State v. Harris , 110 N.E.3d 176 ( 2018 )


Menu:
  • [Cite as State v. Harris, 2018-Ohio-1329.]
    STATE OF OHIO                     )                     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
    )ss:                  NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
    COUNTY OF LORAIN                  )
    STATE OF OHIO                                           C.A. No.   17CA011109
    Appellee
    v.                                              APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
    ENTERED IN THE
    LEONDRE HARRIS                                          COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
    COUNTY OF LORAIN, OHIO
    Appellant                                       CASE No.   16CR094756
    DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
    Dated: April 9, 2018
    TEODOSIO, Judge.
    {¶1}     Appellant, Leondre Harris, appeals from his convictions for kidnapping and
    abduction in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms.
    I.
    {¶2}     One night in August of 2016, Mr. Harris and his girlfriend (“A.W.”) were staying
    at the Days Inn in Elyria to celebrate their friend’s birthday. There was testimony at trial from
    several witnesses that Mr. Harris repeatedly referred to A.W. throughout the evening as his wife
    and noted that she was pregnant. A group of six workers from Indiana were also staying at the
    same hotel that night in two separate rooms, and they left their rooms “latched open” so they
    could enter and exit each room freely without being locked out. At one point, A.W. accidentally
    walked into one of the workers’ rooms. She apologized, but asked if they wanted to share her
    bottle of vodka. They politely declined and she left.
    2
    {¶3}   Later, some of the workers talked to Mr. Harris and A.W. in the parking lot while
    smoking and drinking together. Mr. Harris and A.W. soon began to bicker and argue with each
    other, and Mr. Harris got in his car to leave. A.W. attempted to get into the car as well, but Mr.
    Harris locked the doors and drove off without her. At some point, A.W. also left the parking lot
    by herself.
    {¶4}   Mr. Harris later returned to the hotel, confronted some workers in the parking lot,
    and demanded their room key so he could make sure A.W. was not in their room. The workers
    refused to hand over their room key and Mr. Harris left the area again. The workers encountered
    A.W. again and she appeared to be shaken, scared, and concerned for her safety. The men
    allowed her to stay in one of their rooms to keep her safe and calm while she called friends for a
    ride and a place to stay.
    {¶5}   Mr. Harris returned to the hotel once again and knocked on both of the workers’
    hotel doors, demanding that A.W. come outside. In the second room, the workers and A.W. all
    remained silent and did not open the door, but instead called 911. Mr. Harris began either
    banging loudly on the door or trying to kick it in, but he also decided to call 911. The police
    soon arrived, spoke to everyone involved, and de-escalated the situation. They determined that
    A.W. wished to stay with the workers and did not want to be with Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris
    apparently left the area once the police told him he was no longer welcome at the Days Inn that
    night.
    {¶6}   After the police left, about a half hour passed before Mr. Harris came back to the
    hotel with more friends. Mr. Harris encountered A.W. somewhere in the hotel, and forcefully
    pulled her out of the hotel and into a parked minivan. Some of the workers witnessed Mr. Harris
    “dragging” A.W. down the hallway. One of the workers called 911 again, while some of the
    3
    other men went out to the parking lot and were able to free A.W. from the minivan. The police
    soon arrived and Mr. Harris was arrested.
    {¶7}    Mr. Harris waived his right to a jury trial and instead proceeded to a bench trial in
    this matter. Based on the lack of evidence presented regarding whether Mr. Harris actually
    shared a residence with A.W., the trial court granted Mr. Harris’ Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal
    as to one count of felony-five domestic violence. Based on the dismissal of the felony domestic
    violence charge and thus the lack of evidence presented regarding whether Mr. Harris committed
    these acts to facilitate the commission of a felony, the trial court also granted Mr. Harris’
    Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal as to one count of kidnapping. The court denied Mr. Harris’
    Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal as to the three remaining counts. After deliberation, the trial
    court found Mr. Harris guilty of one count of kidnapping and two counts of abduction. At
    sentencing, the two abduction counts merged into the kidnapping count and the trial court
    sentenced Mr. Harris to five years in prison for kidnapping. Because Mr. Harris had previously
    been convicted of a felony-one aggravated robbery in Cuyahoga County, the trial court ordered
    the five-year sentence in this case to be mandatory prison time.
