State v. Neal, Unpublished Decision (12-19-2005)
State v. Neal, Unpublished Decision (12-19-2005)
Dissenting Opinion
{¶ 39} I concur in the majority's analysis and disposition of appellant's first and second assignments of error.
{¶ 40} I respectfully dissent from the majority's analysis and disposition of appellant's third assignment of error for the reasons set forth in my dissenting opinion in State v. Hughett (Nov. 18, 2004), Delaware App. No. 2004-CA-06051, unreported.
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On or about September 15, 2003 appellant was originally arrested and charged in the Delaware County Municipal Court with three counts of Receiving Stolen Property. Appellant was released from jail two days later. Appellant left the State of Ohio and traveled to Florida where he was arrested on felony charges on October 4, 2003. A $40,000 bond was set on the felony charges in Florida. Appellant was indicted October 10, 2003 in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on three counts of Receiving Stolen Property. Appellant waived extradition, but remained incarcerated on felony charges in the State of Florida. Upon completion of the prison sentence imposed for the Florida case, appellant was returned to Delaware County on August 17, 2004. Upon his return to Ohio appellant was arrested and placed in the Delaware County Jail. He was arraigned in the case at bar on August 19, 2004.
{¶ 3} Appellant's case was originally set for trial on September 30, 2004. A public defender was appointed to represent him. On September 20, 2004 the appellant advised the court that he wished to represent himself throughout the remainder of proceedings. Accordingly the public defender filed a motion to withdraw as appellant's counsel. After an extensive in-court dialogue to insure that appellant understood the nature of his request the trial court allowed the appellant to proceed pro se, but appointed Attorney Chad Heald as standby counsel. Because of the appellant's request to represent himself the trial was postponed until November 23, 2004.
{¶ 4} Appellant filed multiple motions for relief throughout the case including a motion to dismiss. The appellant alleged that his speedy trial rights were violated because more than 270 days had passed between the time he waived extradition from the State of Florida and the time that he was actually brought back to the State of Ohio. Appellant further filed a motion to suppress oral statements and video statements, a motion to suppress physical evidence, and a motion to release property. The trial court conducted a three-day hearing on all of the motions brought by the appellant and subsequently denied each motion. During the course of these hearings appellant advised the trial court that he wished to abandon his earlier request to proceed pro se and instead wanted to be represented by counsel. Standby counsel Chad Heald was appointed as appellant's counsel.
{¶ 5} On November 22, 2004 appellant withdrew his former not guilty plea and entered a plea of guilty to one count of Receiving Stolen Property. In turn, the State dismissed counts one and two of the indictment. The trial court sentenced appellant on January 3, 2005 to 18 months in prison.
{¶ 6} Appellant timely appealed and has raised the following three assignments of error for our consideration:
{¶ 7} "I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY SENTENCING THE APPELLANT TO THE MAXIMUM PRISON TERM.
{¶ 8} "II. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN DENYING THE DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR THE DISMISSAL OF THE INDICTMENT BASED UPON THE VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL.
{¶ 9} "III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN SENTENCING THE DEFENDANT TO A NON-MINIMUM PRISON TERM BASED ON FACTS NOT FOUND BY THE JURY OR ADMITTED BY THE DEFENDANT."
{¶ 11} In his Third Assignment of Error, appellant contends the trial court erred in sentencing him to the maximum prison term based upon facts not found by the jury or admitted by appellant, in contravention of Blakely v. Washington (2004), 542 U.S. ___, 159, L.E.2d 403,
{¶ 12} R.C.
{¶ 13} When reviewing a sentence imposed by the trial court, the applicable record to be examined by the appellate court includes the following: (1) the pre-sentence investigation reports; (2) the trial court record in the case in which the sentence was imposed; and (3) any oral or written statement made to or by the court at the sentencing hearing at which the sentence was imposed. R.C.
{¶ 14} In State v. Evans,
{¶ 15} R.C.
{¶ 16} This statute is to be read in the disjunctive. Statev. Comersford (June 3, 1999), Delaware App. No. 98CAA01004, unreported. Accordingly, a maximum sentence may be imposed if the trial court finds any of the above listed categories apply. "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." State v.Redman, Stark App. No. 2002CA00097, 2003-Ohio-646.
