State v. Benton, L-07-1305 (8-1-2008)
State v. Benton, L-07-1305 (8-1-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} A brief recitation of the facts is as follows. On March 13, 2006, following a jury trial convicting him of rape and felonious assault, appellant was sentenced to *Page 2
consecutive sentences totaling ten years. On direct appeal, this court affirmed appellant's convictions but reversed his sentence based on the Supreme Court of Ohio's decision in State v. Foster,
{¶ 3} "Assignment of Error I: The trial court violated Benton's constitutional rights by imposing a sentence for the rape that was not the shortest authorized, and by imposing consecutive sentences."
{¶ 4} In State v. Foster, the Ohio Supreme Court "declared certain portions of Ohio's sentencing laws unconstitutional as violative of a defendant's
{¶ 5} Although appellant acknowledges the Foster holding, he claims that the Ohio Supreme Court's abrogation of the presumption of a minimum, concurrent sentence violates the Ex Post Facto Clause of the United States Constitution, denies him due *Page 3
process of law, and also violates the Separation of Powers Clause. We first note that because appellant failed to raise these arguments at his resentencing, he has forfeited the issue on appeal. See State v.Payne,
{¶ 6} Regardless, this court has considered ex post facto, due process, and separation of powers challenges to resentencings required under Foster where the sentences imposed on resentencing were not the minimum sentence for the offense and where the sentences imposed ran consecutively. Thus, the court reaffirms its prior rulings thatFoster does not violate the Due Process Clause, the Ex Post Facto Clause, or the Separation of Powers Clause. See State v. Coleman, 6th Dist. No. S-06-023,
{¶ 7} On consideration whereof, the court finds that substantial justice has been done the party complaining, and that 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 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.
Peter M. Handwork, J., Mark L. Pietrykowski, P.J., Arlene Singer, J., Concur. *Page 1
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