    {¶8}    Mr. Harris now appeals from his convictions and raises two assignments of error
    for this Court’s review.
    II.
    ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR ONE
    THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE FINDING OF
    “GUILTY” AGAINST DEFENDANT-APPELLANT WITH RESPECT TO
    COUNTS II, III AND IV OF THE INDICTMENT, THE KIDNAPPING AND
    TWO ABDUCTION CHARGES, THOSE CONVICTIONS WERE AGAINST
    THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
    4
    {¶9}     In his first assignment of error, Mr. Harris argues that his convictions were based
    on insufficient evidence and against the manifest weight of the evidence. We disagree with both
    propositions.
    Sufficiency of the Evidence
    {¶10} “A sufficiency challenge of a criminal conviction presents a question of law,
    which we review de novo.” State v. Spear, 9th Dist. Summit No. 28181, 2017-Ohio-169, ¶ 6,
    citing State v. Thompkins, 
    78 Ohio St. 3d 380
    , 386 (1997). “Sufficiency concerns the burden of
    production and tests whether the prosecution presented adequate evidence for the case to go to
    the jury.” State v. Bressi, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27575, 2016-Ohio-5211, ¶ 25, citing Thompkins
    at 386. “The relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to
    the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
    proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” 
    Id., quoting State
    v. Jenks, 
    61 Ohio St. 3d 259
    (1991),
    paragraph two of the syllabus. However, “we do not resolve evidentiary conflicts or assess the
    credibility of witnesses, because these functions belong to the trier of fact.” State v. Hall, 9th
    Dist. Summit No. 27827, 2017-Ohio-73, ¶ 10.
    {¶11} Mr. Harris was convicted of kidnapping under R.C. 2905.01(A), which states in
    relevant part: “No person, by force * * * shall remove another from the place where the other
    person is found or restrain the liberty of the other person, for any of the following purposes: * * *
    (3) To terrorize, or to inflict serious physical harm on the victim * * *.” “‘Force’ means any
    violence, compulsion, or constraint physically exerted by any means upon or against a person or
    thing.” R.C. 2901.01(A)(1). “A person acts purposely when it is the person’s specific intention
    to cause a certain result, or, when the gist of the offense is a prohibition against conduct of a
    certain nature, regardless of what the offender intends to accomplish thereby, it is the offender’s
    5
    specific intention to engage in conduct of that nature.” R.C. 2901.22(A). “Terrorize” is not
    defined in the Revised Code, but Ohio courts have defined it according to its common usage,
    which is “‘to fill with terror or anxiety.’” State v. Suggs, 9th Dist. Summit Nos. 27812, 27865, &
    27866, 2016-Ohio-5692, ¶ 16, quoting State v. Chasteen, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2007-12-308,
    2009-Ohio-1163, ¶ 21, quoting State v. Eggleston, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2008-L-047, 2008-Ohio-
    6880, ¶ 30, fn. 1.
    {¶12} Mr. Harris was also convicted of abduction under R.C. 2905.02(A), which states
    in relevant part: “No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly * * * (1) [b]y force * *
    *, remove another from the place where the other person is found [or] (2) [b]y force * * *,
    restrain the liberty of another person under circumstances that create a risk of physical harm to
    the victim or place the other person in fear * * *.” “A person acts knowingly, regardless of
    purpose, when the person is aware that the person’s conduct will probably cause a certain result
    or will probably be of a certain nature.” R.C. 2901.22(B).
    {¶13} As to his kidnapping conviction, Mr. Harris argues that the State did not introduce
    any evidence of a purpose to terrorize or to inflict serious physical harm, as there was no
    evidence of physical harm and A.W. stood by Mr. Harris’ vehicle after the second disturbance.
    Mr. Harris claims that he simply wanted A.W. to leave the hotel with him and their friend, while
    she wanted to remain and “party” with the workers. As to his abduction convictions, he argues
    that the State did not introduce any evidence of force or threat, as the surveillance video does not
    show Mr. Harris dragging A.W. away, but instead only shows Mr. Harris with his arm around
    A.W. as they walked into the parking lot together. He further argues that there was no evidence
    of physical harm, as the police officers who responded to the scene did not testify that they
    observed any injuries on A.W.
