State v. Harris, Unpublished Decision (3-29-2004)
State v. Harris, Unpublished Decision (3-29-2004)
Dissenting Opinion
{¶ 18} I must respectfully dissent from the majority's opinion because the trial court at the sentencing hearing ordered appellant to pay a $1,000 fine and failed to state the imposition of any other financial sanction. The trial court stated in its sentencing entry for the first time that appellant was ordered to pay any fees permitted pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 19} At the very least, the trial court is required to allude to its intention, at the sentencing hearing, to impose any discretionary financial sanctions.
{¶ 20} Therefore, I would remand this case for the court to hold a sentencing hearing on the issue of financial sanctions.
1. This language is now contained in R.C.
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Harris pled guilty to a felony domestic violence charge in 2003, and was sentenced to serve 12 months in prison. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court reviewed a Pre-Sentence Investigation ("PSI") report that included information about appellant's educational and employment history. The PSI indicated that appellant had no assets and no major financial obligations.
{¶ 3} The trial court was told that appellant had a job offer with a construction company if he were released and not sentenced to prison. The trial court stated on the record at the hearing that, "We'll impose a $1,000 fine, having considered the defendant's resources and ability to pay."
{¶ 4} For the first time in the trial court's sentencing entry, appellant was ordered "to pay all costs of prosecution and any fees permitted pursuant to Revised Code Section
{¶ 5} Appellant presents one assignment of error on appeal, specifically targeting the imposition of the costs of confinement, which is included in R.C.
{¶ 6} Assignment of Error:
{¶ 7} "The trial court denied appellant's constitutional right to procedural due process under the ohio and united states constitutions by ordering the appellant to pay any fees permitted pursuant to revised code §§
{¶ 8} While we note that the trial court did not specifically list the costs of confinement in its entry imposing financial sanctions, the trial court did cite to "any fees permitted pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 9} R.C.
{¶ 10} "(4)(a) Reimbursement by the offender of any or all of the costs of sanctions incurred by the government, including the following:
{¶ 11} "(i) All or part of the costs of implementing any community control sanction;
{¶ 12} "(ii) All or part of the costs of confinement under a sanction imposed pursuant to section
{¶ 13} R.C.
{¶ 14} R.C.
{¶ 15} Having reviewed the record, we find that appellant's sentence was not contrary to law, and that appellant was not denied due process. The record shows that the trial court considered appellant's ability to pay the financial sanctions it imposed. In its sentencing entry ordering appellant to pay any fees pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 16} Accordingly, we find no error by the trial court in this case. We do not find that the trial court was required to determine the precise amount of the fees permitted under R.C.
{¶ 17} Judgment affirmed.
Walsh, J., concurs.
Valen, J., dissents.
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