State v. Gordon, Unpublished Decision (6-26-2001)
State v. Gordon, Unpublished Decision (6-26-2001)
Opinion of the Court
On August 18, 1995, Appellant Adrian Gordon was indicted on one count of aggravated robbery in violation of R.C. §
Pursuant to a Crim.R. 11 plea agreement, the State of Ohio amended the charge of aggravated robbery to a single count of theft in violation of R.C. §
Following a hearing pursuant to Crim.R. 11(C), the trial court accepted Appellant's guilty pleas. After a pre-sentence investigation the trial court sentenced Appellant to an indefinite term of two to five years of incarceration for theft and to a definite term of fifteen months of incarceration for possession of cocaine. The trial court ordered the sentences to run concurrently and filed separate judgment entries on the sentencing for each charge on June 12, 1998.
On July 17, 1998, Appellant filed a motion to file a delayed appeal and his notice of appeal. On August 10, 1998, we sustained Appellant's motion.
On February 19, 1999, Appellant's appointed counsel filed a "Motion to Dismiss Appeal," arguing that the record does not support any appealable issues. Subsequently, we granted Appellant thirty days to raise any prose assignments of error. Appellant acting pro se has not responded within the allotted time.
In State v. Toney (1970),
"3. Where a court-appointed counsel, with long and extensive experience in criminal practice, concludes that the indigent's appeal is frivolous and that there is no assignment of error which could be arguably supported on appeal, he should so advise the appointing court by brief and request that he be permitted to withdraw as counsel of record.
"4. Court-appointed counsel's conclusions and motion to withdraw as counsel of record should be transmitted forthwith to the indigent, and the indigent should be granted time to raise any points that he chooses, pro se.
"5. It is the duty of the Court of Appeals to fully examine the proceedings in the trial court, the brief of appointed counsel, the arguments pro se of the indigent, and then determine whether or not the appeal is wholly frivolous.
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"7. Where the Court of Appeals determines that an indigent's appeal is wholly frivolous, the motion of court-appointed counsel to withdraw as counsel of record should be allowed, and the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed."
Id., syllabus of the court.
We have also determined that in the absence of appointed counsel's request to withdraw and in the absence of any pro se argument, our analysis on appeal concerns only the fifth element of State v. Toney.State v. Sanguinetti (March 30, 1999), Mahoning App. No. 94 C.A. 229, unreported. Upon a thorough review of the record and transcripts before us, we must conclude that this appeal is wholly frivolous.
As Appellant was convicted and sentenced pursuant to his guilty pleas, the most likely grounds for possible appeal involve the trial court's acceptance of those pleas and the propriety of sentencing. With respect to the Appellant's pleas, before accepting a plea of guilty to a felony, the trial court must personally address a defendant and determine that the plea is made voluntarily and with the understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum penalty involved and, if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for probation or community control sanctions. Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a). The trial court must also inform the defendant of the effect of his guilty plea and determine that the defendant understands this effect. The trial court may then proceed directly to sentencing. Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b). Finally, it is incumbent upon the trial court to inform the defendant, and to determine that the defendant understands, that by making his plea the defendant is waiving his rights to jury trial, to confront witnesses, to have compulsory process for obtaining favorable witnesses and to require the state to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial where the defendant cannot be compelled to testify against himself or herself. Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c).
The record in the present case contains a transcript of the hearing held pursuant to Crim.R. 11(C). Our review of this transcript reveals that the trial court conducted a conscientious inquiry of Appellant and made all necessary determinations pursuant to Crim.R. 11(C). Any appeal of Appellant's guilty plea would therefore be frivolous.
With respect to the sentences imposed by the trial court, we note that the theft charge stemmed from events prior to revisions in Ohio sentencing law pursuant to Senate Bill 2, effective July 1, 1996, while the cocaine possession charge emanated from events subsequent to the enactment of Senate Bill 2 revisions. Sentences for crimes committed prior to the enactment of Senate Bill 2 are reviewed under the abuse of discretion standard. State v. Perkins (1994),
Since the passage of Senate Bill 2, appeals of felony sentences have been subject to R.C. §
"(a) That the record does not support the sentence;
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"(d) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law."
Pursuant to R.C. §
In the matter before us, the record reflects that the trial court considered overriding purpose of felony sentencing. (Sentencing Tr. p. 12). The trial court also considered appropriate seriousness and recidivism factors. (Sentencing Tr. p. 12). The record in its entirety supports Appellant's sentence and the sentence is not contrary to law. Therefore, any appeal of Appellant's post Senate Bill 2 sentence would be wholly frivolous.
As our review of the record has revealed no appealable issue, the judgment and sentence of the trial court is hereby affirmed.
Vukovich, P.J. concurs.
Donofrio, J., concurs.
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