{¶ 17} In the case at bar, the trial court noted that appellant was on probation at the time of the offense in this case. (Sentencing Transcript, Jan. 3, 2005 at 8-10). [Hereinafter cited as "ST."]. The court further noted appellant has an extensive criminal record dating from 1978 to the present in several states, including Ohio. (Id. at 10-11). Appellant has served time in prison. (Id. at 11). Appellant has several parole violations which resulted in his return to prison. (Id. at 12). While on bond in this case appellant committed other offense in the State of Florida. (Id. at 13). The court specifically found that appellant poses the greatest likelihood for recidivism. (Id. at 13-14). The court outlined its reasons that appellant was a "career criminal" and that the offenses were part of "organized criminal activity." (Id. at 13-14).
{¶ 18} Based on the foregoing, we hold the trial court sufficiently stated its findings and reasons under R.C.
{¶ 19} In his third assignment of error, appellant contends the trial court erred in sentencing him to the maximum prison term based upon facts not found by the jury or admitted by appellant, in contravention of Blakely v. Washington (2004), 542 U.S. ___, 159, L.E.2d 403,
{¶ 20} In Blakely, the United States Supreme Court held: "Our precedents make clear, however, that the `statutory maximum' for Apprendi purposes is the maximum sentence a judge may impose solely on the basis of the facts reflected in the juryverdict or admitted by the defendant. See Ring, supra, at 602,
{¶ 21} In Blakely, the petitioner pled guilty to kidnapping his estranged wife. Under the facts admitted during his plea, the petitioner was subject to a maximum sentence of 53 months imprisonment. At sentencing, however, "the trial judge imposed a 90-month sentence after finding that petitioner had acted with deliberate cruelty, a statutorily enumerated ground for departing from the standard range." Id. at 2533. The United States Supreme Court determined the State of Washington's sentencing scheme violated the petitioner's Sixth Amendment right to have a jury determine beyond a reasonable doubt all facts legally essential to his sentence.
{¶ 22} This court has previously held a jury is not required to find the factors set forth in R.C.
{¶ 23} Accordingly, appellant's First and Third Assignments of Error are overruled.
{¶ 25} Initially, we note that a speedy trial claim involves a mixed question of law and fact. See State v. Kuhn (June 10, 1998), 4th Dist. No. 97 CA 2307; State v. Kimble (Nov. 5, 1997), Vinton App. No. 96CA507; State v. Boso (Sept. 11, 1996), Washington App. No. 95CA10; State v. Howard (Mar. 4, 1994), Scioto App. No. 93CA2136. See, also, U.S. v. Smith (C.A.6, 1996),
{¶ 26} When reviewing the legal issues presented in a speedy trial claim, we must strictly construe the relevant statutes against the state. In Brecksville v. Cook (1996),
{¶ 27} The record in the case at bar contains a document titled "Written Text of Rule 11(F) Negotiations," which was signed by appellant and filed with the trial court on November 22, 2004. The document details that appellant will enter a plea of "guilty" to one count of Receiving Stolen Property; the State will then dismiss Counts One and Two of the Indictment and release non-contraband property which was located in appellant's vehicle to appellant's attorney. (Id.). In addition to appellant, the Prosecutor and appellant's trial counsel signed this form. Also on November 22, 2004, appellant executed a "Withdrawal of Former Plea of Not Guilty to Indictment, Written Plea of Guilty to Count Three of the Indictment and Judgment Entry of Guilty Plea." In this document appellant enters a plea of "Guilty" to one count of Receiving Stolen Property.
{¶ 28} We note appellant failed to present this court with the transcript of the appellant's change of plea hearing. InKnapp v. Edwards Laboratories (1980),
{¶ 29} The Supreme Court of Ohio, with regard to the effect of a plea of guilty upon the right to challenge a conviction based upon a lack of speedy trial, has held that: "[a] plea of guilty waives a defendant's right to challenge his or her conviction on statutory speedy trial grounds pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 30} In the case sub judice, the appellant's plea of guilty resulted in the waiver of the right to challenge his conviction based upon an alleged lack of speedy trial.
{¶ 31} We would overrule appellant's Second Assignment of Error even if we were to find appellant's plea of guilty did not constitute a waiver.
{¶ 32} A person charged with a felony must be brought to trial within 270 days of his arrest. R.C.
{¶ 33} Appellant argues that once he signed a waiver of extradition in the State of Florida, the time was not extended within which to bring him to trial. Thus, appellant concludes the triple count provision contained in R.C.
{¶ 34} In State v. Davis, 5th Dist. No. 01-CA-67, 2002-Ohio-2502, this Court noted "[a]lthough appellant signed a waiver of extradition, the extradition proceedings were still pending for purposes of R.C.
