State v. Lynn, 22115 (5-30-2008)
State v. Lynn, 22115 (5-30-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Lynn asserts two assignments of error. His first assignment of error is as follows:
{¶ 3} "THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO FOLLOW THE REQUIREMENTS OF O.R.C.
{¶ 4} In resentencing Lynn, the court merely noted that the matter was before it pursuant to Foster, and it stated, "The original sentence then of a term of five years of confinement at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is placed back into effect."
{¶ 5} According to Lynn, the "record is devoid of any indication that the sentence was commensurate with and not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and its impact upon the victim, or that it was consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar offenders. It remains impossible to determine if the sentence imposed complies with the requirements of O.R.C.
{¶ 6} "[T]rial courts have full discretion to impose a prison sentence within the *Page 3
statutory range and are no longer required to make findings or give their reasons for imposing maximum, consecutive, or more than minimum sentences." Foster, at 30. "`Although after Foster the trial court is no longer compelled to make findings and give reasons at the sentencing hearing because R.C.
{¶ 7} "A claim that a sentence does not comport with R.C.
{¶ 8} "`Abuse of discretion' has been defined as an attitude that is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. (Internal citation omitted). It is to be expected that most instances of abuse of discretion will result in decisions that are simply unreasonable, rather than decisions that are unconscionable or arbitrary." Bryant.
{¶ 9} There is absolutely no indication in the transcript of Lynn's re-sentencing that the court carefully considered the statutes that apply to every felony case, namely R.C.
{¶ 10} Lynn's second assignment of error is as follows:
{¶ 11} "APPELLANT'S TRIAL COUNSEL'S FAILURE TO OBJECT TO *Page 4 APPELLANT'S SENTENCE CONSTITED [sic] INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL."
{¶ 12} Our resolution of the first assignment of error renders analysis of Lynn's second assignment of error moot.
BROGAN, J., concurs.
FAIN, J., dissents.
Copies mailed to:
Michele D. Phipps
Michael T. Columbus
Hon. Frances McGee
Dissenting Opinion
{¶ 13} I have read State v. Bryant, Clark App. No. 2006CA19,
{¶ 14} But I find nothing in State v. Bryant, supra, that requires some affirmative demonstration in the record that the trial court has carefully considered the statutes that apply to felony sentencing. Normally, the presumption of regularity requires us to presume, in the absence of something in the record to indicate to the contrary, that the trial court has followed the law. I would apply that presumption here. I would affirm. *Page 1
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Jamichael D. Lynn
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published