State v. Boyd, Unpublished Decision (9-27-1999)
State v. Boyd, Unpublished Decision (9-27-1999)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Defendant-appellant Albert Jay Boyd appeals the January 13, 1999 Sentencing Judgment Entry of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.I. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND ERRED IN IMPOSING GREATER THAN THE MINIMUM SENTENCES AND EACH COUNT OF CONVICTION, SAID SENTENCES BEING CONTRARY TO LAW AND NOT SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD, AND THE TRIAL COURT HAVING FAILED TO MAKE THE REQUISITE FINDINGS TO SUPPORT THE SAME.
II. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND ERROR DIN IMPOSING THE MAXIMUM PRISON TERMS ON COUNTS ONE AND THREE OF CONVICTION, SAID SENTENCES BEING CONTRARY TO LAW AND NOT SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD, AND THE TRIAL COURT HAVING FAILED TO MAKE THE REQUISITE FINDINGS TO SUPPORT THE SAME.
III. THE TRIAL ABUSED [SIC] ITS DISCRETION AND ERRED IN IMPOSING CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES ON ALL THREE COUNTS OF CONVICTION, SAID SENTENCES BEING CONTRARY TO LAW AND NOT SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD, AND THE TRIAL COURT HAVING FAILED TO MAKE THE REQUISITE FINDINGS TO SUPPORT THE SAME.
IV. APPELLANT BOYD WAS DENIED THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL IN PROCEEDINGS BELOW:
A. TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE IN FAILING TO SEEK SUPPRESSION OF APPELLANT BOYD'S TAPED STATEMENT OF NOVEMBER 8, 1998.
B. TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE AT THE PLEA AND SENTENCING STAGES OF THESE PROCEEDINGS.
Standard of Review
As a preliminary matter, we note we no longer review sentencing under an abuse of discretion standard. After 1995 Senate Bill 2, an appellate court's review of an appeal from a sentence was modified. R.C.
(a) That the record does not support the sentence;
* * * (d) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.
Accordingly, we review the sentence under the new guidelines. In reviewing a sentence on appeal, R.C.
(1) Any presentence, psychiatric, or other investigative report that was submitted to the court in writing before the sentence was imposed. * * *
(2) The trial record in the case in which the sentence was imposed;
(3) Any oral or written statements made to or by the court at the sentencing hearing at which the sentence was imposed.
(4) Any written findings that the court was required to make in connection with the modification of the sentence pursuant to Judicial release under division (H) of section
Accordingly, in addition to the items contained in the original record herein, we have reviewed the victim impact statement. This was the only other "presentence, psychiatric or other investigative" report presented to the court in writing before the imposition of sentence.
(Emphasis added).
In its Journal Entry, the trial court found: The court finds pursuant to Revised Code
Specifically * * * the Court finds that the injury to the victim was exacerbated by the age of the victim, as [juxtaposed] with the age of the defendant. * * *
* * * More specifically, the victim was the niece of and is the niece of the defendant.
Its' also the Court's understanding * * the defendant initiated the contact with the victim.
The trial court made a specific finding on the record the shortest prison term would demean the seriousness of the offense and would not adequately protect the public. The court then supported this finding with record evidence. Because we find the trial court's decision was supported by the record, we find no error in the trial court's decision to impose a sentence greater than the minimum.
We read this statute in the disjunctive. Accordingly, a maximum sentence may be imposed if the trial court finds any of the above listed offender categories applies. In imposing the maximum sentence for the rape charge and the gross sexual imposition charge, the trial judge stated at the sentencing hearing: Again, the Court reiterates that there were several incidents of sexual misconduct, a minimum of eight, and * * * the victim, as well as others, but in particular, the victim was videotaped while she was sleeping; therefore, videotaped surreptitiously.
And for these reasons, * * * with respect to these counts, the Court, * * * is going to, in addition, impose the maximum term as to some of the counts, * * * finding that the defendant has, * * * committed the worst form of the offense.
So with respect to the one count of rape, which is a felony in the first degree, the Court sentences the defendant to ten years in prison, which is the maximum.
With respect to the one count of gross sexual imposition, which is a felony in the third degree, Court is, is sentencing the defendant to five years, which is the maximum.
In the January 13, 1999 Judgment Entry, which memorialized the sentencing hearing, the trial court stated it considered the record, oral statement, "any victim impact statement and presentence report prepared," as well as the principles and purposes of sentencing under the Ohio Revised Code Section
The offender's relationship with the victim facilitated the offense. The defendant is the uncle of the victim and the victim's parents entrusted the defendant with babysitting their daughter on numerous occasions, even allowing her to spend nights at her grandparents' house where the defendant lived.
The Court also finds that the defendant established a pattern of sexual misconduct involving approximately eight (8) incidents of abuse spanning a period of six (6) months and ending only when discovered by relatives.
The offender surreptitiously video taped the victim, partially nude as well as video taping himself masturbating and surreptitiously videotaping two neighborhood girls during their daily activities. For the foregoing reasons and those stated on the record, pursuant to Revised Code Section
[Appellant]: Touching, I mean, I, I did go down on her once. [Officer]: When you . . .
[Appellant]: . . . Not gonna lie about that . . .
[Officer]: When you say you went down on her, what did you do?
[Appellant]: I just licked her once I mean, I mean, I didn't try to have sex with her, or . . .
[Officer]: . . . but you had oral sex with her?
[Appellant]: Yes.
Further, without her knowledge or consent, appellant videotaped his niece sleeping. That appellant used this tape for repeated sexual gratification is strongly implied by the fact appellant posed his sleeping victim, exposing her chest for the video. Finally, the fact appellant videotaped two neighborhood girls, again surreptitiously, indicates appellant was taking concrete steps toward victimizing other young girls. We agree with the trial court appellant is an offender who poses the greatest likelihood of recidivism. We find by clear and convincing evidence the trial court's findings the maximum sentence for each offense was warranted is supported by the record. For these reasons, appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
* * *
(b) The harm caused by the multiple offenses was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of a single course of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender's conduct.
In its January 13, 1999 Judgment Entry the trial court recited the appropriate statutory language for consecutive sentences under
No other evidence was provided to the court relative to the victim's mental health. In sentencing, the trial court stated "the victim has suffered serious, * * * psychological harm. This is something that will, in all likelihood, affect this victim for the rest of her life. And it has been indicated to the court that the victim is currently in counseling." T. at 21. The court does not indicate how it received this information. In the January 13, 1999 Judgment Entry, the trial court stated: The mental injury suffered by the victim was exacerbated by the age of the victim * * * The victim suffered serious psychological harm as a result of the offense and remains in counseling to this date.
The record arguably supports the trial court's finding the victim is currently in counseling. However, no record evidence exists to support the trial court's finding the victim suffered serious psychological harm which in all likelihood, will affect her for the rest of her life. To render such a finding merely based upon the fact the victim is in counseling, represents a quantum leap. We find the record does not support a finding satisfying R.C.
This matter is remanded to the trial court for resentencing consistent with this opinion and law.
By: Hoffman, J. Wise, P.J. and Gwin, J. concur.
Concurring Opinion
I concur in the majority's opinion and write separately only to suggest that a pre-sentence investigation report, in cases such as this, could be of utmost assistant to the trial court when it is considering the imposition of maximum, concurrent sentences. Much of what the trial court finds, concerning the victim in this case, may be true and known to the trial court from information contained outside the record. Common sense alone would lead most people to conclude that a child who suffers the abuse that this child suffered will have severe emotional problems. However, without some record to support this conclusion, neither the trial court nor this court may presume such.
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