State v. Fitzpatrick, Unpublished Decision (12-20-2007)
State v. Fitzpatrick, Unpublished Decision (12-20-2007)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Appellant assigns the following error for review:
*Page 2"THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF DEFENDANT-APPELLANT AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN SENTENCING DEFENDANT TO JAIL." COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
{¶ 3} In the early morning hours of June 10, 2006, appellant was drinking at the "Whiskey River Saloon" at the Grandview Inn. Todd Gillum, who was "working the door" that evening, confronted appellant about his behavior. Appellant soon left and, once in the parking lot, scratched a rock against Gillum's maroon Ford F 150 truck and caused approximately $1,000 in damages.
{¶ 4} Two days later, a criminal complaint was filed charging him with criminal damaging. Appellant pled not guilty and the matter proceeded to a bench trial. At the conclusion of the trial, the court found appellant guilty and scheduled the matter for sentencing.
{¶ 5} Appellant did not appear for his first scheduled sentencing hearing, but did appear on September 15, 2006. He blamed his previous absence on a failure to get his mail. The trial court, however, opined that it did not "buy much of [his] explanation." The court also stated that if it had considered a suspended sentence, "that consideration ha[d] now evaporated." Thereupon, the court sentenced appellant to serve thirty days in jail, make restitution and a $250 fine.
{¶ 6} Appellant appealed that judgment but we dismissed it for lack of a final order. We noted that the trial court's judgment of conviction and sentence did not fully comply with Crim.R. 32(C). See State v.Fitzpatrick, Lawrence App. No. 06CA33,
{¶ 7} Appellant asserts in his assignment of error that the trial court committed reversible error by sentencing him to serve time in jail. We disagree.
{¶ 8} Appellant was convicted of a second degree misdemeanor. See R.C. *Page 3
{¶ 9} Generally, trial courts enjoy broad discretion when imposing sentences in misdemeanor cases and we will not vacate a sentence unless the court abused its discretion. State v. Polick (1995),
{¶ 10} At the outset we note that the trial court imposed a thirty day jail sentence, which is one third (_) of the jail sentence that it could have imposed under law. Although the trial court did not expressly state its reasons for imposing that sentence, silence is not fatal if the record supports the decision and no abuse of discretion is apparent. See generally State v. Robenolt, Mahoning App. No. 04MA104,
{¶ 11} After our review of the facts and circumstances in the instant case, we note that the act appellant committed was not a random act of violence committed in the heat of the moment. Rather, the evidence indicated the appellant and Todd Gillum knew each one other from past encounters at the tavern and that Gillum "had problems with [appellant] before." Moreover, their confrontation that night took place inside the tavern and thus gave appellant time to plan how to take revenge against Gillum. Appellant also caused considerable damage to Gillum's truck and, although the court ordered him to pay restitution, it is not clear whether appellant will be able do so.1 In light of the nature and circumstances surrounding this offense, see R.C. *Page 5
{¶ 12} Appellant argues that the sole reason for his jail sentence is because he failed to appear at his first sentencing hearing. He further asserts that this is not a permissible factor to consider under R.C.
{¶ 13} To begin, we disagree with the underlying premise of appellant's argument. R.C.
{¶ 14} For the reasons stated above and because we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's sentence, we hereby overrule appellant's assignment of error and affirm the trial court's judgment.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Lawrence County Municipal Court to carry this judgment into execution.
If a stay of execution of sentence and release upon bail has been previously granted, it is continued for a period of sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of said stay is to allow appellant to file with the Ohio Supreme Court an application for a stay during the pendency of the proceedings in that court. The stay as herein continued will terminate at the expiration of the sixty day period.
The stay will also terminate if appellant fails to file a notice of appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court in the forty-five day period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Additionally, if the Ohio Supreme Court dismisses the appeal prior to the expiration of said sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute that mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. McFarland, P.J. Kline, J.: Concur in Judgment Opinion
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Chad L. Fitzpatrick
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Unpublished