    6
    {¶14} Upon review of the record, we conclude that the State presented sufficient
    evidence at trial, if believed, to establish that Mr. Harris committed the offenses of kidnapping
    and abduction. One of the workers (“David”) testified that when some of the men were in the
    parking lot smoking and drinking with Mr. Harris and A.W., Mr. Harris made some crude
    comments about how he would make A.W. perform oral sex on all of the men and how he would
    make them all pay to have sexual intercourse with her. David testified that these comments
    upset A.W. and she began bickering and arguing with Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris got into his vehicle
    and A.W. tried to join him, but he locked the doors and drove off without her. The workers’
    supervisor (“Matthew”) testified that, on his way back to his room, he encountered A.W., who
    was scared, nervous, worried, twitching, shaking, and crying hysterically. Matthew offered to let
    her stay in his room or to drive her to wherever she would like to go. Another worker (“Aaron”)
    testified that when A.W. arrived at the hotel room, she was scared and crying with makeup
    running down her face. Aaron testified that “she was like, please hide me, please hide me, he’s
    going to kill me this time.” He also testified that A.W. said she was scared and “not feeling
    safe.” Matthew testified that, once inside the room, A.W. would pace back and forth, then sit up
    against the door, then look out the window. Aaron testified that A.W. was scared, “freaked out,”
    and “looked like she was fearing for her life.”
    {¶15} Several workers testified that when Mr. Harris returned again to knock on the
    doors to their rooms and demand that A.W. come outside, everyone in the second room remained
    quiet and did not answer him. Matthew called 911 and Aaron testified that Mr. Harris began
    “kicking the crap out of the door.” The 911 call was entered into evidence at trial. Loud
    banging noises can be heard in the background and are acknowledged by both Matthew and the
    911 dispatcher in the call. The police soon arrived and Officer Joseph Figula Jr. testified that
    7
    A.W. was shaking, frightened, and extremely nervous. A.W. indicated to the officer that she did
    not want to go with Mr. Harris and wished to stay with the workers instead. Officer Figula told
    Mr. Harris and his friend that A.W. wanted to be left alone and she did not want to be bothered
    by them anymore. After speaking to hotel staff, he also informed Mr. Harris and his friend that
    they were no longer welcome at the Days Inn that night and they needed to leave.
    {¶16} When Mr. Harris and his friends returned to the Days Inn again later that night,
    the workers soon became aware that Mr. Harris had found A.W. Matthew testified that while he
    was trying to call 911 again, he saw Mr. Harris dragging A.W. out of one of the hotel entrances
    and into the parking lot. He further testified that A.W. was struggling, wiggling, panicking, and
    trying to get away, but she could not move very much because Mr. Harris had a hold of her hair.
    The 911 call was played at trial and entered into evidence. Matthew testified that the woman
    heard screaming in the background of the phone call is A.W. Aaron and David also testified that
    they saw Mr. Harris dragging A.W. Aaron testified that he could hear A.W. yelling, “[S]top,
    stop, stop, you’re hurting me, stop” and “[D]on’t, don’t do this, don’t do this.” David testified
    that Mr. Harris was “basically manhandling her” and was forcing her to go against her will.
    {¶17} A surveillance video from a hallway inside of the Days Inn was introduced as
    evidence at trial. The video does not depict, as Mr. Harris suggests, innocuous footage of him
    with his arm around his girlfriend as the couple walk out of the hotel consensually together. The
    video footage is much more chilling than Mr. Harris would have us believe, and instead shows
    him restraining A.W. in some type of headlock with his right arm as he forcibly pulls or drags
    her alongside of him down the hallway and through the doorway leading to the parking lot. Mr.
    Harris’ left arm may also be possibly involved in his restraint of A.W., but it cannot be
    completely seen from the security camera’s vantage point. Although A.W. is able to remain on
    8
    her feet while being forced down the hallway, she is unmistakably resisting Mr. Harris as she
    struggles against him to no avail. She appears to make a couple futile efforts to grab the stair
    railing banisters and the door as she is forced out of the hotel and into the parking lot. During
    their intense struggle down the hallway, the two manage to kick over the entire end of a long
    doormat as they pass over it. Furthermore, upon viewing the video during his direct examination
    at trial, Aaron testified: “Actually, that was a little bit nicer than what [Mr. Harris] was doing
    when I saw him in the [other] hallway.”
