State v. Austin, L-09-1011 (2-12-2009)
State v. Austin, L-09-1011 (2-12-2009)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} "A judgment of conviction is a final appealable order under R.C.
{¶ 3} The court in Baker further holds that "only one document can constitute a final appealable order." Id. at ¶ 15. Therefore, the finding of guilt or the guilty plea must be in the same document as the sentence.
{¶ 4} In addition, in State ex rel. Culgan v. Medina Cty. Court ofCommon Pleas,
{¶ 5} In the instant case, the December 22, 2008 judgment sets forth defendant's sentence, is signed by the judge and has been entered on the journal by the clerk. However it does not state either that defendant pleaded guilty or that he was found guilty by the judge or a jury, it merely states: *Page 3
{¶ 6} "The Court finds that defendant has been convicted of Burglary * * *." (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 7} Thus, pursuant to the Supreme Court of Ohio's recent pronouncements, the December 22, 2008 judgment does not comply with Crim. R. 32(C).
{¶ 8} Finding that there is no final appealable order from which an appeal may be taken, we remand this case to the trial court for a period of 20 days to issue a revised sentencing entry that specifically states one of the following: (1) the defendant pleaded guilty, (2) the defendant was found guilty by the court, or (3) the defendant was found guilty by a jury. The clerk of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas shall notify this court when the judge issues a revised sentencing entry and it has been entered on the court's journal. It is so ordered.
*Page 4CASE REMANDED.
Peter M. Handwork, J., Arlene Singer, J., and William J. Skow, P.J. CONCUR. *Page 1
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