State v. Marcum , 2020 Ohio 3962 ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. Marcum, 2020-Ohio-3962.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
HOCKING COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
: Case No. 19CA7
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
:
vs. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
JAMES MARCUM :
:
Defendant-Appellant. :
_____________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Benjamin Fickel, Hocking County Prosecutor, Logan, Ohio, for Appellee.
Ryan Shepler, Kermen & Shepler, LLC, Logan, Ohio, for Appellant.
_____________________________________________________________
Smith, P.J.
{¶1} This is an appeal from a Hocking County Court of Common
Pleas judgment entry that sentenced Appellant, James Marcum, to three
concurrent five-year terms of community control, with a requirement that he
enter a community based correctional facility (“CBCF”) and successfully
complete the program and follow through with the recommendations. The
trial court advised Marcum that a violation of community control may result
in more restrictive community control sanctions or the imposition of
separate, reserved prison terms, ordered to be served consecutively for an
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 2
aggregate period of forty-two months. After reviewing the facts of the case
and applicable law, we hold that the trial court’s sentence was not clearly
and convincingly contrary to law. Therefore, we overrule Appellant’s
assignment of error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
FACTS
{¶2} On March 9, 2018, the State charged Appellant with identity
fraud in violation of R.C. 2913.49(B)(2), two counts of forgery in violation
R.C. 2913.31(A)(1), and two counts of passing bad checks in violation of
R.C. 2913.11(B). Appellant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
{¶3} On January 8, 2019, Marcum reached a plea agreement with the
State whereby he would plead guilty to identity fraud and the two counts of
forgery, with the remaining two counts being dismissed. As part of the
agreement, the State agreed to recommend community control sanctions,
including the completion of a CBCF program and restitution. During the
plea hearing, the trial court found that Marcum was eligible for community
control sanctions. After a colloquy with Marcum, the trial court accepted
the pleas.
{¶4} The trial court then proceeded to sentencing and asked “[a]s to
reserved sentences, would those be consecutive?” The State responded:
“Considering his past record, I would say yes.” Defense counsel stated “I
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 3
believe that the State is entitled to that.” The trial court then imposed three
concurrent five-year terms of community control sanctions, with a
requirement that Marcum enter and successfully complete a CBCF program.
The trial court also informed Marcum that if he violated the community
control sanctions, the trial court could lengthen or impose a more restrictive
community control sanction, or a “reserved term of imprisonment on count
one would be 18 months; Count Two, 12 months; and Count Five, 12
months. Those would be consecutive to each other for a total of 42 months
total reserve time of imprisonment.” The trial court also issued a judgment
entry of sentencing that in pertinent part stated: “[D]efendant’s violation of
Community Control may result in more restrictive Community Control
Sanctions or a term of eighteen (18) months in prison on Count 1; twelve
(12) months in prison on Count 2; and twelve (12) months in prison on
Count 5[,] sentences to be served consecutive to each other, total term of 42
months in prison.” (Emphasis added.) It is from this judgment that
Appellant appeals, asserting a single assignment of error.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
“THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY SENTENCING THE
DEFENDANT TO CONCURRENT TERMS OF
COMMUNITY CONTOL BUT CONSECUTIVE
RESERVED TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT.”
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 4
{¶5} Marcum argues his sentence is contrary to law because when the
trial court informed him that he could receive consecutive prison terms if he
violated his community control sanctions it did not make the findings
required by R.C. 2929.14(B)(4) for the imposition of consecutive sentences.
Consequently, Appellant argues that we should reverse the judgment of the
trial court and remand the case “with instructions to advise the defendant of
underlying concurrent sentences.”
