State v. Fogel, Unpublished Decision (3-30-2006)
State v. Fogel, Unpublished Decision (3-30-2006)
Opinion of the Court
The record before us demonstrates that on October 28, 1996, defendant-appellant Aden D. Fogel was indicted by the Cuyahoga Grand Jury on one count of felony possession of criminal tools. On April 11, 1997, after negotiations with the State, appellant pleaded guilty to an amended misdemeanor count of attempted possession of criminal tools. On April 24, 1997, the trial court issued an order of forfeiture, wherein it stated that appellant voluntarily forfeited the evidence seized from him by the police. No appeal was taken from that entry.
On October 23, 1997, appellant filed a motion for return of seized property, which the trial court denied on November 10, 1997. No appeal was taken from that entry.
On February 4, 2005, appellant filed another motion for return of seized property, which the trial court again denied on August 23, 2005. Appellant now appeals pro se. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
In his six assignments of error, appellant contends that he was denied various constitutional rights by the State's failure to comply with the requirements of R.C.
Initially, we note that appellant failed to appeal the April 24, 1997 order of forfeiture and, therefore, his arguments are barred by the doctrine of res judicata. See State v. Perry
(1967),
Moreover, while it appears, as the State argues, that the forfeiture in this case was done in exchange for the State reducing the indicted offense from a felony to a misdemeanor, appellant has failed to make the change of plea hearing transcript part of the record for our review. "It is well-established that the duty to provide a transcript for appellate review falls upon the appellant. Knapp v. EdwardsLaboratories (1980),
We note, however, that if the forfeiture in this case were part of appellant's negotiated plea agreement, it was valid. In addressing negotiated pleas which include voluntary forfeiture, this court has stated that "[b]y entering into a plea arrangement, and voluntarily relinquishing the forfeited property, [appellant] waived any procedural or due process right with respect to the forfeiture order." State v. Smith (1997),
Moreover, it has been held that an agreed forfeiture does not violate double jeopardy protections. State v. Gladden (1993), Ohio App.3d 287. Gladden also addressed the lawfulness of a forfeiture in a situation, such as here, where a defendant's plea is to a misdemeanor rather than a felony:
"Appellant correctly states that a felony conviction is required in order for R.C.
In regard to appellant's argument that forfeiture of his property constituted an excessive fine, we note that the forfeiture of property pursuant to R.C.
Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's judgment.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant 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.
Sweeney, P.J., and Gallagher, J., concur.
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