State v. Parmer, 8-07-17 (2-4-2008)
State v. Parmer, 8-07-17 (2-4-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On July 10, 2007 a Logan County grand jury indicted Parmer on one count of Aggravated Robbery, a felony of the first degree in violation of R.C.
{¶ 3} At his arraignment on July 13, 2007, Parmer entered a plea of not guilty to each count contained in the indictment. On July 27, 2007 the State of Ohio filed a bill of particulars regarding the nature of the crimes charged in the indictment. At a scheduling conference on July 30, 2007 the trial court appointed new counsel at Parmer's request and set this matter for trial on August 21 and 22, 2007.
{¶ 4} On August 15, 2007 Parmer appeared before the trial court for a change of plea hearing. At the hearing the State moved to amend count one of the indictment from Aggravated Robbery to Robbery, a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C.
{¶ 5} On August 17, 2007 the trial court conducted Parmer's sentencing hearing pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 6} Parmer now appeals, asserting one assignment of error.
SENTENCING MR. PARMER TO THE LONGEST SENTENCE UNDER 2911.02(A)(3) WAS CONTRARY TO THE STATUTE.
{¶ 7} In his sole assignment of error, Parmer alleges that the trial court erred in sentencing him to the maximum possible sentence for his conviction of Robbery, a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C.
{¶ 8} In reviewing sentencing decisions of a trial court, an appellate court conducts a meaningful review of the sentence decision. State v.Carter 11th Dist. No. 2003-P-0007,
{¶ 9} Additionally, a court that sentences an offender for a felony shall be guided by the overriding purposes of felony sentencing which are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and others and to punish the offender. R.C.
{¶ 10} The Supreme Court of Ohio recently addressed constitutional issues concerning felony sentencing in State v. Foster,
{¶ 11} However, a trial court must still consider the overall purposes of sentencing as set forth in R.C.
{¶ 12} In the present case, the trial court conducted Parmer's sentencing hearing pursuant to R.C.
(A)(1) The court shall hold a sentencing hearing before imposing a sentence under this chapter upon an offender who was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony . . . At the hearing, the offender, the prosecuting attorney, the victim or the victim's representative . . . and, with the approval of the court, any other person may present information relevant to the imposition of *Page 7 sentence in the case. The court shall inform the offender of the . . . finding of the court and ask the offender whether the offender has anything to say as to why sentence should not be imposed upon the offender.
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(B)(1) At the sentencing hearing, the court, before imposing sentence, shall consider the record, any information presented at the hearing by any person pursuant to division (A) of this section, and, if one was prepared, the pre-sentence investigation report. . .
{¶ 13} A review of the record in the present case demonstrates that the trial court followed the procedures set forth in R.C.
{¶ 14} Specifically, we note that at Parmer's sentencing hearing, the trial court recited facts relating to the events of May 27, 2007. Additionally, the trial court stated as follows:
The Bill of Particulars also indicates that besides threatening to shoot the clerk, he made her sit down on the floor, told her not to push any buttons. Because a gun was used, because this lady was elderly, the Court finds this is the worst form of this crime. The defendant, as the prosecutor has related, has been before the Courts many times and has had many sentences.
The Court feels that it would be remiss if it did not impose the maximum penalty. Accordingly, the Court imposes a sentence of five years.
(See August 17, 2007 Transcript of Sentencing, p. 16). *Page 8
{¶ 15} Additionally, we note that the trial court also stated in its August 21, 2007 Judgment Entry that it had "considered the record, oral statements . . . as well as the principles and purposes of sentencing under Ohio Revised Code § 2929.11." The court also stated that it had "considered the need for deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation and restitution." The trial court also found that "a prison term is consistent with the purposes and principles of sentencing in Revised Code § 2929.11."
{¶ 16} Thus, although the trial court was not required to set forth its specific findings, nor was it required to specifically state that it considered each of the subsections of R.C.
{¶ 17} Finally, we note that on August 15, 2007 Parmer withdrew his plea of not guilty and entered a negotiated plea of guilty to one count of Robbery, a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C.
{¶ 18} Pursuant to R.C.
*Page 9. . . [i]f the court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a felony elects or is required to impose a prison term on the offender pursuant to this chapter, the court shall impose a definite prison term that shall be one of the following:
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(3) For a felony of the third degree, the prison term shall be one, two, three, four, or five years.
{¶ 19} Accordingly, we note that Parmer could have been sentenced to a prison term of as little as one year for his felony conviction, or the maximum prison term of five years for his felony conviction. In this case, the trial court sentenced Parmer to a prison term of five years for his felony conviction of Robbery.
{¶ 20} Based on the foregoing, we find that the trial court properly considered the factors contained in R.C.
Judgment Affirmed.
*Page 1PRESTON and ROGERS, J.J., concur.
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