State v. Catron III, Unpublished Decision (12-10-2001)
State v. Catron III, Unpublished Decision (12-10-2001)
Opinion of the Court
In October 1999 appellant was indicted on one count of possession of cocaine in violation of R.C.
Pursuant to a negotiated plea, appellant pled guilty to one count of possession of cocaine, a fifth degree felony, and one count of attempted tampering with evidence, a fourth degree felony. In December 1999, following a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced appellant to five years of community control. At this time, appellant was warned that he could face maximum, consecutive prison sentences on each charge if he violated the conditions of his community control.
On December 22, 1999, appellant failed a drug screen, testing positive for marijuana. Appellant was found guilty of violating the terms of his community control sanction and sentenced to six months in the Clermont County jail.
Appellant again tested positive for drugs, this time marijuana and cocaine, on January 26, 2001. Appellant was found guilty of violating the terms of his community control. The trial court revoked appellant's community control sanction and sentenced him to maximum prison terms, twelve months on the possession of cocaine charge, and eighteen months on the attempted tampering with evidence charge, to be served consecutively. Appellant appeals the sentences, raising two assignments of error:
Assignment of Error No. 1:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS IMPOSITION OF THE MAXIMUM PRISON TERM FOLLOWING A COMMUNITY CONROL VIOLATION HEARING.
An appellate court may not disturb a sentence imposed by a trial court unless it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the sentence is not supported by the record or is contrary to law or statute. R.C.
Pursuant to R.C.
The mere fact that the court has given notice that a particular sentence will be imposed if community control is violated does not mean that such a sentence should be imposed upon a community control violation. See State v. Yoh, (May 5, 2000), Auglaize App. No. 2-2000-01, unreported. Rather, the sentencing court must consider all relevant facts when sanctioning the violation and must select sanctions which are commensurate with the seriousness of the violation and which adequately protect the public from future crime by the offender. R.C.
In the present case, the court notified appellant at his original sentencing that he could be subject to twelve and eighteen-month prison terms if he violated the conditions of his community control sanction. After finding that appellant violated the conditions of his community control, the court imposed the prespecified prison terms. In doing so, the court complied with portions of R.C.
However, the court failed to comply with felony sentencing guidelines regarding imposition of maximum prison sentences. Pursuant to R.C.
(C) Except as provided in division (G) of this section or in Chapter 2925. of the Revised Code, the court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a felony may impose the longest prison term authorized for the offense pursuant to division (A) of this section only upon offenders who committed the worst forms of the offense, upon offenders who pose the greatest likelihood of committing future crimes, upon certain major drug offenders under division (D)(3) of this section, and upon certain repeat violent offenders in accordance with division (D)(2) of this section.
As set forth in R.C.
Although the trial court's finding that "the shortest prison term will not adequately protect the public from future crime by the Defendant" supports the imposition of a greater than minimum sentence, it is insufficient to impose the maximum sentence. R.C.
The first assignment of error is sustained. Appellant's sentence is vacated and this matter is remanded to the trial court for resentencing. Upon remand, if the court decides to impose the maximum prison term, the court may not do so in the absence of a record that reflects the finding of an offender characteristic described in R.C.
Assignment of Error No. 2:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS IMPOSITION OF CONECUTIVE TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT FOLLOWING A COMMUNITY CONTROL VIOLATION HEARING * * * IN VIOLATION OF R.C.
2929.14 (E)(4).
We find that our resolution of appellant's first assignment of error renders his second assignment of error moot.
Appellant's sentence is vacated and this matter is remanded to the trial court for resentencing.
YOUNG, P.J., and POWELL, J., concur.
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