State v. Linscott, Unpublished Decision (1-10-2001)
State v. Linscott, Unpublished Decision (1-10-2001)
Opinion of the Court
Defendant was indicted on two counts of gross sexual imposition, in violation of R.C.
The treatment program terminated Defendant from the program after nine days, and he was charged with a community control violation. Defendant then pled not guilty to the community control violation. Defendant requested and was allowed to have another psychological evaluation performed. Following a hearing, the trial court found that Defendant violated the terms and condition of his probation and sentenced him to the maximum sentence of five years in prison on each count of gross sexual imposition. The court further ordered that each term was to be served consecutively, for a total of ten years. Defendant timely appealed. This Court consolidated the appeals. Defendant has raised five assignments of error, which have been rearranged for ease of review.
Where this severely mentally ill defendant was induced to plead guilty by the illusory promise of a probation-required treatment program for which he was in fact ineligible because of his mental illness, the plea is invalid and the trial court erred in accepting the plea:
A. Without first ordering a competency evaluation;
B. Without first enforcing its order that Defendant be interviewed for acceptance into the treatment program;
C. Without protecting Defendant's right to effective counsel who would ensure that such competency evaluation was made and that such court-ordered interview was accomplished.
In his first assignment of error, Defendant actually presents four separate assignments of error. Defendant has asserted that the trial court erred when it (1) accepted Defendant's guilty plea because it was based on false representations; (2) failed to order a competency evaluation; (3) failed to enforce its order that Defendant be interviewed for acceptance into the treatment program; and (4) failed to protect Defendant's right to effective assistance of counsel.
Prior to accepting a guilty plea from a defendant, the trial court must substantially comply with the requirements of Crim.R. 11(C). State v.Ballard (1981),
In felony cases the court * * * shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest without first addressing the defendant personally and doing all of the following:
(a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, with understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum penalty involved[.]
(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant understands the effect of the plea of guilty[.]
(c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant understands that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury trial * * *.
Substantial compliance with Crim.R. 11(C) is determined upon a review of the totality of the circumstances. State v. Flint (1986),
36 Ohio App.3d 4 ,7 .
Upon a review of the lengthy colloquy between the trial court and Defendant, we find that the trial court sufficiently explained Defendant's constitutional rights and the possible penalties. We find that the court sufficiently complied with Crim.R. 11(C) in accepting Defendant's guilty plea.
We further find that there was no false representation involved in this plea bargain. The record indicated that upon Defendant's arrival at the treatment program, he was interviewed by Lori Brusman, a psychiatric social worker who served as part of the clinical assessment team for the program. At that time Brusman assessed that Defendant suffered from "Bipolar I Disorder," among other diagnoses. Defendant was subsequently admitted to the program, where he spent nine days before being discharged for "bizarre behaviors." As evidenced by the record, the treatment program staff knew about Defendant's mental illness prior to his admittance. Additionally, the treatment program was willing to take him back after he was discharged. Clearly, Defendant's mental illness was not a barrier to gaining admittance into the program. The trial court did not err when it accepted Defendant's guilty plea.
"A competency hearing is not automatically mandated when a defendant enter[s] a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity." State v. Kulp
(1996),
[i]f the issue of a defendant's competence to stand trial is raised or if a defendant enters a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, the court may order one or more evaluations of the defendant's present mental condition or, in the case of a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, of the defendant's mental condition at the time of the offense charged.
"[T]he right to a hearing on the issue of competency rises to the level of a constitutional guarantee where the record contains `sufficient indicia of incompetence,' such that an inquiry into the defendant's competency is necessary to ensure the defendant's right to a fair trial." State v. Berry (1995),
72 Ohio St.3d 354 ,359 . The presence of mental illness does not necessarily equate with incompetency. Id. at 362; accord R.C.2945.37 (F). Thus, the decision to order a competency evaluation is vested in the sound discretion of the trial court and its decision cannot be reversed absent a showing of an abuse of discretion. See Prudential Ins. Co. Of America v. Hashman (1982),7 Ohio App.3d 55 ,58 . An abuse of discretion is more than an error of judgment, but instead demonstrates "perversity of will, passion, prejudice, partiality, or moral delinquency." Pons v. Ohio State Med. Bd. (1993),66 Ohio St.3d 619 ,621 .