{¶6} In response, the State concedes that the trial court made no
findings pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at sentencing. Nevertheless, the
State contends that the sentence is not contrary to law. The State argues that
the trial court imposed a sentence of community control sanctions, but
“reserved” prison terms that could be imposed if Marcum would violate his
community control sanctions. The State further argues that the findings
required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) for the imposition of consecutive sentences
are required only at the time that a court actually imposes consecutive
sentences, not when it merely notifies a defendant of prison sentences that
could be imposed as a punishment for violating community control
sanctions. Therefore, the State argues, because the trial court in this case
merely reserved prison sentences as a punishment to be imposed only if
Marcum violates his community control, no findings were necessary under
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 5
R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). Thus, the State argues Marcum’s sentence is not
contrary to law and the trial court’s judgment should be affirmed.
Standard of Review
{¶7} We may reverse a felony sentence only “if the court clearly and
convincingly finds either that ‘the record does not support the sentencing
court's findings’ under the specified statutory provisions or ‘the sentence is
otherwise contrary to law.’ ” State v. Taylor, 4th Dist. Lawrence No.
15CA12, 2016-Ohio-2781, ¶ 40, quoting State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St. 3d
516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 1. “ ‘Clear and convincing
evidence is that measure or degree of proof * * * which will produce in the
mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to
be established.’ ” Marcum, supra, at ¶ 22, quoting Cross v. Ledford, 161
Ohio St. 469, 120 N.E.2d 118, paragraph three of the syllabus (1954).
{¶8} It has previously been explained as follows regarding the
deferential nature of this standard of review:
“ ‘This is a very deferential standard of review, as the question is
not whether the trial court had clear and convincing evidence to
support its findings, but rather, whether we clearly and
convincingly find that the record fails to support the trial court's
findings.’ ”
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 6
State v. Ray, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2017-CA-33, 2018-Ohio-3293, ¶ 11,
quoting State v. Cochran, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2016-CA-33, 2017-Ohio-217,
¶ 7. “A failure to make the findings required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) renders
a consecutive sentence contrary to law.” State v. Tackett, 4th Dist. Meigs
Nos. 18CA22, 18CA23, 2019-Ohio-4960, ¶ 7, citing State v. Bever, 4th Dist.
Washington No. 13CA21, 2014-Ohio-600, ¶ 17.
Legal Analysis
{¶9} Pursuant to R.C. 2929.15, under the appropriate circumstances,
such as when a prison term is not required, a court may impose community
control sanctions as a sentence for a felony offense. R.C. 2929.16(1)-(6)
sets out a non-exhaustive list of residential community control sanctions that
include entering a CBCF, jail, halfway house, etc. R.C. 2929.17(A)-(D) sets
out a non-exhaustive list of non-residential community control sanctions that
includes a term of day reporting, house arrest with electronic monitoring,
community service, drug treatment program, etc.
A trial court has three options for punishing offenders who
violate community control sanctions. The court may (1) lengthen
the term of the community control sanction, (2) impose a more
restrictive community control sanction, or (3) impose a prison
term on the offender.
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 7
State v. McPherson, 142 Ohio App. 3d 274, 278, 755 N.E.2d 426 (4th Dist.
2001); see also R.C. 2929.15(B)(1)(a)-(c).
{¶10} Initially, we note that it appears a trial court is not prohibited,
per se, from sentencing an offender to concurrent terms of community
control but consecutive prison terms as a possible punishment for violating
those community control sanctions. See e.g. State v. Dusek, 4th Dist.
Hocking No. 18CA18, 2019-Ohio-3477, ¶ 4 (the trial court imposed
concurrent community control sanctions but notified appellant that violating
those sanctions could result in consecutive prison terms).1 “R.C.
2929.19(B)(4) requires the trial court, when imposing a community control
sanction, notify the offender that if the conditions of the sanction
are violated, the court may impose a prison term and shall include
the specific prison term that may be imposed.” (Emphasis added.) State v.
White, 4th Dist. Hocking Nos. 16CA23 and 17CA1, 2017-Ohio-8275, ¶ 17.
