State v. Stuart, Wd-07-034 (2-22-2008)
State v. Stuart, Wd-07-034 (2-22-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On August 25, 2005, appellant entered guilty pleas to two counts of trafficking in cocaine, felonies of the first degree and two counts of trafficking in cocaine, *Page 2 felonies of the second degree. One of the first degree felonies carried a specification that appellant was a major drug offender. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. On July 27, 2007, this court granted appellant leave to file a direct appeal. He now asserts the following assignments of error:
{¶ 3} "I. The trial court committed plain error when it sentenced Ronald Stuart to a non-minimum, enhanced sentence, based on facts not found by a jury or admitted by Mr. Stuart. This denied Mr. Stuart due process of law and the right to a jury trial under the
{¶ 4} "II. Trial counsel was ineffective, in violation of the
{¶ 5} Appellant's assignments of error will be addressed together. Appellant contends his sentence, composed of non-minimum and consecutive terms, is void pursuant to State v. Foster,
{¶ 6} In State v. Payne,
{¶ 7} The Ohio Supreme Court, recognizing that it had remanded cases pursuant to Foster for resentencing with similar factual patterns, determined that these remands were not determinative of the issue as it had not been "raised at the time of the adjudication," quoting their decision in State ex rel. Gordon v. Rhodes (1952),
{¶ 8} The Supreme Court of Ohio, following Washington v. Recuenco
(2006), 548 U.S.___,
{¶ 9} Finally, the court addressed Payne's claim that the use of the word "void" by the Foster court in describing his sentence requires that he be resentenced. The court stated that:
{¶ 10} "A void sentence is one that a court imposes despite lacking subject-matter jurisdiction or the authority to act. State v.Wilson (1995),
{¶ 11} The court held that Foster addressed a situation in which the trial courts had both subject-matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction over a defendant, and thus held that pre-Foster sentences within the statutory range are voidable. Resentencing can occur only after a successful direct appeal. *Page 5
{¶ 12} Here, appellant was sentenced in 2005, before Foster was released in 2006. Appellant's sentence is therefore voidable. Appellant, however, did not object to the constitutionality of his sentence at the sentencing hearing. Following Payne, we hold that appellant has forfeited2 the issue for appellate purposes. Payne, ¶ 21.
{¶ 13} Pursuant to Payne, we are confined to a plain error analysis.
{¶ 14} Post-Foster, it is axiomatic that "[t]rial 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 the minimum sentences." Id. at paragraph seven of the syllabus. Therefore, post-Foster, trial courts are still required to consider the general guidance factors in their sentencing decisions. In its judgment entry, the trial court specifically stated that it had considered the purposes and principles of sentencing under R.C.
{¶ 15} Appellant was convicted of two first degree felonies. First degree felonies carry a minimum sentence of three years and a maximum sentence of ten years. 2929.14(A)(1). He received two concurrent four year sentences for each of the first degree felonies. He was also convicted of two second degree felonies. Second degree *Page 6
felonies carry a minimum sentence of two years and a maximum sentence of eight years. 2929.14(A)(2). He received two concurrent four year sentences for each of the second degree felonies. Those sentences were ordered to be served concurrently with the first degree felony sentences. Finally, appellant received a ten year sentence for the major drug offender specification. Such a sentence is mandatory pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 16} The judgment of the Wood County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24. Judgment for the clerk's expense incurred in preparation of the record, fees allowed by law, and the fee for filing the appeal is awarded to Wood 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.
Pietrykowski, P.J., Singer, J., Osowik, J. CONCUR.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.