State v. Cooper, 90144 (7-10-2008)
State v. Cooper, 90144 (7-10-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On November 16, 2000, appellant received a seven year sentence for grand theft of an automobile, a fourth degree felony; assault on a police officer, a fourth degree felony; failure to comply with an order of a police officer, a third degree felony; and attempted felonious assault, a third degree felony. The sentencing journal entry indicates that the trial judge informed appellant "of the possibility of up to five years of postrelease control."
{¶ 3} The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction became concerned that the journal entry did not properly authorize the imposition of postrelease control. On June 13, 2007 (one day before appellant was to be released from prison), the trial court held a hearing conducted via video conference. An assistant public defender represented appellant. Appellant requested more time to retain private counsel, but the trial court denied his request. Appellant also objected to the use of a video conference.
{¶ 4} After the hearing, the trial court entered a nunc pro tunc entry under R.C.
{¶ 5} Review and Analysis *Page 4
{¶ 6} Appellant brings this appeal, asserting seven assignments of error for our review. Because appellant's first and fourth assignments of error are substantially interrelated, we will address them together.
{¶ 7} "I. The trial court's addition of postrelease control to Appellant's original sentence constituted a double jeopardy violation.
{¶ 8} "IV. The trial court's imposition of postrelease control by video conference one day before appellant's release after serving a seven-year prison term violated his due process rights."
{¶ 9} The crux of appellant's arguments within these assignments of error is that the trial court's imposition of three years of postrelease control on June 13, 2007, without a de novo resentencing hearing, constitutes a constitutional violation. For the reasons below, and based upon a totality of the circumstances, we find this argument to be without merit.
{¶ 10} The
{¶ 11} The trial court resentenced appellant pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 12} Postrelease control is a "period of supervision by the adult parole authority after a prisoner's release from imprisonment."Woods v. Telb,
{¶ 13} As appellant correctly argues, when "postrelease control is not properly included in a sentence for a particular offense, the sentence for that offense is void. The offender is entitled to a new sentencing hearing for that particular offense." State v. Bezak,
{¶ 14} The case before us, however, differs significantly from the cases where the defendant was not advised about postrelease control at the original sentencing hearing. Here, appellant was originally told he could be subjected to an incorrect length of postrelease control. "In correcting a statutorily incorrect sentence, [a trial court] does not violate a defendant's constitutional guarantee against double jeopardy."State v. Ramey, Franklin App. No. 06AP-245,
{¶ 15} A review of the applicable case law supports this position. InState v. Simpson, Cuyahoga App. No. 88301,
{¶ 16} The Simpson court found its case distinguishable fromBezak and Jordan because in Simpson, the defendant "was [originally] told that he would have to serve a longer term' than the five years actually required." Simpson, at ¶ 115, citing Cruzado, supra, at ¶ 26. The Simpson court stated that, because Simpson had some notice that he would be subjected to postrelease control, it was not necessary to conduct a new de novo sentencing hearing. Id.
{¶ 17} Further, in State v. Rogers, 12th Dist. No. CA2006-09-036,
{¶ 18} Appellant's situation is similar to those in Simpson,Cruzado, and Rogers. He received some notice at his original hearing that he would be subject to postrelease control. Specifically, appellant was informed that he would receive up to five years postrelease control, when in fact the court should have imposed up to three years postrelease control. On June 13, 2007, the court properly corrected appellant's sentence to reflect that he would be subjected to up to three years *Page 8 postrelease control. Accordingly, appellant's first and fourth assignments of error are overruled.
{¶ 19} "II. The trial court's `after-the-fact' imposition of postrelease control violated R.C.
{¶ 20} Appellant argues that the trial court violated R.C.
{¶ 21} In the case at bar, the trial court did not impose "after-the-fact" postrelease control. We are aware that this court has reversed such after-the-fact postrelease control additions. SeeState v. Fletcher, Cuyahoga App. No. 89458,
{¶ 22} "V. The trial court erred in adding postrelease control to appellant's original sentence as the addition was precluded by the doctrine of res judicata when *Page 9 the state failed to appeal the omission of postrelease control from appellant's original sentence."
{¶ 23} Appellant argues that the trial court erred when it added postrelease control to his sentence. More specifically, he alleges that res judicata prevents the trial court from "adding" postrelease control because "the state failed to appeal the omission of postrelease control from appellant's original sentence." As discussed above, postrelease control was not omitted from the original sentence; rather, the possible length of the term was simply incorrect. Accordingly, appellant's fifth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 24} Appellant's first, second, fourth, and fifth assignments of error are dispositive of this case; therefore, assignments of error III, VI, and VII are moot.2
Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. *Page 10
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
KENNETH A. ROCCO, P.J., and MELODY J. STEWART, J., CONCUR
III. The trial court's imposition of postrelease control by video conference violated Crim.R. 43(A) and Appellant's due process right to be physically present at every stage of his criminal proceeding.
VI. Am. Sub. H.B. 137 violates the one subject provision of the Ohio constitution and is therefore unconstitutional.
VII. The Defendant was denied effective assistance of counsel.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Danny Cooper
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Unpublished