In this case, Defendant never specifically requested a hearing on the issue of competency. Nevertheless, Defendant apparently argues that the trial court should have sua sponte conducted a hearing on the issue. Upon Defendant's plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, the court ordered an evaluation of Defendant to determine his mental condition at the time of the offense, as allowed by R.C.
We conclude that the issue of Defendant's competency was not raised prior to trial and an evaluation or hearing on that issue was not mandatory. Defendant has failed to demonstrate any abuse of discretion in not ordering a competency evaluation.
The record indicates that defense counsel never requested the court to enforce its order. Assuming arguendo that the jail staff violated the trial court's order to allow the interview, Defendant never called it to the attention of the court at a time when it could have been corrected. Therefore, we conclude that because Defendant failed to ask the trial court for relief, this error was waived. See State v. Graham (Oct. 31, 1997), Clark App. No. 96-CA-106, unreported, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 4783, at *17.
The standard for evaluating an ineffective assistance of counsel claim was enunciated by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Bradley (1989),
2. Counsel's performance will not be deemed ineffective unless and until counsel's performance is proved to have fallen below an objective standard of reasonable representation and, in addition, prejudice arises from counsel's performance.
3. To show that a defendant has been prejudiced by counsel's deficient performance, the defendant must prove that there exists a reasonable probability that, were it not for counsel's errors the result of the trial would have been different.
(Citations omitted).
Given the fact that the record indicates that Defendant was admitted to the treatment program despite the staff's knowledge of his mental illness, it cannot be said that counsel's recommendation to place him in the program fell below an objective standard of reasonable representation.
Defendant's first assignment of error is overruled.
Where the trial court did not follow the statutory sentencing guidelines under R.C.2929.11 Et Seq., the trial court erred in the following ways:
A. In imposing a prison term at all;
B. In not imposing the minimum sentence of one year on each count;
C. In imposing the maximum sentence of five years on each count; and
D. In requiring that each maximum five-year sentence be served consecutively.
In his third assignment of error, Defendant argues that the trial court erred in imposing a prison sentence for his felony convictions without making the statutorily required findings pursuant to R.C.
2929.13 . Furthermore, he asserts that the trial court erred in imposing a sentence that is not in compliance with the statutory limits as to the length of the prison sentence. We agree in part.
Defendant was convicted of violating R.C.
Thereafter, in the event that the court concludes that a prison term is an appropriate punishment, the court must then turn to R.C.
R.C.
Similarly, R.C.
* * *
(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.
(c) The offender's history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender.
R.C.
2929.14 (E)(4). The trial court must also give "its reasons for imposing the consecutive sentences." R.C.2929.19 (B)(2)(c).
In the instant case, the trial court properly considered the statutory factors set forth by R.C.
Nonetheless, Defendant contends none of the factors listed in R.C.
The second aspect of his sentence Defendant challenges is the trial court's decision to impose more than the minimum prison term. As noted above, Defendant was convicted of a third-degree felony. The shortest authorized prison sentence for a third-degree felony is one year. R.C.
Although during the sentencing hearing the trial court did discuss its reasons for imposing a substantial prison term, the court did not adequately make the findings enumerated in R.C.
Defendant also argues that the trial court erred in sentencing him to maximum prison terms and imposing them consecutively. During sentencing, the court stated:
Ohio law provides that the overriding purpose and my obligation to consider, the overriding purpose that I need to consider in imposing sentence is as follows as the law so states, punish the offender, protect the public from future crime by this offender, also consider the need for incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation, that's what the law requires.
* * *
There is no other conclusion that I can arrive at but a long prison term is necessary in this case to provide assurances that other children are not victimized.
The trial court later stated:
[T]hese are two [felonies of the third degree], charges of gross sexual imposition, sentence of five years on each count, it will be consecutive and not concurrent, those terms being necessary to protect the public, punish the offender.Harm in this case is so great and unusual that a single term does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct.
Neither the transcript of the sentencing hearing nor the trial court's journal entry made findings as to R.C.
