State v. Owens, Unpublished Decision (12-6-2006)
State v. Owens, Unpublished Decision (12-6-2006)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} "I. THE SEXUAL PREDATOR FINDING IS CONTRARY TO LAW AND IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD.
{¶ 3} "II. THE SENTENCE IS BASED ON UNCONSTITUTIONAL STATUTES AND THE CASE MUST BE REMANDED FOR RE-SENTENCING.
{¶ 4} "III. THE COURT COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR BY SENTENCING MR. OWENS TO MORE THAN MINIMUM PRISON TERMS.
{¶ 5} "IV. THE SENTENCING COURT COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR BY ISSUING AN ORDER TO PAY UNSPECIFIED RESTITUTION AMOUNTS BASED ON POTENTIAL FUTURE LIABILITY."
{¶ 7} "(a) The offender's or delinquent child's age;
{¶ 8} (b) The offender's or delinquent child's prior criminal or delinquency record regarding all offenses, including, but not limited to, all sexual offenses;
{¶ 9} (c) The age of the victim of the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made;
{¶ 10} (d) Whether the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made involved multiple victims;
{¶ 11} (e) Whether the offender or delinquent child used drugs or alcohol to impair the victim of the sexually oriented offense or to prevent the victim from resisting;
{¶ 12} (f) If the offender or delinquent child previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that if committed by an adult would be, a criminal offense, whether the offender or delinquent child completed any sentence or dispositional order imposed for the prior offense or act and, if the prior offense or act was a sex offense or a sexually oriented offense, whether the offender or delinquent child participated in available programs for sexual offenders;
{¶ 13} (g) Any mental illness or mental disability of the offender or delinquent child;
{¶ 14} (h) The nature of the offender's or delinquent child's sexual conduct, sexual contact, or interaction in a sexual context with the victim of the sexually oriented offense and whether the sexual conduct, sexual contact, or interaction in a sexual context was part of a demonstrated pattern of abuse;
{¶ 15} (i) Whether the offender or delinquent child, during the commission of the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made, displayed cruelty or made one or more threats of cruelty;
{¶ 16} (j) Any additional behavioral characteristics that contribute to the offender's or delinquent child's conduct."
{¶ 17} The trial court did not cite R.C.
{¶ 18} "* * * If the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that the subject offender or delinquent child is a sexual predator, the court shall specify in the offender's sentence and the judgment of conviction that contains the sentence or in the delinquent child's dispositional order, as appropriate, that the court has determined that the offender or delinquent child is a sexual predator and shall specify that the determination was pursuant to division (B) of this section. * * *"
{¶ 19} Appellant also argues the trial court failed to comply with R.C.
{¶ 20} "If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to committing, on or after January 1, 1997, a sexually oriented offense, the judge who is to impose sentence on the offender shall determine, prior to sentencing, whether the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to * * * a sexually oriented offense and is a habitual sex offender * * *".
{¶ 21} The State concedes this court has previously found a court commits error in failing to make specific findings pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 22} Nevertheless, the statute requires the court to include the findings, and in light of our previous holdings we find the trial court should, on remand, comply with the dictates of the statute.
{¶ 23} The first assignment of error is sustained in part, and overruled in part as to the finding appellant is an aggravated sexual predator by virtue of his conviction, pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 25} In State v. Foster,
{¶ 26} In order to remedy Ohio's Felony Sentencing Statutes and bring them in line with constitutional requirements, the Ohio Supreme Court severed the offending portions which either create presumptive minimum or concurrent terms or require judicial fact finding to overcome the presumption, Foster at paragraph 97. The Ohio Supreme Court found as a result, "* * * trial courts have full discretion to impose a prison sentence within the statutory range and are no longer required to make findings or give their reasons for imposing maximum, consecutive, or more than minimum sentences." Id. at paragraph 100.
{¶ 27} We conclude appellant's sentence was based upon at least one statutory provision which the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional and void. Therefore, we must remand the matter to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing.
{¶ 28} The Foster court found the sentencing court, on remand, must consider the portions of the sentencing code unaffected byFoster, and impose any sentence within the appropriate felony range,Foster at paragraph 105. In State v. Mathis,
{¶ 29} In the dialogue between the court and appellant at the sentencing hearing on May 11, 2006, the court articulated all the above, but pursuant to Foster, we must remand for a new sentencing hearing.
{¶ 30} The second assignment of error is sustained. The third assignment of error is premature, because the trial court has yet to impose sentence.
{¶ 32} Appellant cites us to State v. DeLong, Montgomery Appellate No. 20656,
{¶ 33} R.C.
{¶ 34} Here, the trial court stated: "The Defendant is ORDERED to pay restitution to the victim for mental health treatment costs, should the victim incur counseling costs. The Court reserves jurisdiction to make further orders regarding the amount and method of payment of that restitution", Judgment Entry of January 30, 2006, emphasis sic.
{¶ 35} This court recently found an order for restitution is not final if it does not specify the amount of restitution, State v. Russell, Licking App. No. 2006-CA-0071,
{¶ 36} The fourth assignment of error is sustained.
{¶ 37} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Ashland County, Ohio, is affirmed in part and reversed in part, and the cause is remanded to the court for further proceedings in accord with law and consistent with this opinion.
By Gwin, P.J.,
Farmer, J., and
Boggins, J., concur
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