State v. Allen, 2007-G-2768 (3-28-2008)
State v. Allen, 2007-G-2768 (3-28-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On April 18, 2006, appellant was indicted by the Geauga County Grand Jury on twelve counts: six counts of breaking and entering, felonies of the fifth degree, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 3} A change of plea hearing was held on January 12, 2007. Pursuant to a plea agreement, appellant pleaded guilty to two counts of petty theft, misdemeanors of the first degree, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 4} Pursuant to its March 14, 2007 judgment entry, the trial court sentenced appellant to ninety days for one of the petty theft counts, and one hundred twenty days for the other petty theft count; twelve months on each of the breaking and entering charges; and eight years for attempted aggravated arson, all to be served concurrently to each other. Appellant was given credit for three hundred forty-nine days for time served. The trial court further ordered appellant to pay restitution in excess of $21,000. It is from that judgment that appellant filed the instant appeal, raising two assignments of error for our review:
{¶ 5} "[1.] [Appellant's] guilty plea was not knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily made in violation of [Crim.R.] 11. *Page 3
{¶ 6} "[2.] The trial court abused its discretion in imposing the maximum sentence to [appellant]."
{¶ 7} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues that his guilty plea was not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made, in violation of Crim.R. 11.
{¶ 8} Crim.R. 11(C)(2) addresses the requirements for guilty pleas and provides: "[i]n 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:
{¶ 9} "(a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, with 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.
{¶ 10} "(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.
{¶ 11} "(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."
{¶ 12} "* * * [A] defendant, who challenges his guilty plea on the basis that it was not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made, must demonstrate a prejudicial effect *Page 4
of which the test is whether the plea would have otherwise been made."State v. Scarnati (Feb. 22, 2002), 11th Dist. No. 2001-P-0063, 2002 Ohio App. LEXIS 776, at 12, citing State v. Nero (1990),
{¶ 13} The Supreme Court of Ohio, in State v. Griggs,
{¶ 14} In the case at bar, appellant stipulated that the trial court complied with the requirements of Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c). Thus, we will focus our analysis on Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) and (b).
{¶ 15} At the change of plea hearing, it was apparent that appellant's counsel had previously gone over the charges with him, and appellant indicated that he understood the plea. A review of the transcript from the plea hearing shows that the trial court engaged in the requisite Crim.R. 11 colloquy, and that appellant understood the nature of the charges.
{¶ 16} The trial court's dialogue with appellant was thorough and, by all indications, appellant, who was represented by counsel, understood the implications of *Page 5
his plea and the rights he was waiving. The trial court complied with the provisions of Crim.R. 11(C). Before accepting appellant's guilty plea, the trial court determined that appellant made his guilty plea voluntarily, and that he understood the nature of the charges against him and of the maximum penalty involved. Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a). The trial court properly noted that there was a presumption of prison time for a guilty plea on the charge of attempted aggravated arson, a second degree felony. See R.C.
{¶ 17} In addition, the trial court informed appellant of and determined that he understood the effect of his guilty plea. Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b). Although the trial court did not inform appellant that it could proceed directly to sentencing, the matter was referred to the probation department for a presentence investigation and scheduled for a later sentencing hearing. Appellant fails to show that there was a prejudicial effect due to the trial court's failure to inform him that it could proceed directly to judgment and sentencing. See State v.Hughes (Oct. 26, 2001), 11th Dist. No. 2000-A-0046, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 4800, at 6.
{¶ 18} Also, although appellant has a history of mental health concerns, he was found competent to stand trial as well as capable to assist his legal counsel. This court stated in State v. Swift (1993), 86 Ohio App.3d 407, 411:
{¶ 19} "R.C.
{¶ 20} The record before us does not suggest that appellant's mental concerns interfered with his ability to understand the nature of the proceedings. Both the trial court and appellant's representative were satisfied that his guilty plea was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made.
{¶ 21} Also, the trial court asked appellant if it was his wish to plead guilty in accordance with the plea deal, to which he answered in the affirmative with his counsel's consent.
{¶ 22} Nothing before this court leads us to conclude that appellant's plea was not knowing, voluntary, or intelligent. Based on the totality of the circumstances, the trial court substantially complied with the requirements of Crim.R. 11. As such, the trial court did not err by accepting appellant's guilty plea.
{¶ 23} Appellant's first assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 24} In his second assignment of error, appellant alleges that the trial court abused its discretion by imposing the maximum sentence.
{¶ 25} By way of background, this court recently stated in State v.Carter, 11th Dist. No. 2006-P-0056,
{¶ 26} "Prior to the landmark decision of the Supreme Court of Ohio inState v. Foster,
{¶ 27} "Foster has changed the sentencing landscape. * * * The Supreme Court specifically held that R.C.
{¶ 28} "However, we cannot agree with those courts holding that the appellate sentencing statute, R.C.
{¶ 29} "Rather, our review seems now, like Gaul, to be divided into three parts. Questions of law we review, as always, de novo. The de novo and clear and convincing standards continue to apply to those parts of the statutory sentencing structure unaffected by the Foster excisions; for instance, downward departures pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 30} With regard to R.C.
{¶ 31} In State v. Rady, 11th Dist. No. 2006-L-213, 2007-Ohio-1551, at ¶ 38-47, this court stated:
{¶ 32} "R.C.
{¶ 33} "`(A) A court that sentences an offender for a felony shall be guided by the overriding purposes of felony sentencing. The overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and others and to punish the offender. To achieve those purposes, the sentencing court shall consider the need for incapacitating the offender, deterring the offender and others from future crime, rehabilitating the offender, and making restitution to the victim of the offense, the public, or both.
{¶ 34} "`(B) A sentence imposed for a felony shall be reasonably calculated to achieve the two overriding purposes of felony sentencing set forth in division (A) of this section, commensurate with and not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and its impact upon the victim, and consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar offenders.'
{¶ 35} "This court stated in State v. Adams, 11th Dist. No. 2003-L-110,
{¶ 36} "`although "a trial court is required to engage in the analysis set forth by R.C.
{¶ 37} "In State v. Spicuzza, 11th Dist. No. 2005-L-078,
{¶ 38} "`"(* * *) R.C.
{¶ 39} "We additionally stated in Spicuzza at ¶ 16:
{¶ 40} "`[t]his court has held that, "`although the trial court is required "to consider the seriousness and recidivism factors," the court does not need to "make specific findings on the record in order to evince the requisite consideration of all applicable seriousness and recidivism factors."`" State v. Blake, 11th Dist. No. 2003-L-196,
{¶ 41} "R.C.
{¶ 42} In the instant case, the trial court sentenced appellant pursuant to Foster. Thus, the trial court was not required to make any findings regarding sentencing appellant to the maximum term of imprisonment. However, the trial court was required to and did consider R.C.
{¶ 43} The trial court stated in its March 14, 2007 sentencing order, pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 44} We conclude that the trial court adequately complied with the statutory requirements, and do not agree with appellant that his sentence is unreasonable. Based on the record, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by sentencing appellant to the maximum term of imprisonment. *Page 12
{¶ 45} Appellant's second assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 46} For the foregoing reasons, appellant's assignments of error are not well-taken. The judgment of the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. It is ordered that appellant is assessed costs herein taxed. The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
DIANE V. GRENDELL, P.J., concurs,
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J., concurs in judgment only.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Beau J. Allen
- Cited By
- 1 case
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- Published