State v. Leasure , 2012 Ohio 318 ( 2012 )

[Cite as State v. Leasure, 2012-Ohio-318.]
COURT OF APPEALS
ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO
Plaintiff-Appellee
-vs-
ADRIAN M. LEASURE
Defendant-Appellant
JUDGES:
Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P. J.
Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J.
Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
Case No. 2011-COA-031
OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Ashland County
Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 11-CRI-
025
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: January 30, 2012
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
KAREN DESANTO KELLOGG DAVID R. STIMPERT
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney 10 East Main Street
110 Cottage Street Ashland, OH 44805
Ashland, OH 44805
Gwin, P.J.
{1} On May 24, 2011, appellant Adrian M. Leasure entered a plea of guilty to
a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), a felony of
the fifth degree.
{2} At a subsequent sentencing hearing, the trial court, after considering (1)
statements from appellant and his legal counsel; (2) the overriding purposes of felony
sentencing; (3) the statutory factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12 and 2929.13; (4) the Pre-
Sentence Investigation report, which indicated that appellant had a prior criminal history,
was given a Community Control Sentence that was terminated unsuccessfully, and had
a history of substance abuse; and (5) the seriousness and recidivism factors, sentenced
appellant to ten (10) months under the supervision of the Ohio Department of
Rehabilitation and Corrections and a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) plus
court costs. The trial court further ordered that appellant's operator's license be
suspended for a period of three (3) years.
{3} Appellant has timely appealed raising the following assignments of error:
{4} “I. THE SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, WAS CLEARLY AND CONVINCINGLY CONTRARY
TO LAW AND/OR AN ABUSE OF THE TRIAL COURT'S DISCRETION.
{5} “II. THE SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, IMPOSES AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN ON STATE
RESOURCES.”
I., II.
{6} In his First Assignment of Error appellant argues that his consecutive
sentences in this case are contrary to the law and the trial court abused its discretion in
sentencing him to a 10-month prison term. Appellant maintains in his Second
Assignment of Error the imposition of a ten-month prison sentence results in an
unnecessary burden on state resources. We disagree.
{7} At the outset, we note there is no constitutional right to an appellate review
of a criminal sentence. Moffitt v. Ross, 417 U.S. 600, 610-11, 94 S.Ct. 2437, 2444, 41
L.Ed.2d 341(1974); McKane v. Durston, 152 U.S. 684, 687, 14 S.Ct. 913. 917(1894);
State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 1997-Ohio-355, 684 N.E.2d 668(1997); State v.
Firouzmandi, 5th Dist No. 2006-CA-41, 2006-Ohio-5823, 2006 WL 3185175. An
individual has no substantive right to a particular sentence within the range authorized
by statute. Gardner v. Florida, 430 U.S. 349, 358, 97 S.Ct. 1197, 1204-1205, 51 L.Ed.2d
393 (1977); State v. Goggans, Delaware App. No. 2006-CA-07-0051, 2007-Ohio-1433,
2007 WL 914866, ¶ 28. In other words “[t]he sentence being within the limits set by the
statute, its severity would not be grounds for relief here even on direct review of the
conviction ... It is not the duration or severity of this sentence that renders it
constitutionally invalid....” Townsend v. Burke, 334 U.S. 736, 741, 68 S.Ct. 1252, 1255,
92 L.Ed. 1690(1948).
{8} Recently in State v. Kalish, 120 Ohio St.3d 23, 2008-Ohio-4912, 896
N.E.2d 124, the Ohio Supreme Court reviewed its decision in State v. Foster, 109 Ohio
St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470 as it relates to the remaining sentencing
statutes and appellate review of felony sentencing. See, State v. Snyder, Licking App.
No. 2008-CA-25, 2080-Ohio-6709, 2008 WL 5265826.
