State v. Johnson, Unpublished Decision (12-21-2001)
State v. Johnson, Unpublished Decision (12-21-2001)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Defendant-appellant Quinton D. Johnson pled guilty to one count of Felonious Assault with a firearm specification, one count of Drug Possession, and one count of Intimidation. Johnson and the State jointly recommended a five year sentence for the Felonious Assault charge and an additional three years for the firearm specification, one year on the Intimidation charge, and five years on the Drug Possession charge, all to be served consecutively. The trial court accepted Johnson's plea, found him guilty, and sentenced him based on parties' sentencing recommendation. He now appeals from his conviction and sentence.Johnson asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective because counsel did not file a motion to dismiss certain claims based on speedy trial grounds. Additionally, he claims that the lower court erred by sentencing him to a prison term over and above the statutorily prescribed minimum sentence and by imposing consecutive sentences.
We conclude that Johnson's counsel was effective because the record does not support a motion to dismiss based on speedy trial grounds. Further, Johnson may not appeal his sentence because the judge imposed the sentence recommended jointly by the prosecution and Johnson. Accordingly, the trial court's judgment is Affirmed.
On June 29, 1999, Johnson appeared in court with his attorney. He pled guilty to one count of Felonious Assault with a firearm specification for the events that took place on August 15, 2001. In exchange for this plea, the two counts of Drug Possession and one count of Having Weapons While Under Disability were dismissed. He also pled guilty to the count of Drug Possession charged in March, 1999, and the count of Intimidation charged in April, 1999. The count of Bribery was also dismissed. As part of the plea agreement, both parties stipulated that Johnson was to receive a sentence of fourteen years' imprisonment.
The trial court accepted his plea, found him guilty, and sentenced him to five years on the Felonious Assault charge and an additional three years for the firearm specification, one year on the Intimidation charge, and five years on the Drug Possession charge. These sentences were to be served consecutively, for a total term of fourteen years. Johnson appeals from his conviction and sentence.
DEFENDANT'S TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE IN THAT DEFENDANT'S TRIAL COUNSEL DID NOT FILE A MOTION TO DISMISS PURSUANT TO REVISED CODE §
2945.71 ET SEQ.
In this assignment of error, Johnson asserts that he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his counsel failed to file a motion to dismiss on speedy trial grounds. Specifically, Johnson argues that counsel should have moved to dismiss the Felonious Assault and Drug Possession charges pursuant to R.C.
An individual ordinarily waives his right to appeal speedy trial issues when he enters a plea of guilty. Montpelier v. Greeno (1986),
To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, Johnson must show deficient performance on the part of his counsel resulting in prejudice to him. State v. Bradley (1989),
R.C. §
The time within which an accused must be brought to trial, or, in the case of a felony, to preliminary hearing and trial, may be extended only by the following:
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(D) Any period of delay occasioned by the neglect or improper act of the accused;
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(H) The period of any continuance granted on the accused's own motion, and the period of any reasonable continuance granted on the accused's own motion, and the period of any reasonable continuance granted other than upon the accused's own motion * * *.
The record shows Johnson was arrested on August 17, 1998. These charges were eventually dismissed, and he was reindicted for the same events on November 30, 1998. Both the Felonious Assault with firearm specification and Drug Possession charges are second-degree felonies. R.C.
In this case, the trial court set a trial date for March 10, 1999, which was well within the two hundred seventy day period. However, Johnson failed to appear for a hearing on February 24, 1999. He was subsequently arrested for bond violations on March 22, 1999. This twenty-six day period extends the period of time under which he could be brought to trial under R.C.
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO DEFENDANT'S PREJUDICE BY SENTENCING DEFENDANT TO A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OVER AND ABOVE THE STATUTORILY PRESCRIBED MINIMUM SENTENCE
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO APPELLANT'S PREJUDICE BY IMPOSING CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES
In these assignments of error, Johnson claims the trial court erred by sentencing him to more than the minimum sentence for the Felonious Assault with firearm specification and Drug Possession charges as required under R.C.
Johnson cannot raise issues regarding the trial court's sentencing on appeal because he agreed to the sentence that was imposed. R.C.
"A sentence imposed upon a defendant is not subject to review under this section if the sentence is authorized by law, has been recommended jointly by the defendant and the prosecution in case, and is imposed by a sentencing judge * * *."
A sentence is authorized by law under R.C.
Furthermore, the sentences were "recommended jointly by the defendant and prosecution." At Johnson's Plea and Disposition, the following dialogue occurred:
Mr. Ratstatter [Assistant Prosecutor]: The State would recommend to the Court and it's my understanding that the Defendant is in agreement with the following sentencing recommendations: On the felonious assault in the Ohio State Penitentiary, plus an additional three years for the firearm specifications, plus an additional three years for the firearm specification for a total of eight years. On the intimidation, the State will recommend a one year sentence. With respect to the drug abuse, the State will recommend five years in the Ohio State Penitentiary; and, again, it's my understanding that the Defendant agrees to the fact that those sentences will run consecutively for a total of 14 yeas in the Ohio State Penitentiary. Pursuant to the plea agreement, all other charges * * * would be dismissed at the motion of the State of Ohio.
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The Court: All right. Now, you've [Johnson] told the Court that you understand the nature of the charges and the elements of these offenses and that you understand that by pleading guilty you are admitting the truth of the facts which the Prosecutor has put on record, that you are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and that you have discussed the case and are satisfied with the advice your attorney has given you. Other than the promises that have been made by the State of Ohio, that is the agreement for a prison sentence of a total of 14 years and dismissal of all other charges that are included in these indictments and the agreement that the probation or community control that you are now under will be terminated, has there been any promises made to you to get you to make these pleas?
Defendant: No.
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The Court: And are you in agreement then with the recommendation that 14 years is a reasonable sentence for these offenses. Defendant: I don't think it's reasonable, but I have to deal with it.
The Court: You have agreed to that sentence?
Defendant: Yeah.
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The Court: I've gone over this case in some detail with Counsel and find the recommendation that has been agreed to by the parties to be fair and reasonable. Therefore, it is the order of the Court that as to 98-CR-659, Count one, felonious assault, the Defendant be sentenced to five years in the Ohio State Penitentiary. As to the firearm specification, Defendant be sentenced to three years in the Ohio State Penitentiary for a total of eight years on the offense. The three years must be served consecutively to the five years. As to the intimidation in 99-CR-169, it's the order of the Court the Defendant be sentenced to one year in the Ohio State Penitentiary. As to the possession of crack cocaine in 99-CR-158, Count One, it's the order of the Court the Defendant be sentenced to five years in the Ohio State Penitentiary; that the Defendant be fined $7500, his driver's license is suspended for five years. He is to pay the costs of all of these actions; and all of the sentences, the eight years in 659, the one year in 169, and the five years in 158, are to be served consecutively for a total of 14 years.
Finally, as evidenced by the record, the consecutive sentences were imposed by the sentencing judge. Because the sentence was authorized by law, recommended jointly by the prosecution and Johnson, and was imposed by the sentencing judge, Johnson cannot raise issues relating to his sentence as error on appeal.
Johnson's second and third assignments of error are overruled.
GRADY and YOUNG, J.J., concur.
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