    {¶18} Aaron also testified that, once in the parking lot, he could see Mr. Harris dragging
    and hitting A.W. while she was kicking, screaming, and telling him to let her go. David testified
    that Mr. Harris shoved A.W. into the van and Matthew testified that “[s]he was drug (sic) into
    the van.” Some of the workers went into the van and brought her back out. Matthew testified on
    cross-examination that A.W. was yelling at Mr. Harris and telling him to leave her alone.
    {¶19} After a series of heated incidents in the parking lot, in which the workers
    managed to separate A.W. from Mr. Harris, A.W. is seen on the hallway surveillance video re-
    entering the hotel alone. Ten seconds later, Mr. Harris is seen running into the hotel after her,
    immediately followed by one of the workers. Mr. Harris is seen pulling A.W. by her arms back
    toward the door to the parking lot before several workers intervene. The police soon arrive and
    Officer Paige Mitchell enters the hallway. Officer Mitchell testified that when she arrived on
    scene, she observed A.W. backing away from Mr. Harris when he approached her in the hallway,
    and that A.W. was upset, frustrated, crying, and pacing. Officer Figula also testified that A.W.
    was visibly upset, distraught, and appeared terrified at the scene. While Mr. Harris is correct that
    no police officers testified as to observing any physical injuries on A.W., the existence of
    9
    physical injuries is not an element of either kidnapping or abduction that the State needs to
    prove. See State v. Browder, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99727, 2014-Ohio-113, ¶ 23.
    {¶20} After reviewing the evidence contained in the record in a light most favorable to
    the prosecution, we conclude that the State satisfied its burden of production and presented
    sufficient evidence, if believed, that Mr. Harris committed the offenses of kidnapping and
    abduction. We further conclude that any rational trier of fact could have found all of the
    essential elements of those offenses proven beyond a reasonable doubt, as ample evidence was
    presented to prove that Mr. Harris forcibly removed A.W. from the Days Inn hotel and restrained
    her liberty to terrorize her and place her in fear and in risk of physical harm.
    Manifest Weight of the Evidence
    {¶21} Mr. Harris also argues that his convictions are against the manifest weight of the
    evidence. This Court has stated:
    In determining whether a criminal conviction is against the manifest weight of the
    evidence, an appellate court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence
    and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses and determine
    whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way
    and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be
    reversed and a new trial ordered.
    {¶22} State v. Otten, 
    33 Ohio App. 3d 339
    , 340 (9th Dist.1986). “[W]hen reversing a
    conviction on the basis that it was against the manifest weight of the evidence, an appellate court
    sits as a ‘thirteenth juror,’ and disagrees with the factfinder’s resolution of the conflicting
    testimony.” State v. Tucker, 9th Dist. Medina No. 06CA0035-M, 2006-Ohio-6914, ¶ 5. This
    discretionary power “should be exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence
    weighs heavily against the conviction.” State v. Thompkins, 
    78 Ohio St. 3d 380
    , 387 (1997),
    quoting State v. Martin, 
    20 Ohio App. 3d 172
    , 175 (1st Dist.1983). See also Otten at 340.
    10
    {¶23} Although Mr. Harris claims that his convictions are against the manifest weight of
    the evidence, he does not present or develop any meaningful argument in support of his claim.
    He only states: “Even assuming arguendo that the evidence presented at trial concerning all of
    the essential elements of those three charged offenses was somehow sufficient, an independent
    re-weighing of the same evidence demonstrates that the evidence weighs heavily against the
    convictions.” “[S]ufficiency and manifest weight are two separate, legally distinct arguments.”
    State v. Vincente-Colon, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 09CA009705, 2010-Ohio-6242, ¶ 20. Mr. Harris
    has not challenged the evidence set forth by the State as “unreliable or lacking credibility.” See
    State v. Smith, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27877, 2016-Ohio-7278, ¶ 16. Accordingly, this Court will
    not develop a manifest weight argument on his behalf. See State v. Sadeghi, 9th Dist. Wayne
    No. 14AP0051, 2016-Ohio-744, ¶ 32. See also Cardone v. Cardone, 9th Dist. Summit Nos.