{9} In Kalish, the Court discussed the affect of the Foster decision on felony
sentencing. The Court stated that, in Foster, the Ohio Supreme Court severed the
judicial fact-finding portions of R.C. 2929.14, holding that “trial courts have full discretion
to impose a prison sentence within the statutory range and are no longer required to
make findings or give their reasons for imposing maximum, consecutive, or more than
the minimum sentences.” Kalish at ¶ 1 and 11, 896 N.E.2d 124, citing Foster at ¶ 100,
See also, State v. Payne, 114 Ohio St.3d 502, 2007-Ohio-4642, 873 N.E.2d 306; State
v. Firouzmandi, Licking App. No. 2006-CA-41, 2006-Ohio-5823, 2006 WL 3185175.
{10} In Kalish, the Court discussed the affect of the Foster decision on felony
sentencing. The Court stated that, in Foster, the Ohio Supreme Court severed the
judicial fact-finding portions of R.C. 2929.14, holding that “trial courts have full discretion
to impose a prison sentence within the statutory range and are no longer required to
make findings or give their reasons for imposing maximum, consecutive, or more than
the minimum sentences.” Kalish at ¶ 1 and 11, 896 N.E.2d 124, citing Foster at ¶ 100,
See also, State v. Payne, 114 Ohio St.3d 502, 2007-Ohio-4642, 873 N.E.2d 306; State
v. Firouzmandi, supra.
{11} “Thus, a record after Foster may be silent as to the judicial findings that
appellate courts were originally meant to review under 2953.08(G)(2).” Kalish at ¶ 12.
However, although Foster eliminated mandatory judicial fact-finding, it left intact R.C.
2929.11 and 2929.12, and the trial court must still consider these statutes. Kalish at ¶
13, see also State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio St.3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855, 846 N.E.2d 1; State v.
Firouzmandi, supra at ¶ 29.
{12} “Thus, despite the fact that R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) refers to the excised
judicial fact-finding portions of the sentencing scheme, an appellate court remains
precluded from using an abuse-of-discretion standard of review when initially reviewing
a defendant's sentence. Instead, the appellate court must ensure that the trial court has
adhered to all applicable rules and statutes in imposing the sentence. As a purely legal
question, this is subject to review only to determine whether it is clearly and
convincingly contrary to law, the standard found in R.C. 2953.08(G).” Kalish at ¶ 14.
{13} 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 ¶ 4, State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-
Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470.
{14} 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
purposes and principles of R.C. 2929.11, as well as the factors listed in R.C. 2929.12.
Moreover, it properly applied post release control, and the sentence was within the
permissible range. Accordingly, the sentence is not clearly and convincingly contrary to
law.” Kalish at ¶ 18. The Court further held that the trial court “gave careful and
substantial deliberation to the relevant statutory considerations” and that there was
“nothing in the record to suggest that the court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary,
or unconscionable.” Kalish at ¶ 20.
{15} In the case at bar, appellant was convicted of a felony of the fifth degree.
For a violation of a felony of the fifth degree, the potential sentence that a court can
impose is six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve months. Appellant was
sentenced to a sentence of ten months.
{16} Upon review, we find that the trial court's sentencing on the charge
complies with applicable rules and sentencing statutes. The sentence was within the
statutory sentencing range. Furthermore, the record reflects and appellant agrees that
the trial court considered the purposes and principles of sentencing and the seriousness
and recidivism factors as required in Sections 2929.11 and 2929.12 of the Ohio Revised
Code and advised appellant regarding post release control. Therefore, the sentence is
not clearly and convincingly contrary to law.
{17} Having determined that the sentence is not contrary to law we must now
review the sentence pursuant to an abuse of discretion standard. Kalish at ¶ 4; State v.
Firouzmandi, supra at ¶ 40. In reviewing the record, we find that the trial court gave
careful and substantial deliberation to the relevant statutory considerations.
{18} Under Ohio law, judicial fact-finding is no longer required before a court
imposes consecutive or maximum prison terms. See State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1,
2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470; State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio St.3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855,
846 N.E.2d 1. Instead, the trial court is vested with discretion to impose a prison term
within the statutory range. See Mathis, at ¶ 36. In exercising its discretion, the trial court
must “carefully consider the statutes that apply to every felony case [including] R.C.
