State v. Ellis , 2011 Ohio 5216 ( 2011 )

[Cite as State v. Ellis, 2011-Ohio-5216.]
COURT OF APPEALS
PERRY COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES:
: Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, P.J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Julie A. Edwards, J.
: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
-vs- :
:
TOMMA M. ELLIS : Case No. 11-CA-9
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common
Pleas, Case No. 10-CR-0070
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: October 7, 2011
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
JOSEPH A. FLAUTT JASON A. SARVER
111 North High Street 123 South Broad
P.O. Box 569 Suite 314
New Lexington, OH 43764 Lancaster, OH 43130
Perry County, Case No. 11-CA-9 2
Farmer, J.
{¶1} On October 1, 2010, the Perry County Grand Jury indicted appellant,
Tomma Ellis, on three counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs with forfeiture
specifications in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1)(a) and (b). On February 16, 2011,
appellant pled guilty as charged. The trial court accepted the pleas and ordered a
presentence investigation.
{¶2} On March 24, 2011, appellant filed a motion to withdraw her guilty pleas.
A hearing was held on March 29, 2011. By judgment entry filed April 11, 2011, the trial
court denied the motion.
{¶3} A sentencing hearing was held on April 21, 2011. By termination
judgment entry filed April 27, 2011, the trial court sentenced appellant to eighteen
months in prison.
{¶4} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for
consideration. Assignment of error is as follows:
I
{¶5} "THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN
DENYING TOMMA ELLIS' PRE-SENTENCE MOTION TO VACATE HER PLEA
THEREBY DEPRIVING HER OF DUE PROCESS OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE
FOURTH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND
COMPARABLE PROVISIONS OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION."
I
{¶6} Appellant claims the trial court erred in denying her motion to withdraw her
guilty pleas pursuant to Crim.R. 32.1. We disagree.
Perry County, Case No. 11-CA-9 3
{¶7} Crim.R. 32.1 governs withdrawal of guilty plea and states "[a] motion to
withdraw a plea of guilty or no contest may be made only before sentence is imposed;
but to correct manifest injustice the court after sentence may set aside the judgment of
conviction and permit the defendant to withdraw his or her plea." The right to withdraw
a plea is not absolute and a trial court's decision on the issue is governed by the abuse
of discretion standard. State v. Smith (1977), 49 Ohio St.2d 261. In order to find an
abuse of discretion, we must determine the trial court's decision was unreasonable,
arbitrary or unconscionable and not merely an error of law or judgment. Blakemore v.
Blakemore (1983), 5 Ohio St.3d 217.
{¶8} "It is well established that, even though a defendant does not have an
absolute right to withdraw a plea prior to sentencing, a presentence motion to withdraw
a guilty plea should be 'freely and liberally granted.'***Although such a motion is to be
treated liberally, the trial court's decision is still ultimately one of discretion. In
determining whether the trial court has properly exercised its discretion, this court is
aided by the following factors: (1) whether the accused was represented by highly
competent counsel, (2) whether the accused was given a full Crim.R. 11 hearing before
entering the plea, (3) whether a full hearing was held on the withdrawal motion, and (4)
whether the trial court gave full and fair consideration to the motion.***In addition to
these factors, there are other considerations, including (1) whether the motion was
made within a reasonable time; (2) whether the motion set out specific reasons for the
withdrawal; (3) whether the accused understood the nature of the charges and the
possible penalties; and (4) whether the accused was perhaps not guilty or had a
Perry County, Case No. 11-CA-9 4
complete defense to the charges." State v. McNeil (2001), 146 Ohio App.3d 173, 175-
176. (Footnotes omitted.)
{¶9} Appellant pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement:
{¶10} "MR. FLAUTT: Yes, Your Honor. The defendant is charged with two
felonies of the third degree and one felony of the fourth degree. It's my understanding
that she's going to enter a plea to the three counts.
{¶11} "In return for her doing that, on the Felony 3's, I'd recommend a sentence
of one year in a state penal institution, a thousand dollar fine, and a six month license
suspension. Those periods of imprisonment would be served concurrently.
{¶12} "On the Felony 4, I'd recommend a six month period of imprisonment, a
thousand dollar fine, and a six month driver's license suspension, with that period of
imprisonment to be served consecutively. I would also ask that the license suspensions
be consecutive.
{¶13} "It's also my understanding that the forfeiture specification will be granted,
and I have agreed to remain neutral in the event there should be an application for
judicial release." February 16, 2011 T. at 3-4.
