State v. Bellomy, Unpublished Decision (10-9-2002)
State v. Bellomy, Unpublished Decision (10-9-2002)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} In December, 1999, and January, 2000, Amanda Bellomy, her boyfriend, Jeremy Hill, and Steve Hamilton, took part in the commission of several bank robberies. The first two robberies occurred in Scioto County, Ohio and the third one was committed in Ross County, Ohio. Appellant was originally arrested and indicted in Ross County, Ohio for complicity to aggravated robbery with a firearm specification. She pled guilty to a reduced charge and was sentenced to two years incarceration.
{¶ 3} During this period of incarceration, the Scioto County grand jury indicted appellant on two counts of aggravated robbery, each with a firearm specification. Appellant filed a motion to suppress, which the trial court denied. Subsequently, appellant pled guilty to two third degree felony charges of robbery. She also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in their case against Mr. Hamilton. Due in part to the testimony of Bellomy, the prosecution of Mr. Hamilton was successful.
{¶ 4} The trial court sentenced appellant to two consecutive three-year periods of imprisonment. She then appealed her sentence to this court. In State v. Bellomy (Dec. 19, 2001), Scioto App. No. 00CA2755, we remanded that part of the trial court's judgment that imposed consecutive sentences, finding that the trial court did not strictly comply with R.C.
{¶ 5} FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR — THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF THE DEFENDANT IN SENTENCING THE DEFENDANT WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH THE MANDATES SET FORTH IN RULE 32(A)(1) OF THE OHIO RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. THE COURT THEREBY DEPRIVED THE DEFENDANT OF HER RIGHT TO ALLOCUTION.
{¶ 6} SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR — THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN SENTENCING THE DEFENDANT TO CONSECUTIVE TERMS OF INCARCERATION WITHOUT SETTING FORTH ADEQUATE REASONS IN SUPPORT OF ITS MANDATORY FINDINGS UNDER R.C.
2929.14 (E)(4) AS REQUIRED UNDER2929.19 (B)(2)(c). SUCH FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE TRIAL COURT DENIED THE DEFENDANT DUE PROCESS OF LAW AND RENDERS THE SENTENCE CONTRARY TO LAW FOR PURPOSES OF2953.08 (G)(2)(SIC) R.C.{¶ 7} THIRD ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR — THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF THE DEFENDANT IN MAKING FINDINGS UNDER
2929.14 (E)(4) WHICH ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD BEFORE THE COURT AT SENTENCING AND IN SUBSEQUENTLY LEVYING CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES WHICH EXCEED THE MAXIMUM TERM ALLOWED BY2929.14 (A). THE SENTENCE THEREFORE IS CONTRARY TO LAW UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF2953.08 (A)(4) AND2953.08 (C).
{¶ 8} In her first assignment of error, appellant claims that the trial court erred at her resentencing hearing when it failed to give her an opportunity to speak as required under Crim.R. 32(A)(1). We agree. Crim.R. 32 states: "(A) Imposition of sentence * * * At the time of imposing sentence, the court shall do all of the following: (1) Afford counsel an opportunity to speak on behalf of the defendant and address the defendant personally and ask if he or she wishes to make a statement in his or her own behalf or present any information in mitigation of punishment." (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 9} Furthermore, the Ohio Supreme Court has determined that Crim.R. 32(A)(1) confers an absolute right of allocution. State v.Green,
{¶ 10} After reviewing the transcript from the resentencing hearing, it is clear that the trial court failed to comply with the mandates of Crim.R. 32(A)(1). The court did allow appellant's counsel to speak on her behalf, but did not afford Bellomy her right to make a statement or offer information in mitigation of punishment. In fact, the record indicates that the court did not address Bellomy at all during the resentencing. If a court is to consider a defendant's lack of remorse as a factor in determining the sentence, it must afford the defendant an opportunity to speak to that issue. As Justice Pfeifer wrote in Green, supra, "A Crim.R. 32 inquiry is much more than an empty ritual: it represents a defendant's last opportunity to plead his case or express remorse."
{¶ 11} The state cites to State v. Reynolds,
{¶ 12} In her second and third assignments of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences. She asserts that the trial court failed to set forth adequate reasons in support of its findings as required under R.C.
{¶ 13} In general, a prison sentence imposed by an Ohio court must run concurrently with any other sentence imposed by any other court in this country. R.C.
{¶ 14} The inquiry under R.C.
{¶ 15} Additionally, the court must comply with R.C.
{¶ 16} In this instance, the appellant concedes that the trial court satisfied the requirements of R.C.
{¶ 17} The Court finds that the victims in this case suffered mental anguish, fear, fear of working and continuing to work in the bank on one victim. She would not continue to work there. The victims had nightmares. One teller had a gun pointed at her head and, also, a customer and could not return to work and, also, suffered economic harm. Further this Court finds as a recidivism factor, among other things, that there is no finds no genuine remorse on behalf of the defendant."
{¶ 18} We conclude that this recitation of facts from the trial court was sufficient to satisfy R.C.
{¶ 19} We next turn to appellant's argument that the reasons given by the trial court were not supported by the record. At the original sentencing hearing, the trial court stated that it had reviewed a pre-sentence investigation report that was prepared for the Ross County case. In addition, at the resentencing hearing, the court stated that it had reviewed the record, the oral statements, and the victim impact statements. We see nothing in the record to indicate facts to the contrary. Thus, we conclude that appellant has failed to clearly and convincingly demonstrate that the record does not support the trial court's reasoning. Accordingly, we overrule appellant's second and third assignments of error.
{¶ 20} Having sustained appellant's first assignment of error, we reverse and remand this case for resentencing in accordance with this opinion.
JUDGMENT REVERSED AND CAUSE REMANDED.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Scioto County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Ohio Supreme Court an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court in the forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Additionally, if the Ohio Supreme Court dismisses the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Exceptions.
Abele, P.J. Evans, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
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