2929.11, which specifies the purposes of sentencing, and R.C. 2929.12, which provides
guidance in considering factors relating to the seriousness of the offense and recidivism
of the offender [and] statutes that are specific to the case itself.” Id. at ¶ 37, 846 N.E.2d
1. Thus, post-Foster, “there is no mandate for judicial fact-finding in the general
guidance statutes. The court is merely to ‘consider’ the statutory factors.” Foster at ¶ 42.
State v. Rutter, 5th Dist. No. 2006-CA-0025, 2006-Ohio-4061, 2006 WL 2257068; State
v. Delong, 4th Dist. No. 05CA815, 2006-Ohio-2753, 2006 WL 2257068, ¶ 7-8.
Therefore, post-Foster, trial courts are still required to consider the general guidance
factors in their sentencing decisions.
{19} There is no requirement in R.C. 2929.12 that the trial court states on the
record that it has considered the statutory criteria concerning seriousness and
recidivism or even discussed them. State v. Polick (1995), 101 Ohio App.3d 428, 431,
655 N.E.2d 820, (4th Dist.); State v. Gant, Mahoning App. No. 04 MA 252, 2006-Ohio-
1469, 2006 WL 771790, ¶ 60 (nothing in R.C. 2929.12 or the decisions of the Ohio
Supreme Court imposes any duty on the trial court to set forth its findings), citing State
v. Cyrus (1992), 63 Ohio St.3d 164, 166, 586 N.E.2d 94; State v. Hughes, Wood App.
No. WD-05-024, 2005-Ohio-6405, 2005 WL 3254527, ¶ 10 (trial court was not required
to address each R.C. 2929.12 factor individually and make a finding as to whether it
was applicable in this case).
{20} Where the record lacks sufficient data to justify the sentence, the court
may well abuse its discretion by imposing that sentence without a suitable explanation.
Where the record adequately justifies the sentence imposed, the court need not recite
its reasons. State v. Middleton, 8th Dist. No. 51545, 1987 WL 5476 (Jan. 15, 1987). In
other words, an appellate court may review the record to determine whether the trial
court failed to consider the appropriate sentencing factors. State v. Firouzmandi, supra
at ¶ 52.
{21} Accordingly, appellate courts can find an “abuse of discretion” where the
record establishes that a trial judge refused or failed to consider statutory sentencing
factors. Cincinnati v. Clardy, 57 Ohio App.2d 153, 385 N.E.2d 1342 (1st Dist. 1978). An
“abuse of discretion” has also been found where a sentence is greatly excessive under
traditional concepts of justice or is manifestly disproportionate to the crime or the
defendant. Woosley v. United States, 478 F.2d 139, 147 (8th Cir. 1973). The imposition
by a trial judge of a sentence on a mechanical, predetermined or policy basis is subject
to review. Woosley, supra at 143-145. Where the severity of the sentence shocks the
judicial conscience or greatly exceeds penalties usually exacted for similar offenses or
defendants, and the record fails to justify and the trial court fails to explain the
imposition of the sentence, the appellate courts can reverse the sentence. Woosley,
supra at 147. This by no means is an exhaustive or exclusive list of the circumstances
under which an appellate court may find that the trial court abused its discretion in the
imposition of sentence in a particular case. State v. Firouzmandi, supra.
{22} In the case at bar, there is no evidence in the record that the judge acted
unreasonably by, for example, selecting the sentence arbitrarily, basing the sentence on
impermissible factors, failing to consider pertinent factors, or giving an unreasonable
amount of weight to any pertinent factor. We find nothing in the record of appellant's
case to suggest that his sentence was based on an arbitrary distinction that would
violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
{23} In the case at bar, the trial court conducted a sentencing hearing in open
court. Appellant concedes that the trial court considered statements from appellant and
his legal counsel; the overriding purposes of felony sentencing; the statutory factors set
forth in R.C. 2929.12 and 2929.13; the Pre-Sentence Investigation report, which
indicated that appellant had a prior criminal history, was given a Community Control
Sentence that was terminated unsuccessfully, and had a history of substance abuse;
and the seriousness and recidivism factors, before deciding on a prison term of ten
months.
{24} It appears to this Court that the trial court's statements at the sentencing
hearing were guided by the overriding purposes of felony sentencing to protect the
public from future crime by the offender and others and to punish the offender. R.C.
