State v. Wettee, 07-Ca-21 (11-19-2008)
State v. Wettee, 07-Ca-21 (11-19-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} On March 19, 2007, the state moved to amend counts one and two of the indictment in case number 2006CR457, (the two counts of trafficking in cocaine) to the lesser included offenses of possession of cocaine in violation of R.C.
{¶ 4} Thereafter, appellant was found guilty by the court. Appellant waived a separate sentencing hearing and was sentenced as follows: In Case Number 2007CR68, appellant was sentenced to a prison term of seven (7) months to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed in Case Number 2006CR457 with a two (2) year driver's license suspension.
{¶ 5} In Case Number 2006CR457, as to Count one, the amended count of cocaine possession, appellant was sentenced to a prison term of nine (9) months. As to Count two, the second amended count of cocaine possession, appellant was sentenced to a prison term of nine (9) months. As to Count three, the third amended count of cocaine possession, appellant was sentenced to a prison term of fifteen (15) months. As to Count four, the indicted charge of cocaine possession appellant was sentenced to serve nine (9) months.
{¶ 6} The court further ordered the sentences in Case Number 2006CR457 to run consecutively to each other and consecutively to the sentence in Case Number 2007CR68, for an aggregate prison sentence of forty-nine (49) months.
{¶ 7} Appellant was further ordered to serve five (5) years of community control upon his release from incarceration and a six month driver's license suspension was imposed on each count to be served consecutively. The driver's license suspension for both cases was an aggregate license suspension of two (2) years.
{¶ 8} The court further granted community control on counts one and two of the indictment, thereby suspending the aggregate eighteen (18) month sentence on those *Page 4 counts and ordered the community control to begin after the twenty-four (24) months of incarceration had been served on counts three and four and the seven (7) month sentence in case number 2007CR68.
{¶ 9} It is from this conviction and sentence that appellant seeks to appeal setting forth the following assignment of error:
{¶ 10} "THE SENTENCES GIVEN IN COUNTS THREE AND FOUR IN 2006CR457 AND THE SINGLE COUNT IN 2007CR68 ARE CONTRARY TO LAW."
{¶ 11} In appellant's assignment of error, he argues that the trial court's sentences on the fourth degree felony offenses in counts three and four of the amended indictment in Case Number 2006CR457 and on the fourth degree felony offense in Case Number 2007 CR 68 are contrary to law. Appellant argues that pursuant to the factors set forth in R.C.
{¶ 12} In his brief, appellant urges this court to apply a clear and convincing standard to appellant's consecutive sentences as set forth in R.C.
{¶ 13} R.C.
{¶ 14} "(2) The court hearing an appeal under division (A), (B), or (C) of this section shall review the record, including the findings underlying the sentence or modification given by the sentencing court. *Page 5
{¶ 15} "The appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence that is appealed under this section or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing court for resentencing. The appellate court's standard of review is not whether the sentencing court abused its discretion. The appellate court may take any action authorized by this division if it clearly and convincingly finds either of the following:
{¶ 16} "(a) That the record does not support the sentencing court's findings under division (B) or (D) of section
{¶ 17} "(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law."
{¶ 18} Recently in State v. Kalish, ___ Ohio St.3d, ___
{¶ 19} In Kalish, the Court discussed the affect of the Foster decision on felony sentencing. The Court stated that, inFoster, the Ohio Supreme Court severed the judicial fact-finding portions of R.C.
{¶ 20} "Thus, despite the fact that R.C.
{¶ 21} Therefore, Kalish holds that, in reviewing felony sentences and applying Foster to the remaining sentencing statutes, the appellate courts must use a two-step approach. "First, they must examine the sentencing court's compliance with all applicable rules and statutes in imposing the sentence to determine whether the sentence is clearly and convincingly contrary to law. If this first prong is satisfied, the trial court's decision in imposing the term of imprisonment shall be reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard." Kalish at paragraph 4,State v. Foster,
{¶ 22} The Supreme Court held, in Kalish, that the trial court's sentencing decision was not contrary to law. "The trial court expressly stated that it considered the *Page 7
purposes and principles of R.C.
{¶ 23} In the case sub judice, during the sentencing hearing, the State provided the trial court with a synopsis of appellant's criminal activity. The State advised the trial court that, on November 11, 2006, appellant was arrested for a minor offense involving a disruption of the peace and was transported to the jail. The arresting officers later discovered that appellant was in possession of more than a bulk amount of cocaine. However, charges were not filed pending the crime lab's testing of the alleged drugs. In the meantime, the appellant was released on bond.
{¶ 24} On December 8, 2006, and December 11, 2006, appellant engaged in the sale of cocaine but the ensuing charges were amended to possession of cocaine. On December 13, 2006, appellant dove out of a second story window when the police were executing a search warrant at a suspected drug house. Appellant was believed to be the ring leader of the crack house which engaged in drug operations on the weekends. At the time of the sentencing hearing, appellant was also under indictment in Franklin County for drug possession charges. (Transcript of Sentencing Hearing at pages 27-29). *Page 8
{¶ 25} After considering the statements by both the State and the appellant the trial court stated as follows:
{¶ 26} "The court is required under Ohio law in an adult felony case to follow the terms and provisions in Chapter
{¶ 27} In the trial court's sentencing entry for case number 2006CR457, the trial court states as follows: "The Court after considering all mitigating factors and the aggravating factors find that the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating factors. The Court further finds after considering all the factors listed in Section
{¶ 28} In the trial court's sentencing entry for case number 2007CR068, the trial court stated, "[t]he court has considered the record, oral statements, any victim statement, and pre-sentence report prepared, as well as the principles and purposes of sentencing under Ohio Revised Code Section
{¶ 29} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 30} Upon review we find that the trial court's sentencing on the fourth degree felony offenses in both cases is in compliance with applicable rules and sentencing *Page 10
statutes. The sentences were within the statutory sentencing ranges. Furthermore, the record reflects that the trial court considered the purposes and principles of sentencing and the seriousness and recidivism factors as required in Sections
{¶ 31} Having determined that the sentences are not contrary to law we must now review the sentences pursuant to an abuse of discretion standard. An abuse of discretion is "more than an error of law or judgment; it implies that the court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable." Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983),
{¶ 32} In this case, the record reflects that the appellant was a suspected ring leader of a crack house who was charged with felony cocaine possession in another county and managed to accumulate five felony drug charges in Fairfield County within a period of five weeks. Upon review, we find that the trial court decision to impose an aggregate consecutive sentence of thirty-one (31) months for appellant's fourth degree felony offenses was not unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. Therefore, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the consecutive sentences properly satisfy the overriding principles and purposes of Ohio's sentencing structure.
{¶ 33} Appellant further argues that his sentences are contrary to law because it is harsher than for similarly situated defendants in Fairfield County. In support, appellant gives this court a thorough history of numerous cases in Fairfield County. However, it does not appear that the appellant presented this information to the trial *Page 11
court prior to sentencing. Therefore, we find that the appellant has waived the opportunity to argue a disparity in sentencing on appeal.State v. Childs (1968),
{¶ 34} For theses reasons, we find that the sentences imposed by the trial court were not contrary to law and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing the consecutive sentences. Accordingly, appellant's assignment of error is not well taken and is hereby overruled.
{¶ 35} The judgment of the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas is hereby affirmed.
Edwards, J. Hoffman, P.J. and Farmer, J. concur
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