    18349 and 18673, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 2028, *22 (May 6, 1998) (“If an argument exists that
    can support this assignment of error, it is not this [C]ourt’s duty to root it out”).
    {¶24} Mr. Harris’ first assignment of error is overruled.
    ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR TWO
    THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT’S
    CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW, WHERE IT
    FAILED TO COMPLY WITH R.C. 2938.11(F) BY NOT ANNOUNCING IN
    OPEN COURT THE VERDICT, OR FINDINGS DETERMINED BY THE
    JUDGE, IN DEFENDANT-APPELLANT’S BENCH TRIAL WHICH
    CONCLUDED ON NOVEMBER 16, 2016.
    {¶25} In his second assignment of error, Mr. Harris argues that the trial court violated
    his due process rights by failing to comply with R.C. 2938.11(F), and announcing its verdict in a
    journal entry instead of in open court. We disagree.
    {¶26} A trial court’s application of a statute involves a question of law, which this Court
    reviews de novo. State v. West, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 04CA008554, 2005-Ohio-990, ¶ 33.
    11
    “When applying the de novo standard of review, this Court gives no deference to the trial court’s
    legal determinations.” 
    Id. {¶27} At
    the conclusion of Mr. Harris’ bench trial on November 16, 2016, the trial court
    stated on the record: “I will be reviewing [the exhibits] this afternoon and then proceeding with
    deliberations this afternoon. * * * I should be able to have a decision by the end of the afternoon,
    and I’ll send entries to counsel.” Mr. Harris did not object to the trial court’s comment that it
    intended to announce its verdict by journal entry. On the following day, November 17, 2016, the
    court filed a journal entry finding Mr. Harris guilty of the one kidnapping charge and two
    abduction charges and further setting a status hearing for November 21, 2016, to determine a
    sentencing date. Nothing in the record suggests that Mr. Harris, at any time, objected or filed
    any motion for the verdict to be announced in open court. At his sentencing hearing on January
    9, 2017, Mr. Harris read a prepared, written statement to the trial court, in which he mentioned
    for the first time on the record the court’s failure to comply with R.C. 2938.11(F), along with
    numerous other issues, and made an oral motion to dismiss the case. The trial court denied the
    oral motion to dismiss, restated its verdicts, and proceeded with sentencing.
    {¶28} R.C. 2938.11(F) states:
    Any verdict arrived at by the jury, or finding determined by the judge or
    magistrate in trial to the court, shall be announced and received only in open court
    as soon as it is determined. Any finding by the judge or magistrate shall be
    announced in open court not more than forty-eight hours after submission of the
    case to him.
    {¶29} “[T]he purpose of [R.C. 2938.11(F)] is to provide for the prompt disposition of
    criminal cases where there is a bench trial.” Sheffield v. Nieves, 
    52 Ohio App. 2d 187
    , 188 (9th
    Dist.1976). Nevertheless, R.C. 2938.11(F) is not mandatory in nature, but only directory. 
    Id., citing State
    ex rel. Turrin v. Tuscarawas Cty. Court, 
    5 Ohio St. 2d 194
    , 196 (1966). “R.C.
    12
    2938.11(F) which states a court shall announce any verdict in open court does not proscribe
    mandatory procedure by the court but, rather, it is just a directory guideline suggested by the
    legislature.” City of Cleveland v. Criss, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 72862, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS
    5900, *27-28 (Dec. 10, 1998). See also State ex rel. Martin v. Mannen, 
    113 Ohio St. 3d 373
    ,
    2007-Ohio-2078, ¶ 6 (“The time requirement in R.C. 2938.11(F) * * * is directory, not
    mandatory”). “[T]he statute itself provides no sanction or consequences for the failure to comply
    with it.” State v. McBride, 7th Dist. Harrison Nos. 360 & 361, 1981 Ohio App. LEXIS 11965,
    *19 (Oct. 6, 1981); but see Sheffield at 188 (holding that a defendant is entitled to a judgment
    within a reasonable time, and a judgment of guilt approximately seven months after the
    defendant rests his case is a denial of due process). “Although ‘judges should strive to comply
    with these directory guidelines,’ R.C. 2938.11(F) does not provide a clear legal right to the
    vacation of convictions based on noncompliance with that provision.” State v. Doughman, 4th
    Dist. Adams No. 16CA1023, 2017-Ohio-4253, ¶ 12, quoting Martin at ¶ 6.
