State v. Rodriguez, Unpublished Decision (9-29-2006)
State v. Rodriguez, Unpublished Decision (9-29-2006)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On February 20, 2004, appellant was indicted by the Ashtabula County Grand Jury on four counts: count one, aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 3} On April 29, 2004, appellant withdrew his former not guilty plea, entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, and requested a competency evaluation pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 4} Appellant filed a motion to suppress on September 27, 2004.2 On December 13, 2004, appellee, the state of Ohio, filed a memorandum in opposition to appellant's motion to suppress. A suppression hearing was scheduled to occur on January 13, 2005. However, appellant failed to appear and the hearing did not take place. The trial court issued a capias for the arrest of appellant.
{¶ 5} Appellant appeared in court on January 28, 2005. Pursuant to a negotiated plea, he withdrew his former not guilty by reason of insanity plea, and entered oral and written pleas of guilty to robbery, a felony of the second degree, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 6} In its April 28, 2005 judgment entry, the trial court sentenced appellant to serve a term of four years in prison; subjected him to post-release control; and ordered him to pay costs and restitution. It is from that judgment that appellant filed a timely notice of appeal and raises the following assignment of error:
{¶ 7} "The trial court abused its discretion and denied [appellant] due process of law by failing to properly consider and interpret the statutory sentencing factors contained in the sentencing guidelines of R.C.
{¶ 8} In his sole assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred by failing to properly consider and interpret the R.C.
{¶ 9} This court in State v. Spicuzza, 11th Dist. No. 2005-L-078,
{¶ 10} "* * * [a]n appellate court reviews a sentence pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 11} "`(t)he appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence that is appealed (* * *) or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing court for resentencing. The appellate court's standard for review is not whether the sentencing court abused its discretion. The appellate court may take any action authorized by this division if it clearly and convincingly finds (* * *):'
{¶ 12} "(* * *)
{¶ 13} "`(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.' n1"
{¶ 14} In Spicuzza, we elaborated in fn. 1, that: "[b]esides a limited remand under R.C.
{¶ 15} In Spicuzza at ¶ 14-15, we indicated that the Supreme Court of Ohio in Foster, at ¶ 37, stated:
{¶ 16} "`(* * *) R.C.
{¶ 17} We additionally stated in Spicuzza at ¶ 16:
{¶ 18} "[t]his court has held that, `"although the trial court is required `to consider the seriousness and recidivism factors,' the court does not need to `make specific findings on the record in order to evince the requisite consideration of all applicable seriousness and recidivism factors.'"' State v.Blake, 11th Dist. No. 2003-L-196,
{¶ 19} R.C.
{¶ 20} In the case at bar, the trial court's April 28, 2005 judgment entry of sentence affirmatively states that the trial court considered the seriousness and recidivism factors of R.C.
{¶ 21} In addition, the trial court stated at the sentencing hearing:
{¶ 22} "I don't believe the facts of this case are in any great dispute. [Appellant], I believe, on February 12th, 2004, entered the JJ Grocery Store in Geneva, Ohio. Apparently he was armed with some sort of a firearm, or at least what appeared to be a firearm. I believe he showed it to the clerk, who was working alone at the time. This was about 6:40 in the evening. Now, as [appellee] indicated, [appellant] was apprehended a couple of hours after the robbery. He — after he was arrested he told the police where they could find the weapon that he had used. The police recovered a black powder line handgun. It was [a] .177 caliber CO2 pistol. * * * The real hardship in this case is the psychological fear that [appellant] inflicted on both the clerk * * * and on the owners of the store, who were not present but own this establishment. [Appellant] was either high on drugs at the time or desperate for drugs and, you know, probably somewhat irrational at the time. However, the Court does find that there was no physical injury inflicted on the clerk. * * * The Court's looked at [appellant's] prior criminal history. And I believe I counted eight prior convictions here for Passing Bad Checks. * * * And the instant action is a felony of the second degree; it's a very serious felony offense. Court's reviewed the sentencing criteria set forth in the statute. Under the recidivism factors, the Court finds that he's got the prior criminal history that I just alluded to * * *. Court finds [appellant] has not responded favorably in the past to any sanctions imposed by the criminal courts. He's admitted to a pattern of heroin use. * * * Under the recidivism unlikely factors, the Court finds — that [appellant] has shown some remorse. However, the recidivism likely factors heavily outweigh the unlikely factors. Court has also considered the seriousness factors. Court finds that the clerk * * * has suffered serious psychological injury. And the owners of JJ Grocery have suffered serious economic harm — since this robbery occurred during the wintertime, which is normally their slow month. The Court's considered the less serious factors. The Court finds there wasn't any physical harm inflicted but — but by threatening another with an apparent firearm — you're certainly causing intentional psychiatric injury. Court finds that the serious factors heavily outweigh the less serious factors. * * * The Court finds [appellant] does have a serious heroin addiction. Apparently, I think he sought treatment once * * * but didn't follow through on that treatment. * * * Now, there's been an argument made here for seven-year imprisonment. That's almost the maximum penalty. And the Court is not going to impose the maximum penalty — because [appellant] really doesn't have a past history of violent criminal activity. * * *." Thus, at that time, the trial court sentenced appellant to four years.
{¶ 23} Appellant's argument here ignores the "catch all" provision of R.C.
{¶ 24} The trial court's compliance with R.C.
{¶ 25} For the foregoing reasons, appellant's sole assignment of error is not well-taken. The judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Grendell, J., Rice, J., concur.
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