State v. Brahler, Unpublished Decision (5-9-2002)
State v. Brahler, Unpublished Decision (5-9-2002)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} The courts have consistently held that robbery and kidnapping are not allied offenses of similar import sufficient to merge for purposes of sentencing. See R.C.
{¶ 4} The state's concern that defendant conceded that the offenses were not allied in the first appeal is of no consequence, as the court's act of resentencing him to both counts constituted a separate sentencing that permitted him to raise this claim in this appeal. We do note the general rule that appeals from limited remands are, of course, limited to issues raised on remand. See State v. Ledford (Feb. 9, 1998), Warren App. No. CA97-05-049. But that rule is not in play here. The first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 6} In order for us to reverse the court's decision to impose consecutive sentences, we must find by clear and convincing evidence that (1) the sentence is not supported by the record; (2) the trial court imposed a prison term without following the appropriate statutory procedures; or (3) the sentence imposed was contrary to law. See R.C.
{¶ 7} As applicable here, consecutive sentences may be imposed when the court finds either that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender, and when the court finds that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public, and that the harm caused by the multiple offenses was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses would adequately reflect the seriousness of the crime. See R.C.
{¶ 8} In addition to remarks made on the record, the court journalized a form entry that listed various statutory factors relevant to sentencing. That form shows the court found that the harm caused was great or unusual, that defendant's criminal history required consecutive sentences, that consecutive sentences were necessary to fulfill the purpose of R.C.
{¶ 9} The remaining question is whether the consecutive sentences were disproportionate to the harm caused. During resentencing, defense counsel tried to argue that the victim did not suffer physical harm. In response, the court noted that defendant tried to carjack the victim's vehicle by force, hitting her several times before she fought him off and he fled. The court recalled that at the time of the original sentencing, the victim "was incredibly harmed psychologically" and that defendant "caused extreme emotional and physical and psychological harm on this woman."
{¶ 10} The need to protect the public is proportionately served by the consecutive sentences. Although defendant was not charged with a sexually-oriented offense, his ultimate motive with the car jacking can be fairly inferred from the record. When the police apprehended him, defendant was wearing a coat and ski mask despite outside temperatures of sixty degrees or more. He admitted that he had been peeping into windows and looking at women, and the police statement shows that he intended to retain and use mental images of these women as a catalyst for future self-gratification. Moreover, the court properly acknowledged that defendant had been paroled for only two months at the time of the offense, a fact that suggested he posed a high risk of recidivism.
{¶ 11} Taking all these factors into account, we cannot say that there is clear and convincing evidence to show that the court erred by imposing consecutive sentences. The second assignment of error is overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant its costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant's conviction having been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
JAMES J. SWEENEY, J., CONCURS. ANNE L. KILBANE, J., CONCURS IN PART ANDDISSENTS IN PART WITH SEPARATE CONCURRING AND DISSENTING OPINION.
Dissenting Opinion
{¶ 12} On this appeal from a resentencing order of Judge Nancy Margaret Russo, I concur in part and dissent in part. While I agree that the multiple punishments are not prohibited by R.C.
{¶ 13} While I concur in the resolution of the first assignment of error, I would certify this issue, sua sponte, to the Ohio Supreme Court because it conflicts with the Hamilton County Court of Appeals' decision in State v. Grant.1
{¶ 14} Brahler's second assignment of error directly implicates the core purposes of R.C.
{¶ 15} Moreover, any argument that the sentence here was necessary to avoid demeaning the seriousness of Brahler's conduct necessarily implies that the concurrent sentences imposed in innumerable cases prior to Rance were demeaning to the seriousness of those offenses, a conclusion which I cannot accept.
{¶ 16} The facts of Brahler's offenses also show that consecutive sentences are unwarranted. Before imposing consecutive sentences, a judge must find, inter alia, that the sentences are "not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public[.]"4 (Emphasis added.) The multiple findings required reflect the general disfavor for consecutive sentences within the statutory scheme,5 as does the inclusion of specific provisions concerning the right to appeal consecutive sentences.6 Therefore, even though we will not modify a sentence unless the record clearly and convincingly does not support the sentence imposed, that standard must be understood in light of the general disfavor of consecutive sentences. We should not blindly defer to the judge's findings and reasons, because substantial record evidence must support the imposition of a presumptively disfavored sentence(s). Where the record does not support the sentence, reversal or modification is not a substitution of judgment, but an application of our authority and obligation to review judgments and remedy errors.
{¶ 17} R.C.
{¶ 18} Brahler's conduct was undoubtedly serious; hence the classification of both kidnapping and robbery as second degree felonies, each punishable by a minimum prison term of two years and a maximum of eight years,7 a fine of up to $15,000.00,8 a presumption that a prison term is necessary,9 and a mandatory three-year term of post-release control.10 While he deserves to be in prison for his crimes, the record fails to disclose any circumstances making his conduct more serious than other robberies and kidnappings.
{¶ 19} Robbery is, after all, generally defined as a theft committed by force or threat of force,11 and kidnapping is the forcible detention or asportation of another;12 such crimes necessarily induce fear in the victim13 and often result in physical harm. While I understand that Brahler's victim was terrified, I am not convinced that his conduct was any more frightening than that attending any other robbery or kidnapping, or that a single seven-year prison sentence would demean the seriousness of that conduct.
{¶ 20} A seven-year prison term is not a light sentence14 and does not demean the severity of the offense or the victim's trauma; Brahler did not use a weapon in the offense, and the victim's resistance dissuaded his conduct rather than escalating it to acts of further or more serious violence. Moreover, the majority's conclusion that Brahler intended to rape the victim is rank speculation, not allowable inference. The judge made no such statement in sentencing him, and it is inappropriate to make such inflammatory comments at this point, and upon this record. Judges should encourage reason and disdain hysteria, not the opposite.
{¶ 21} The judge was also required to make a separate finding that Brahler's conduct was not disproportionate to the danger he poses to the public. Such a finding is typically supported by evidence of the offender's criminal history, and should show both a propensity for recidivism15 and for committing violent or otherwise serious offenses.16 The judgment of conviction, entered August 13, 1999, expressly stated that Brahler "is not referred to the county probation department for a pre-sentence investigation and report." While such a ruling is within the judge's discretion under R.C.
{¶ 22} The only evidence of Brahler's criminal history was his own testimony in the sentencing transcript, when he stated that he served a single prison sentence for offenses charged in four separate cases, the most serious being burglary. Without a presentence investigation report we cannot meaningfully review whether Brahler's criminal history supports the imposition of consecutive sentences, and the lack of such a record should prevent us from affirming their imposition. The statutory sentencing mandates no longer allow us to presume regularity from a silent record — despite its deferential standard of review, R.C.
{¶ 23} In addition to my dissent on the proportionality issue, I must also note my disagreement with the majority's statement that the judge's use of a sentencing checklist is permissible and adequate evidence that she made the necessary findings to support consecutive sentences under R.C.
{¶ 24} At least one purpose of R.C.
{¶ 25} Because the imposition of consecutive sentences is not supported by the record, and because this case is an appeal of a resentencing proceeding, I would modify the sentence to impose concurrent seven-year prison terms.
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