State v. Harrison, L-07-1372 (9-30-2008)
State v. Harrison, L-07-1372 (9-30-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Appellant was appointed counsel for the purposes of this appeal. Appellant's counsel, however, submitted a motion to withdraw pursuant toAnders v. California (1967),
{¶ 3} In the case before us, appointed counsel for appellant satisfied the requirements set forth in Anders. Although notified, appellant never raised any matters for our consideration. Accordingly, we shall proceed with an examination of the arguable assignments of error set forth by counsel for appellant, and of the entire record *Page 3 below, in order to determine whether this appeal lacks merit and is, therefore, wholly frivolous.
{¶ 4} Counsel for appellant asserts, in compliance with the mandatesof Anders, two proposed assignments of error:
{¶ 5} "APPELLANT'S PLEA SHOULD BE SET ASIDE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MADE KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY OR INTELLIGENTLY.
{¶ 6} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY IMPOSING AN EXCESSIVE SENTENCE REGARDING INCARCERATION."
{¶ 7} A waiver of a defendant's constitutional right to trial must be knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. State v. Engle (1996),
{¶ 8} "(C) Pleas of guilty and no contest in felony cases
{¶ 9} "(1) * * *.
{¶ 10} "(2) In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or a plea of no contest, and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest without first addressing the defendant personally and doing all of the following:
{¶ 11} "(a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, with the understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum penalty involved, and, if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for probation or for the imposition of community control sanctions at the sentencing hearing. *Page 4
{¶ 12} "(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the court upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence.
{¶ 13} "(c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant understands that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury trial, to confront witnesses against him or her, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in the defendant's favor, and to require the state to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which the defendant cannot be compelled to testify against himself or herself."
{¶ 14} Substantial compliance is sufficient when determining whether a defendant waived those nonconstitutional rights set forth in Crim. R. 11(C)(2)(a) and (b), State v. Nero, (1990),
{¶ 15} In the present case, a review of the June 14, 2007 guilty plea hearing reveals that the trial judge fully satisfied all of the requisites of Crim. R. 11(C)(2) during her plea colloquy with appellant. She first ascertained that: (1) appellant was not under the influence of any drugs, illegal or otherwise, or alcohol; (2) he was 22 years of age; (3) he "just graduated;" and (4) he was a citizen of the United States. The judge then discussed each of the nonconstitutional and constitutional rights that appellant was waiving and inquired extensively as to whether he understood those rights and was *Page 5 voluntarily waiving the same. Appellant responded that he did understand and was waiving those rights. Furthermore, the court had appellant and his attorney review the guilty plea form reiterating the waiver of all these rights, and appellant signed that document. Accordingly, appellant's first proposed assignment of error lacks merit.
{¶ 16} In his second proposed assignment of error, appellant claims, in essence, that the trial court abused its discretion in imposing a mandatory three years in prison, rather than the mandatory two year sentence recommended by appellee, the state of Ohio, and discussed at appellant's Crim. R. 11 hearing.
{¶ 17} Trial courts have full discretion to impose a prison sentence within the statutory range. State v. Foster,
{¶ 18} In the case under consideration, the trial court did discuss accepting appellee's recommendation and imposing only a mandatory two year sentence in prison on appellant. Appellant's supervised recognizance bond was then continued until the *Page 6 sentencing hearing, but appellant was ordered to comply with the terms of that bond by reporting to his "pretrial officer" twice weekly and by appearing for the scheduled sentencing hearing. Under the bond, appellant was also ordered to submit to drug testing and to refrain from drinking any alcohol. The trial judge warned appellant that if he violated any of the conditions of his release on bond, she would not follow appellee's recommendation.
{¶ 19} At appellant's sentencing hearing, held on July 12, 2007, the court first observed that appellant violated the terms of his bond because he tested positive for the use of illicit drugs on July 9, 2007. Appellant also admitted that he used illicit drugs between the time of the guilty plea hearing and the sentencing hearing. The judge therefore informed appellant that she was no longer bound to accept the appellee's recommendation on sentencing and imposed the three year mandatory sentence. Based upon the foregoing, we cannot say that the trial court's attitude in imposing that sentence was arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable. Accordingly, appellant's second proposed assignment of error is meritless.
{¶ 20} After engaging in further independent review of the record, we find that there are no other grounds for a meritorious appeal. This appeal is therefore determined to be wholly frivolous. Appointed counsel's motion to withdraw is found well-taken and is hereby granted.
{¶ 21} The judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App. R. 24. Judgment for *Page 7 the clerk's expense incurred in preparation of the record, fees allowed by law, and the fee for filing the appeal is awarded to Lucas County.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App. R. 27. See, also, 6th Dist. Loc. App. R. 4. *Page 1
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