mother that you would leave them with such uncertainty. But what we know didn‘t happen is what you say happened. You talk about he approaches you and perceive that he had a knife and so you shield your face with a gun, you reach for a gun and shield your face and he gets shot in the side of the head in the left ear. It defies all logic.
The Court in its determination finds that two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct. The senseless murder and then the senseless blame of suicide and then the senseless tampering with the evidence and the multiple lies about the same.
{¶23} The court further found:
And the harm сaused by two or more of these multiple offenses is so great and so unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of this course of conduct on this evening would adequately reflect the seriousness of the offender‘s conduct. Again, it would be disingenuous to ever suggest that any of us would be able to understand
the pain of the Skaggs’ family, having not been through that. But the profound impact that you have had on the mother, the sister, the grandmother, the little sister is so great and so unusual that the sentences will be consecutive.
{¶24} We are required to afford deference to the trial court‘s broad discretion in making sentencing decisions; trial courts have great latitude and discretion in formulating the appropriate sentence. State v. Rahab, 150 Ohio St.3d 152, 2017-Ohio-1401, 80 N.E.3d 431, ¶ 10. Precedent refutes any contention that each statutory or other relevant factor is entitled to equal or a certain weight in the balancing process. Yost, supra, at ¶ 19; See State v. Graham, 4th Dist. Adams No. 17CA1046, 2018-Ohio-1277, at ¶ 25, rejecting the argument that because each of the statutory sentencing factors are mandatory, each is entitled to equal weight on balance, citing State v. Bailey, 4th Dist. Highland No. 11CA7, 2011-Ohio-6526, at ¶ 34, quoting State v. Arnett, 88 Ohio St.3d 208, 215, 724 N.E.2d 793 (2000) (“in considering the factors set forth in
{¶25} Here, we decline to second-guess the trial court‘s sentencing decision. The trial court was faced with a faсtual scenario in which one promising young life has been lost, another young life will be spent behind prison bars, and two families’ lives have been forever altered. Given the facts herein and the standard of review, we cannot conclude that Appellant‘s sentence is clearly and convincingly unsupported by the record. Therefore, we also find no merit to Appellant‘s second assignment of error. As such, it is hereby overruled.
3. Prison programming.
{¶26} The language of the trial court‘s order states the trial court has “reserved for denial” his participation in transitional control and IPP (“Intensive Program Prison“). Appellant asserts this “automatic” denial is improper. Appellant directs our attention to the Fifth Appellant District‘s decision in State v. Spears, 5th Dist. Licking No. 10CA-95, 2011-Ohio-1538, which held that it is error for the trial court to deny placement into prison programming at the time of sentencing. Appellant concludes that the matter should be remanded to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing. In
{¶27} We begin with the trial court‘s order as to IPP. IPP ” ’ refers to several ninety-day programs, for which certain inmates are eligible, that are characterized by concentrated and rigorous specialized treatment services. An inmate who successfully completes an IPP will have his/her sentence reduced to the amount of time already served and will be released on post-release supervision for аn appropriate time period.’ ” State v. Turner, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 103610, 1103611, 2016-Ohio-3325, at ¶ 28, quoting, State v. Peltier, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2018-CA-21, 2019-Ohio-569, at ¶ 20, quoting, State v. Howard, 190 Ohio App. 3d 734, 2010-Ohio-5283, 944 N.E. 2d 258, at ¶ 12 (2d Dist.), quoting the Ohio Department of Correction and Rehabilitation website. IPPs focus on ” ‘educational achievement, vocational training, alcohol and other drug abuse treatment, community service and conservation work, and other intensive regimens or combinations of intensive regimens.’ ” Howard, supra, at ¶ 10, quoting
{¶29} The trial court also “reserved for denial,” Appellant‘s ability to participate in the transitional control program.
“(2) * * * the adult parole authority shall give notice of the pendency of the transfer to transitional control to the court of common pleas of the county in which the indictment against the prisoner was found and of the fact that the court may disapprove the transfer of the prisoner to transitional control and shall include a report рrepared by the head of the state correctional institution in which the prisoner is confined. * * * If the court disapproves of the transfer of the prisoner to
transitional control, the court shall notify the authority of the disapproval within thirty days after receipt of the notice. If the court timely disapproves the transfer of the prisoner to transitional control, the authority shall not proceed with the transfer. If the court does not timely disapprove the transfer of the prisoner to transitional control, the authority may transfer the prisoner to transitional control.”
{¶30} As explained above, once the trial court is notified of the pendency to transitional control, the court still retains discretion to deny the transfer. When the legislature has meant for the judiciary to have the discretion to deny eligibility for prison programs, it has made its intent clear. State v. Livingston, 2014-Ohio-1637, 9 N.E.3d 1117, (1st Dist.), at ¶ 8. Furthermore, the trial court‘s language does not “automatically” deny participation. See Toennissen, supra, (Trial court retained the pоwer to reconsider and, if prudent, overturn its initial objection to transitional control.) Given the language of the prison programming statute, the trial court‘s language is unnecessary
{¶31} For the foregoing reasons, we find no merit to Appellant‘s third assignment of error. Accordingly, it is hereby overruled.
{¶32} Having overruled all assignments of error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. However, in our analysis of the first assignment of error, we havе found a clerical mistake. Therefore, pursuant to App.R. 9(E), we instruct the trial court to issue a nunc pro tunc sentencing entry that includes the required findings so as to accurately reflect the sentence imposed on the record during the sentencing hearing.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED WITH INSTRUCTIONS
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED WITH INSTRUCTIONS and costs be assessed to Appellant.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Adams County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into exеcution.
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 thе 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.
Abele, J. & McFarland, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court,
BY: __________________________________
Jason P. Smith, Presiding Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.