{¶14} The trial court's Crim.R. 11 colloquy with appellant complied with the
mandates of the rule, and appellant answered affirmatively that she understood her
rights. Id. at 4-11. We note the trial court sentenced appellant pursuant to the state's
recommendations, although it was not bound to do so.
{¶15} Appellant's March 24, 2011 motion to withdraw her guilty pleas set forth
the following reason for her request:
Perry County, Case No. 11-CA-9 5
{¶16} "After discussing this matter with Ms. Ellis, it now appears that she did not
properly understand the advice counsel provided regarding the admission of potential
evidence had this matter proceeded to trial. Therefore, Ms. Ellis had determined,
having giving it considerable thought, that she would like to withdraw her plea on the
basis that she was confused at her plea hearing."
{¶17} A hearing on the motion was held on March 29, 2011. In its April 11, 2011
entry denying the motion, the trial court summarized the testimony as follows:
{¶18} "The Defendant was scheduled for sentencing on March 29, 2011.
However, the sentencing hearing was changed to a hearing on the Motion to Withdraw
Guilty Plea. There was no evidence presented that the State would be prejudiced by
the withdrawal of the guilty plea. The Defendant testified that her attorney advised her
to take the plea due to a felony conviction, which occurred 17 years ago. However, she
testified other people have told her that should not be taken into account. Pursuant to
Ohio Evidence Rule 609, the Court has discretion to admit a conviction that is more
than 10 years old. The Defendant also testified that she has not seen the discovery.
However, she admitted that her attorney told her the evidence the prosecution has
against her. At the Plea Hearing on February 16, 2011, the Defendant told the Court
that she discussed the matter with her attorney and that she was satisfied with the
advice of her attorney and with his representation of her. She indicated that she wanted
to enter a plea of guilty to two counts of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs with Forfeiture
Specifications, which are felonies of the third degree and one count of Aggravated
Trafficking in Drugs, with a Forfeiture Specification, which is a felony of the fourth
degree. She testified her attorney told her to just say yes at the plea hearing. The
Perry County, Case No. 11-CA-9 6
Defendant's attorney at the withdrawal of guilty plea hearing indicated that he disagreed
with the representations she was making. The defendant was afforded sufficient
representation by counsel."
{¶19} During the hearing in her sworn testimony, appellant claimed she had
never seen any of the evidence, there was a lack of communication between her and
defense counsel, and she was confused about defense counsel's advice to her
concerning her previous felony conviction. March 29, 2011 T. at 3-4. Although not
under oath, defense counsel stated, "I strongly disagree with that characterization as to
how--things, how we have gotten to this point and I do feel that I have fully represented
her***." Id. at 5. Defense counsel disagreed with appellant withdrawing her guilty pleas
"based on the evidence that that there is." Id. When questioned on why she did not tell
the trial court during the plea hearing that she had not seen the evidence against her,
appellant stated "[b]ecause he just told me to come in and answer yes Ma'am." Id. at 5-
6. When asked if she had lied to the trial court about being satisfied with her attorney
and understanding the possible penalties, appellant answered in the affirmative
because she really did not understand what was going on. Id. at 6-7. Appellant stated
her defense to the charges was that she had witnesses, including her daughter, that
would say she did not sell drugs to an undercover cop. Id. at 9-10.
{¶20} The trial court was faced with deciding on which day appellant was telling
the truth, at her plea hearing or the motion to withdraw hearing. This credibility issue is
best resolved by the trial court. In addition, defense counsel disputed appellant's
claims.
Perry County, Case No. 11-CA-9 7
{¶21} Given the facts presented, we are hard pressed to conclude that appellant
did not understand her guilty pleas as opposed to having a change of heart.
{¶22} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in denying appellant's
motion to withdraw her guilty pleas.
{¶23} The sole assignment of error is denied.
{¶24} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Perry County, Ohio is
hereby affirmed.
By Farmer, P.J.
Edwards, J. and
Delaney, J. concur.
__s/ Sheila G. Farmer_________________
__s/ Julie A. Edwards_________________
__s/ Patricia A. Delaney_______________
JUDGES
SGF/sg 908
[Cite as State v. Ellis, 2011-Ohio-5216.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR PERRY COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
TOMMA M. ELLIS :
:
Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 11-CA-9
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the
judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Perry County, Ohio is affirmed. Costs to
appellant.
__s/ Sheila G. Farmer_________________
__s/ Julie A. Edwards_________________
__s/ Patricia A. Delaney_______________
JUDGES