2929.11.
{25} Based on the record, the transcript of the sentencing hearing and the
subsequent judgment entry, this Court cannot find that the trial court acted
unreasonably, arbitrarily, or unconscionably, or that the trial court violated appellant's
rights to due process under the Ohio and United States Constitutions in its sentencing
appellant. Further, the sentence in this case is not so grossly disproportionate to the
offense as to shock the sense of justice in the community.
{26} In his Second Assignment of Error, appellant contends that his sentence
violates the general assembly's intent to minimize the unnecessary burden on state and
local government resources. Specifically, appellant argues that essentially the trial court
erred by not complying with the new sentencing law, House Bill 86, which did not come
into effect until September 30, 2011 months after the appellant was sentenced.
Appellant urges this court to consider the purposes of the new sentencing reforms in
determining whether his sentence is an unnecessary burden on state and local
government resources. Appellant submits that under the new mandate a Court must use
the minimum sanctions to accomplish the purposes and principles of sentencing without
imposing an unnecessary burden on state or local government resources, as set forth in
R.C. 2929.11, as amended by 2011 Am.Sub.H.B. No. 86.
{27} In State v. Ober, Second Dist No. 97CA0019, 1997 WL 624811(Oct. 10,
1997), the Second District considered this same issue. In rejecting the argument, the
court stated “Ober is correct that the ‘sentence shall not impose an unnecessary burden
on state or local government resources.’ R.C. 2929.19(A). According to criminal law
experts, this resource principle ‘impacts on the application of the presumptions also
contained in this section and upon the exercise of discretion.’ Griffin & Katz, Ohio
Felony Sentencing Law (1996-97), 62. Courts may consider whether a criminal sanction
would unduly burden resources when deciding whether a second-degree felony
offender has overcome the presumption in favor of imprisonment because the resource
principle is consistent with the overriding purposes and principles of felony sentencing
set forth in R.C.2929.11. Id.”
{28} The Ober court concluded, “[a]lthough resource burdens may be a
relevant sentencing criterion, R.C. 2929.13(D) does not require trial courts to elevate
resource conservation above the seriousness and recidivism factors. Imposing a
community control sanction on Ober may have saved state and local government funds;
however, this factor alone would not usually overcome the presumption in favor of
imprisonment.” Id.{29} Several other appellate courts, including our own, considering these
issues have reached the same conclusion. See, e.g., State v. Hyland, Butler App. No.
CA2005-05-103, 2006-Ohio-339, 2006 WL 215052, ¶ 32; State v. Brooks, 10th Dist. No.
97APA-11-1543, 1998 WL 514111(Aug. 18, 1998); State v. Stewart, 8th Dist. No. 74691,
1999 WL 126940 (Mar. 4, 1999); State v. Fox, 3rd Dist. No. 16-2000-17, 2001 WL
218433( Mar. 6, 2001); State v. Miller, 5th Dist. No. 04-COA-003, 2004-Ohio-4636, 2004
WL 1945548. We agree with the reasoning of the Ober court and other courts
considering this issue and find no merit to appellant's argument.
{30} Further, R.C. 2929.13(A), in effect at the time of appellant’s sentencing
provided, “[t]he sentence shall not impose an unnecessary burden on state or local
government resources.” However, “[t]he 2011 amendments to the sentencing statutes,
which became effective September 30, 2011, have deleted this sentence.” State v.
Saur, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-1195, 2011-Ohio-6662, 2011 WL 6826861, fn. 1. Thus, the
amended version of the sentencing statute does not require the sentencing court to
consider the conservation principle set forth in former R.C. 2929.13(A). Id.{31} Accordingly, for all of the reasons cited above, we overrule appellant's
First and Second Assignments of Error in their entirety.
{32} The judgment of the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
By Gwin, J.,
Delaney, P.J., and
Hoffman, J., concur
_________________________________
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
_________________________________
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
_________________________________
HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
ADRIAN M. LEASURE :
:
:
Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 2011-COA-031
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the judgment of
the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Costs to appellant.
_________________________________
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
_________________________________
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
_________________________________
HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN