State v. Zapior, Unpublished Decision (5-4-2004)
State v. Zapior, Unpublished Decision (5-4-2004)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} At the sentencing hearing, evidence was adduced that appellant had no juvenile or other criminal record. Defense counsel indicated to the trial court that this was a "one-time incident" and that appellant was remorseful. Appellant then addressed the trial court and expressed his remorse.
{¶ 4} Pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed on August 20, 2003, the trial court sentenced appellant to twelve months in prison, the maximum sentence. The trial court, both on the record and in its August 20, 2003, entry, indicated that there were no factors indicating that recidivism was more likely than not pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 5} It is from the August 20, 2003 sentencing entry that appellant now appeals, raising the following assignment of error:
{¶ 6} "The imposition of a maximum sentence is against the manifest weight of the evidence and contrary to the law."
{¶ 8} An appellate court may not disturb an imposed sentence unless it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the sentence is not supported by the record or is contrary to law. R.C.
{¶ 9} When reviewing a sentence imposed by the trial court, the applicable record to be examined by the appellate court includes the following: (1) the presentence investigation report; (2) the trial court record in the case in which the sentence was imposed; and (3) any oral or written statements made to or by the court at the sentencing hearing at which the sentence was imposed. R.C. 2953 .08(F)(1) through (3). The sentence imposed, by the trial court, should be consistent with the overriding purposes of felony sentencing: "to protect the public from future crime by the offender" and "to punish the offender." See Statev. Mills, Ashland App. No. 03COA001, 2003-Ohio-5083.
{¶ 10} { ¶ 8} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 11} "(C) * * * the court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a felony may impose the longest prison term authorized for the offense pursuant to division (A) of this section only upon offenders who committed the worst forms of offense, upon offenders who pose the greatest likelihood of committing future crimes, upon certain major drug offenders under division (D)(3) of this section, and upon certain repeat violent offenders in accordance with division (D)(2) of this section."
{¶ 12} This statute is to be read in the disjunctive. SeeState v. Comersford (June 3, 1999), Delaware App. No. 98CAA01004, at 3. Accordingly, a maximum sentence may be imposed if the trial court finds any of the above-listed offender categories apply.
{¶ 13} In State v. Redman, Stark App. No. 2002CA00097, 2003-Ohio-646, this Court held:
{¶ 14} "While a recitation of the statutory criteria alone may be enough to justify more than the minimum sentence, it is not enough to justify the imposition of the maximum sentence. The trial court also must provide its reasons. As stated in R.C.
{¶ 15} "(d) If the sentence is for one offense and it imposes a prison term for the offense that is the maximum prison term allowed for that offense by division (A) of section
{¶ 16} Thus, a trial court has discretion to impose a maximum sentence if it determines one of the factors listed in R.C.
{¶ 17} Both parties agree that the trial court, in sentencing appellant to the maximum sentence, made one of the requisite findings for imposing a maximum sentence pursuant to
{¶ 18} However, in deciding whether a defendant is likely to commit future crimes, the trial court is guided by the factors in R.C.
{¶ 19} Based on the nature of the offense, which involved appellant befriending his 15 year old victim for the purpose of his own sexual gratification and then claiming the 15 year old victim initiated the contact, we find that the trial court did not err in finding that appellant posed the greatest likelihood of committing future crimes.
{¶ 20} In short, we find that the imposition of the maximum sentence in this case was not against the manifest weight of the evidence or contrary to law. The trial court, in the case sub judice, made the requisite statutory finding for imposing the maximum sentence and gave its reasons for doing so. Furthermore, the trial court's reasons for imposing the maximum sentence were supported by the evidence.
{¶ 21} Appellant's sole assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
{¶ 22} Accordingly, the judgment of the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
Hoffman, P.J., and Farmer, J. concur.
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion on file, the judgment of the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Costs assessed to appellant.
{¶ b} "(D) The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply regarding the offender, and any otherrelevant factors, as factors indicating that the offender is likely to commit future crimes: {¶ c} "(1) At the time of committing the offense, the offender was under release from confinement before trial or sentencing, under a sanction imposed pursuant to section {¶ d} "(2) The offender previously was adjudicated a delinquent child pursuant to Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code prior to January 1, 2002, or pursuant to Chapter 2152. of the Revised Code, or the offender has a history of criminal convictions. {¶ e} "(3) The offender has not been rehabilitated to a satisfactory degree after previously being adjudicated a delinquent child pursuant to Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code prior to January 1, 2002, or pursuant to Chapter 2152 of the Revised Code, or the offender has not responded favorably to sanctions previously imposed for criminal convictions. {¶ f} "(4) The offender has demonstrated a pattern of drug or alcohol abuse that is related to the offense, and the offender refuses to acknowledge that the offender has demonstrated that pattern, or the offender refuses treatment for the drug or alcohol abuse. {¶ g} "(5) The offender shows no genuine remorse for the offense. {¶ h} "(E) The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply regarding the offender, and any other relevant factors, as factors indicating that the offender is not likely to commit future crimes: {¶ i} "(1) Prior to committing the offense, the offender had not been adjudicated a delinquent child. {¶ j} "(2) Prior to committing the offense, the offender had not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a criminal offense. {¶ k} "(3) Prior to committing the offense, the offender had led a law-abiding life for a significant number of years. {¶ l} "(4) The offense was committed under circumstances not likely to recur. {¶ m} "(5) The offender shows genuine remorse for the offense." (Emphasis added).
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.