    {¶30} As R.C. 2938.11(F) has repeatedly been held by courts to be directory in nature,
    we cannot say that the trial court committed reversible error in this particular instance. The trial
    court sufficiently complied with the statute and promptly announced its verdict one day after Mr.
    Harris’ trial concluded. Mr. Harris has failed to show how he suffered any prejudice by being
    informed of the court’s verdict in a journal entry rather than in open court. See State v. Cuiksa,
    7th Dist. Belmont No. 84-B-5, 1985 Ohio App. LEXIS 5462, *3 (Jan. 17, 1985) (concluding that
    appellants suffered no prejudice resulting from the trial court not announcing its findings in open
    court). See also State v. Camp, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-78-3, 1978 Ohio App. LEXIS 8638, *5
    (May 5, 1978) (“[I]n the absence of a legislative sanction for failure to comply with R.C.
    2938.11(F), and in the absence of evidence indicating that the delay herein was unreasonable or
    13
    prejudicial, we cannot say that defendant wa[s] denied her due process rights”). The trial court
    also set an additional status hearing five days after trial concluded, but Mr. Harris never objected
    or demanded oral pronouncement of his verdict at any time prior to, during, or after that status
    hearing. See State v. Deckard, 5th Dist. Stark No. 1999CA00276, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 2683,
    *5 (June 19, 2000) (“If the accused does not demand a decision by filing an objection or a
    motion, then the accused should not be permitted to appeal on the grounds of a late judgment
    entry”). See also Martin at ¶ 6. It was only at his sentencing hearing, 53 days after his trial
    concluded, that Mr. Harris first brought this issue to the court’s attention. Even then, Mr. Harris
    did not demand oral pronouncement of the verdict in open court, but only informed the court that
    it failed to comply with the statute. After some discussion at the sentencing hearing, the court
    reiterated its guilty verdicts in open court:
    THE COURT: Defendant appeared in [c]ourt for sentencing after having pled not
    guilty to and been found guilty by the [c]ourt after a court trial of the following
    charges:
    Count Two, kidnapping, a Felony 1.
    Count Three, abduction, a Felony 3.
    And Count Four, abduction, a Felony 3.
    {¶31} We conclude that, in this particular case, Mr. Harris suffered no prejudice
    resulting from the trial court’s failure to initially announce its verdict in open court. See Cuiksa
    at *3; Camp at *5. Moreover, by failing to object, failing to motion the court, and failing to
    demand in any way that the court orally announce its verdict in open court, Mr. Harris effectively
    acquiesced to the trial court’s method of announcing its verdict via journal entry and setting a
    status hearing. See Deckard at *5. Even if we determined that the trial court erred by first
    announcing its verdict in a journal entry, any such error was plainly rectified when the court
    14
    orally announced its verdict in open court at the sentencing hearing. See Criss at *27-28
    (concluding that the court did not err under R.C. 2938.11(F) when it announced each decision
    and sentence at the sentencing hearing). Consequently, as the trial court sufficiently complied
    with R.C. 2938.11(F), we cannot conclude that it committed reversible error in this matter.
    {¶32} Mr. Harris’ second assignment of error is overruled.
    III.
    {¶33} Mr. Harris’ first and second assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of
    the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
    Judgment affirmed.
    There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
    We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common
    Pleas, County of Lorain, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of
    this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
    Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
    judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the
    period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is
    instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the
    mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
    Costs taxed to Appellant.
    THOMAS A. TEODOSIO
    FOR THE COURT
    15
    SCHAFER, P. J.
    CALLAHAN, J.
    CONCUR.
    APPEARANCES:
    JOSEPH F. SALZGEBER, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
    DENNIS P. WILL, Prosecuting Attorney, and NATASHA RUIZ GUERRIERI, Assistant
    Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 17CA011109

Citation Numbers: 2018 Ohio 1329, 110 N.E.3d 176

Judges: Teodosio

Filed Date: 4/9/2018

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 1/12/2023