State v. Lewis, Unpublished Decision (3-6-2007)
State v. Lewis, Unpublished Decision (3-6-2007)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} On May 20, 2004, Lewis entered a not guilty plea to the charge. On June 17, 2004, his bail was lowered, and allowed for him to be released on his own recognizance. The record shows that Lewis was discharged on June 24, 2004.
{¶ 4} On June 24, 2004, Lewis violated the terms of release. He went to Livingston's house, locked her in a bedroom, and beat her with a metal broom handle. He was arrested that day. On June 29, 2004, while at the court in East Palestine, Lewis allegedly threatened to kill Livingston.
{¶ 5} All of these actions resulted in a subsequent indictment, trial court case number 04CR176 (appellate number 05CO75), which was filed on July 29, 2004. This indictment contained six counts: count one — burglary, a violation of R.C.
{¶ 6} On September 10, 2004, trial court case numbers 04CR101 and 04CR176 were consolidated. On January 3, 2005, Lewis withdrew his not guilty pleas and entered a guilty plea to all charges. That same day, the trial court found him guilty of all charges.
{¶ 7} Sentencing occurred on February 9, 2005. The trial court issued separate sentencing journals for each case. In trial court case number 04CR101 (appellate number 05CO74), Lewis was sentenced to nine months for the domestic violence charge. In trial court case number 04CR176 (appellate number 05CO75), Lewis was sentenced to two years for the burglary charge (count 1), six years for felonious assault (count 2); six months for domestic violence (count 4); and two years for intimidation of a crime victim (count 6). The charge for violating a protection order was dismissed based upon double jeopardy grounds. (02/09/05 Tr. 3-4). The trial court ordered the sentences in trial court case number 04CR176 to be served concurrent to each other but consecutive to the sentence issued for domestic violence in trial court case number 04CR101. Journal entries for both 04CR176 and 04CR101 reflect that the sentences issued were to be served consecutive to each other.
{¶ 8} Also, the journal entries indicated how many days of credit for time served were to be given in each case number. In the journal entry for trial court case number 04CR101, the court noted that Lewis had spent 314 days in jail and thus he was given credit for that time served. In the journal entry for trial court case number 04CR176, the court noted that Lewis would receive credit for the 231 days he spent in jail.
{¶ 9} Lewis filed a delayed appeal to both of these cases. Trial court case number 04CR101 was appealed through appellate case number 05CO74, and trial court case number 04CR176 was appealed through appellate case number 05CO75. On March 17, 2006, this court issued a journal entry allowing for the delayed appeals.
{¶ 11} Lewis was sentenced to nonminimum, nonmaximum sentences in both lower court case numbers. In trial court case number 04CR176, Lewis was sentenced for multiple crimes. Those sentences were ordered to be served concurrently. However, the court ordered the sentences imposed in trial court case numbers 04CR176 and 04CR101 to be served consecutively to each other. Lewis argues, based upon State v. Foster,
{¶ 12} The state, in case number 05CO75, concedes that the sentence must be vacated and remanded for resentencing based uponFoster. However, in case number 05CO74, the state is of the position that any error is now moot because Lewis has served the sentence that was rendered in that case. The state's argument is based upon this court's opinion in State v. Verdream, 7th Dist. No. 02CA222,
{¶ 13} In Verdream, this court stated, "[i]f an individual has already served his sentence and is only questioning whether or not the sentence was correct, there is no remedy that we can apply that would have any effect in the absence of a reversal of the underlying conviction." Id. (internal citations omitted). Thus, we held that when an appellant is only challenging the correctness of the sentence and the sentence has been completed, the appeal is moot.
{¶ 14} In case number 04CR101, Lewis was sentenced to nine months and the trial court indicated in its sentencing journal that he had been in jail for 314 days. If this was the only case Lewis had been sentenced on, then clearly he would have served his entire sentence. However, 04CR101 was consolidated with 04CR176. In 04CR1076, Lewis was sentenced to a total sentence of six years and received credit for 231 days. The sentences in 04CR101 and 04CR176 were ordered to be served consecutive to each other. By consolidating the two cases, in essence they became one case, had one sentencing hearing and thus resulted in one sentence of six years and nine months. *Page 5
{¶ 15} Moreover, the credit for time served that is referenced in case numbers 04CR101 and 04CR176 is an indication of time spent in jail prior to sentencing. It is not an indication that in case number 04CR101 Lewis had served 314 days of his sentence issued in that case. Or that in case number 04CR176 he had served 231 days of the sentence issued in that case number. As explained in the facts, on case number 04CR101, Lewis was arrested and held from March 29, 2004 until June 24, 2004 when he was released on bond. He violated the terms of his bond on June 24, 2004 and was rearrested at that time. He remained in jail awaiting trial and sentencing. Sentencing occurred on February 9, 2005. Given those dates 314 days elapsed. On case number 04CR176, Lewis was arrested on June 24, 2004. Sentencing occurred on February 9, 2005. This is an elapse of 231 days.
{¶ 16} Clearly, the above dates show that the trial court's credit for days served in each case overlapped with each other. Or in simpler terms, the 231 days credit is included in the 314 days credit. Consequently, since the trial court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, the 314 days for case number 04CR101 cannot be subtracted from the nine month sentence in that case while at the same time 231 days are being subtracted from the six year sentenced on case number 04CR176.
{¶ 17} Furthermore, the trial court's deliberate overlap of the number of days awaiting trial and not directly specifying the amount of time that should apply to each case's sentence makes it difficult to determine that the sentence issued in 04CR101 has been completed. At most, it could be concluded that from March 29, 2004 until June 29, 2004 (minus the time he was released on bond), is time that should be credited to the sentence in 04CR101. However, beyond that it is clear Lewis was being held on both 04CR101 and 04CR176. Thus, it is impossible for this court to determine which days apply to which sentence. This is especially the case given that the cases were consolidated. Consequently, it cannot be determined which sentence has been served. Thus, Verdream is not applicable, and appeal number 05CO74 is not moot.
{¶ 18} As it is not moot, we will now address Foster and its application to these cases. In Foster,
{¶ 19} The implication of Foster is that trial courts are no longer required to give reasons or findings prior to imposing maximum, consecutive, and/or nonminimum sentences; it has full discretion to impose a sentence within the statutory range. Id. at ¶ 100. However, if a trial court does state findings and reasons for imposing maximum, consecutive and/or nonminimum sentences, the sentence must be vacated and the cause remanded to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing in order for the sentencing to comport with Foster. Id. at ¶ 104.
{¶ 20} The Ohio Supreme Court explained:
{¶ 21} "These cases and those pending on direct review must be remanded to trial courts for new sentencing hearings not inconsistent with this opinion. We do not order resentencing lightly. Although new sentencing hearings will impose significant time and resource demands on the trial courts within the counties, causing disruption while cases are pending on appeal, we must follow the dictates of the United States Supreme Court. Ohio's felony sentencing code must protect Sixth Amendment principles as they have been articulated.
{¶ 22} "Under R.C.
{¶ 23} The Supreme Court further explained in Foster's companion caseState v. Mathis,
{¶ 24} "Although after Foster, the trial court is no longer compelled to make findings and give reasons at the sentencing hearing since R.C.
{¶ 25} Here, as stated above, Lewis was sentenced to nonminimum, nonmaximum sentences. Furthermore, one sentence was ordered to be served consecutive to the other concurrent sentences.
{¶ 26} The imposition of nonminimum consecutive sentences based upon R.C.
{¶ 27} For the foregoing reasons, the sentences are vacated and the cases are remanded for resentencing.
*Page 1Donofrio, J., concurs. Waite, J., concurs.
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