{¶ 35} "As such, we conclude that under R.C.
{¶ 36} Additional, under Florida law, "[i]f a criminal prosecution has been instituted against such person under the laws of this state and is still pending, the Governor, in his or her discretion, either may surrender the person on demand of the executive authority of another state or hold the person until he or she has been tried and discharged or convicted and punished in this state". F.S.A.
{¶ 37} Appellant's reference to R.C.
{¶ 38} The Interstate Agreement on Detainers ["IAD"] is an interstate compact to which both Ohio and Florida are parties. R.C.
{¶ 39} Pursuant to Article III (a) of R.C.
{¶ 40} The United States Supreme Court has held that the one hundred eighty day time period in Article III (a) of the IAD does not begin until a prisoner's request for disposition is actually delivered to the court and the prosecuting officer that lodged the detainer against him. See Fex v. Michigan (1993),
{¶ 41} In the present case, appellant testified that he was incarcerated in the Miami County, Florida jail from October 4, 2003 until his conviction of felony charges in that State on February 11, 2004. (Transcript on Motion to Suppress and Motion to Dismiss, October 25, 2004 at 24-26). [Hereinafter cited as "DT"]. The time spent in the Miami County Jail is excluded from the speedy trial calculation. State v. Schnitzler, supra;State v. Davis, supra.
{¶ 42} Appellant received a sentence of one year in the Department of Corrections in the State of Florida. (DT. at 24-26). Appellant was released from his Florida imprisonment on August 2, 2004. (Id. at 26-27). Appellant was returned to Delaware County on August 17, 2004. Appellant was arraigned on the charges in this case on August 19, 2004.
{¶ 43} The record contains neither testimony nor documentary evidence that appellant actually delivered to the court and the prosecuting officer a request for disposition pursuant to Article III (a) of the IAD after his commitment to prison in the State of Florida. Therefore, he never triggered the process to cause him to be brought to trial within 180 days of his notice and request. Thus, because appellant failed to provide the requisite notice, the speedy trial time for the pending offenses was tolled while he was in prison. Cf. State v. Hairston (2004),
{¶ 44} The law in Ohio is that the right to a speedy trial time starts to run the day after arrest. R.C.
{¶ 45} "A demand for discovery or a bill of particulars is a tolling event pursuant to R.C. 2945.72(E)". State v. Brown,
{¶ 46} On September 16, 2004, appellant's appointed counsel filed a Motion to Withdrawal on the grounds that appellant wished to represent himself. The trial court scheduled a hearing on this Motion for September 20, 2004. On September 20, 2004 appellant, pro se, filed a Motion to Suppress, and a Motion to Release Property. By Judgment Entry filed September 21, 2004 appellant's attorney was permitted to withdrawal as counsel, and the trial court scheduled a hearing on appellant's remaining motions for October 25, 2004. On September 28, 2004 appellant filed a pro se Motion to Dismiss for violation of his right to a speedy trial. This motion was also heard by the trial court on October 25, 2004. The hearing on appellant's motions took place on October 25, 28, and 29, 2004. In the midst of the hearing on the motion to suppress on October 28, 2004 appellant decided that he could no longer represent himself. By Judgment Entry filed October 28, 2004, the trial court appointed appellant's stand-by counsel as trial counsel. By Judgment Entry filed October 28, 2004 the trial court overruled appellant's motion to dismiss; by Judgment Entry filed November 4, 2004 the trial court overruled appellant's motion to suppress. Appellant entered his plea of guilty to one count of Receiving Stolen Property on November 22, 2004.
{¶ 47} It is well-established that a defendant's pre-trial motion to suppress will toll the statutory time limitations for a speedy trial. See, e.g., State v. Jackson, 11th Dist. No. 2003-A-0005,
{¶ 48} Accordingly, for purposes of R.C.
{¶ 49} As is illustrated above, the vast majority, if not the entire delay in this case was due to the motions, proceedings, or action made or instituted by the appellant. Appellant's trial did commence within ninety days following his arrest. Accordingly we cannot say that the actions of the trial court in the handling of appellant's motions and request were unreasonable.
{¶ 50} Appellant's Second Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 51} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County, Ohio, is affirmed.
Gwin, P.J., and Farmer, J., concur.
Hoffman, J., concurs in part; dissents in part.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Paul Neal
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Unpublished