2929.14 (C). The sentencing entry did make two of the findings required by R.C.2929.14 (E)(4), but did not make the third required finding. Therefore, we are compelled to find that the maximum and consecutive sentences imposed by the trial court are not supported by the record.
The sentencing record does not contain the findings required under R.C.
Where Defendant was subjected to a court-ordered [not guilty by reason of insanity] evaluation and was not warned that what he said could be used against him in the sentencing phase of the case or in the sex offender classification phase, the court deprived Defendant of his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination when it considered the [not guilty by reason of insanity] evaluation as evidence in making both its sentencing and "sexual predator" determinations.In his second assignment of error, Defendant argues that the reasons given by the trial court for the imposed prison sentence violated Defendant's Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. Specifically, Defendant refers to the use of the court-ordered psychological evaluation and Defendant's statements made while in the treatment program.
Pursuant to App.R. 12(A)(1)(c), this Court's disposition of the first assignment of error renders Defendant's second assignment of error moot and accordingly, it will not be addressed.
Where Defendant was a first offender; where he was not given notice of the date, time or place of his sex offender classification hearing; and where there was no competent evidence other than his fraudulently induced guilty plea on which to base a "sexual predator" finding, the court erred in the following ways:A. In failing to specify in the sentence that Defendant was "not an [sic.]habitual sex offender";
B. In finding Defendant to be a "sexual predator";
C. In applying R.C. Chapter 2950 in an unconstitutional manner that deprived Defendant of his Fourteenth Amendment due process rights and his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.In his fourth assignment of error, Defendant presents four separate arguments. Defendant has asserted that the trial court erred when it failed to specify that Defendant was not a habitual sex offender and found him to be a sexual predator because (1) it failed to give notice of the hearing; (2) he is a first offender; (3) there was no competent evidence on which to base the finding; and (4) it applied R.C. Chapter 2950 in an unconstitutional manner. We agree in part.
Defendant first maintains that the trial court failed to give him notice of the date, time, and location of the sex offender hearing as required by R.C.
R.C.
The dispositive authority on this subject is State v. Gowdy (2000),
Accordingly, we are constrained to follow Gowdy, and therefore we vacate the judgment classifying Defendant as a sexual predator and remand the matter for a rehearing in compliance with R.C.
Based upon our resolution of this argument, the remaining arguments within this assignment of error are moot and we need not consider them. See App.R. 12(A)(1)(c). Defendant's fourth assignment of error is sustained to the extent considered.
Where the court based its finding of a probation violation on unreliable hearsay, and further where Defendant's severe mental illness was the cause of his discharge from the probation-required treatment program, the court erred as a matter of law in finding the Defendant guilty of a probation violation for being discharged from said program.In his final assignment of error, Defendant argues that the trial court erred in admitting unreliable hearsay as evidence in the probation violation hearing. We disagree.
A trial court enjoys broad discretion in the admission and exclusion of evidence and will not be reversed absent a clear abuse of discretion which materially prejudiced the objecting party. Williams v. Oeder
(1995),
The only witness for the State in the probation violation hearing was Janice Sturkey, an adult probation officer for Summit County. Sturkey testified as to statements made by Defendant to a therapist, a director, and a social worker at the treatment program. We find that the testimony relied upon by the trial court in this probation hearing was sufficiently reliable and trustworthy. Therefore, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's decision to allow the testimony into evidence. Defendant's fifth assignment of error is without merit.
Defendant's first and fifth assignments of error are overruled, Defendant's second assignment of error is moot and thus is not considered due to our disposition on the first assignment of error, Defendant's third assignment of error is sustained in part, and Defendant's fourth assignment of error is sustained to the extent considered.
Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the County of Summit, Court of Common Pleas, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(E).
Costs taxed to both parties equally.
Exceptions.
___________________________ LYNN C. SLABY
BATCHELDER, P. J., CONCURS
Dissenting Opinion
With regard to Defendant's third assignment of error, I respectfully disagree with the majority's conclusion that the trial court made the requisite findings on the record when it sentenced Defendant to more than the minimum prison term. Such findings must be made on the record at thesentencing hearing. See State v. Riggs, (Oct. 11, 2000), Summit App. No. 19846, unreported, at 7-9 (Whitmore, J., dissenting). Moreover, in its recent decision in Woods v. Telb (2000),
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