However, as the Twelfth District Court of Appeals has recognized:
[I]t is possible that the specific prison term of which notice is
given pursuant to R.C. 2929.19(B)(4) may never be ordered to
be served. For instance, should the defendant be found to have
1
This is primarily because “ ‘ * * *when the defendant violates community control, the court imposes an
appropriate sanction for that misconduct, but not for the original or underlying crime.’ ” State v. Hart, 4th
Dist. Athens No. 13CA8, 2014-Ohio-3733, ¶ 23, quoting State v. Beverly, 4th Dist. Ross No. 01CA2603,
2002–Ohio–118, *3.
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 8
violated the terms of community control, the sentencing court
may elect pursuant to R.C. 2929.15(B)(1)(a) or (b) to sentence
the defendant to a non-prison term sanction; or, if the sentencing
court elects to sentence the defendant to a prison term, pursuant
to R.C. 2929.15(B)(2), the prison term may be less than the
specific prison term of which notice was given when the
defendant was originally sentenced to community control.
State v. Duncan, 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2015-05-086, CA2015-06-
108, 2016-Ohio-5559, 61 N.E.3d 61, ¶ 18.
{¶11} White and Duncan make clear that when imposing community
control sanctions as a sentence, a trial court must notify the defendant of any
permissible possible punishments, including a specific prison term that may
be imposed if the offender violates their community control sanctions.
Consequently, it is axiomatic that as long as the offender had notice of the
permissible, possible punishments, the court has discretion which
punishments to impose if a violation occurs, including consecutive prison
terms. Further, no punishment, regardless of its nature, is actually imposed
until after the defendant commits a violation. See e.g. State v. Gray, 4th
Dist. Scioto No. 18CA3857, 2019-Ohio-5317, ¶ 1. Therefore, only after an
offender violates his or her community control sanctions, and if the court
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 9
decides that the appropriate punishment is consecutive prison terms, is the
punishment imposed. It is at that time that the court must make the findings
for the imposition of consecutive sentences under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). State
v. Howard, 2020-Ohio-3195, -- N.E.3d --, ¶ 24-27 (explaining that when a
defendant is initially sentenced to community control, the imposition of
prison terms for a violation of community control is only “potential in
nature” and thus, “R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) becomes relevant when ‘multiple
prison terms are imposed.’ ”); see also State v. Bika, 11th Dist. Portage Nos.
2018-P-0096, 2018-P-0097, 2019-Ohio-3841. Notably, in Howard, the
Supreme Court of Ohio reversed “the portion of the Tenth District's decision
concluding that the trial court had not been required to make consecutive-
sentences findings when it revoked Howard's community control and
imposed consecutive sentences.” Howard at ¶ 25.
{¶12} In this case, the trial court’s statements at the sentencing
hearing and in the sentencing entry informed Marcum that if he violated his
community control sanctions he could be subject to more restrictive
community control sanctions or consecutive prison terms for an aggregate
forty-two month prison term. Therefore, the court fulfilled its obligation of
notifying Marcum of the specific prison terms that may be one of the two
possible punishments that the court could impose if he violated his
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 10
community control sanctions. However, the trial court only has to make the
R.C. 2929.14(C) findings required for the imposition of consecutive
sentences if and when a community control violation occurs which the court
determines warrants the imposition of consecutive sentences.
Conclusion
{¶13} Accordingly, we do not find that the trial court’s sentence was
clearly and convincingly contrary to law by merely notifying Marcum at his
sentencing hearing that if he violates his community control sanctions he
could be sentenced to consecutive prison sentences even though the court
made no findings pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at that time. Therefore, we
affirm the trial court’s judgment.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Hocking App. No. 19CA7 11
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and costs be
assessed to Appellant.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing
the Hocking County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into
execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE
UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL
COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to
exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a
continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio
an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If
a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the
expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a
notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal
period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme
Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the
appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date
of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Abele, J. & Hess, J. Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court,
______________________________
Jason P. Smith
Presiding Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from
the date of filing with the clerk.