State v. Alvis, Unpublished Decision (6-12-2006)
State v. Alvis, Unpublished Decision (6-12-2006)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} Appellant, Lucas Alvis, was convicted of violating R.C. §{¶ 2} Thereafter, on July 12, 2004, Appellant was accused of having sexual contact with two minor girls. In response, Appellant's probation officer conducted a random search of Appellant's residence on August 4, 2004. His probation officer found a laptop computer, that Appellant admitted belonged to he and his wife. (Tr., p. 12.) A search of Appellant's computer revealed approximately 37 video clips and 250 photographs pertaining to child pornography. (Tr., pp. 51-52, 57-58.)
{¶ 3} Accordingly, the trial court found that Appellant was in violation of his community control terms since he was in possession of child pornography in violation of R.C. §
{¶ 4} Appellant asserts in his sole assignment of error:
{¶ 5} "THE TRIAL COURT'S SENTENCE IS CONTRARY TO LAW."
{¶ 6} R.C. §
{¶ 7} Appellant was sentenced to the maximum allowable prison term after he violated the terms of his community control sanction. Appellant argues that the trial court erred in imposing the maximum sentence in his case because the trial court failed to find that his was the worst form of the offense in addition to the finding that he posed the greatest risk of recidivism.
{¶ 8} Ohio's sentencing guidelines favor minimum sentences for offenders who have no history of imprisonment and generally disfavor maximum sentences. State v. Edmonson (1999),
{¶ 9} At the time of Appellant's sentencing, R.C. §
{¶ 10} "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 the 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." R.C. §
{¶ 11} Appellant argues that the findings set out in R.C. §
{¶ 12} However, the Ohio Supreme Court found the opposite.State v. Evans,
{¶ 13} Notwithstanding the above, Appellant's sentence must be vacated based on the Ohio Supreme Court's recent decision inFoster, supra. Because Appellant takes issue with the R.C. §
{¶ 14} In Foster, supra, the Ohio Supreme Court concluded in part that R.C. §
{¶ 15} Foster also held that the unconstitutional judicial factfinding requirements in R.C. §
{¶ 16} Accordingly, and pursuant to Foster, supra, the manner in which the court imposed Appellant's sentence is unconstitutional and is vacated. This matter must be remanded. On remand, the trial court should conduct another sentencing hearing unless the parties stipulate to the prior sentencing record and allow the trial court to impose a sentence based on that record. Id. at ¶ 104-105.
Vukovich, J., concurs.
DeGenaro, J., concurs.
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