State v. Swanson, Unpublished Decision (9-21-2006)
State v. Swanson, Unpublished Decision (9-21-2006)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} Appellant Jeffrey Swanson pleaded guilty to one count of simple assault and one count of aggravated menacing. He was sentenced in the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas to two jail terms of three months each, to be served consecutively. Appellant argues that the two charges are allied offenses of similar import, and that the trial court did not have authority to impose consecutive sentences for these crimes. We disagree with Appellant's contention. The crimes are not allied offenses of similar import, and thus, this argument is not persuasive. Appellant also argues that the court abused its discretion in denying his application for probation. It is clear from the record on appeal, however, that he was placed on probation by the trial court on June 3, 2005, and therefore, this argument is moot. Because neither argument made on appeal has merit, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.{¶ 2} On November 18, 2004, Appellant was indicted on one count of felonious assault, a second degree felony, and one count of aggravated robbery, a first degree felony. The charges arose out of an incident on June 15, 2004, in which Appellant assaulted John Washabaugh by punching him in the nose. Appellant admits on appeal that this assault occurred. Mr. Washabaugh sustained serious injury and had to be taken to the hospital. Mr. Washabaugh also claimed that his wallet had been stolen during the incident.
{¶ 3} On February 25, 2005, Appellant entered into a Crim.R. 11 plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault pursuant to R.C. §
{¶ 4} Also on May 4, 2005, Appellant filed a motion for stay of execution of sentence with the trial court, which was overruled the next day. On May 12, 2005, Appellant filed a motion for stay of execution of sentence with this Court. On June 2, 2005, we granted his motion for stay of execution. On June 8, 2005, Appellant filed a motion to withdraw his request for stay of execution because on June 3, 2005, the trial court had granted him probation.
{¶ 6} Appellant contends that R.C. §
{¶ 7} "(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of only one.
{¶ 8} "(B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them."
{¶ 9} The phrase "allied offenses of similar import" means that the elements of two crimes correspond to such a degree that one crime cannot be committed without also committing the other.State v. Jones (1997),
{¶ 10} Appellant pleaded guilty to assault, R.C. §
{¶ 11} "(A) No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to another's unborn."
{¶ 12} He also pleaded guilty to aggravated menacing, R.C. §
{¶ 13} "(A) No person shall knowingly cause another to believe that the offender will cause serious physical harm to the person or property of the other person, the other person's unborn, or a member of the other person's immediate family."
{¶ 14} As a preliminary matter, we note that Appellant is prohibited from raising this argument on appeal because he pleaded guilty to the two offenses in question. This Court has previously held that a defendant who pleads guilty to multiple charges cannot challenge the sentences on appeal based on the theory of allied offenses of similar import:
{¶ 15} "* * * Appellant entered into a plea bargain in which he agreed to plead guilty to two separate crimes. As part of the plea bargain, the prosecutor agreed to drop the force specification in the original rape charge, which carried a potential life sentence. This guilty plea was accepted by the trial court. A guilty plea waives all appealable errors except for a challenge as to whether the defendant made a knowing, intelligent and voluntary acceptance of the plea. State v.Spates (1992),
{¶ 16} In Hooper, the defendant was originally charged with the rape of a child under thirteen years old, including a force specification, which carried a life sentence. The defendant later entered into a plea bargain in which the force specification was removed, reducing the rape charge to a first degree felony punishable by up to ten years in prison. The plea agreement also added a charge of gross sexual imposition, a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The court imposed maximum consecutive sentences, resulting in a 15-year prison term. On appeal, the defendant made the same argument that Appellant is making here, namely, that the trial court was required to merge the sentences because the crimes were allied offenses of similar import. Hooper found no merit in the defendant's argument and affirmed the trial court judgment, in part due to Appellant's waiver of the issue by the very fact of entering into the plea agreement. The Hooper case notes that, "it is disingenuous for Appellant to enter into a plea bargain * * * and then to complain on appeal that he cannot be sentenced for the additional charge that was part of the plea bargain." Id. at ¶ 20.
{¶ 17} Hooper also stands for the proposition that this sentencing issue relating to allied offenses of similar import is waived if not timely raised with the trial court. Id. at ¶ 18. Just as in Hooper, Appellant in this case failed to raise the issue at trial. Although Appellant would like this Court to apply the plain error rule, it is clear from Hooper that the alleged error is not the type to which the plain error rule applies. It is clear from the record, however, the trial court made no error in this case, plain or otherwise.
{¶ 18} Addressing Appellant's actual argument, a review of the caselaw does not reveal any authority specifically stating that simple assault is or is not an allied offense of similar import to aggravated menacing. Many cases, though, have determined that felonious assault is not an allied offense or lesser included offense of aggravated menacing. "[A]ggravated menacing is not a lesser included offense with regard to felonious assault[.]" State v. Brooks (1989),
{¶ 19} For these reasons, Appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 21} Appellant acknowledges that the trial court had discretion to impose either incarceration or probation, but further argues that the court was required to consider the sentencing guidelines contained in R.C. §
{¶ 22} Because neither of Appellant's assignments of error have merit, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Donofrio, P.J., concurs.
Vukovich, J., concurs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Jeffrey Swanson
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Unpublished