State v. Green , 2021 Ohio 15 ( 2021 )

[Cite as State v. Green, 2021-Ohio-15.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 2020-CA-6
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2019-CR-211
:
MICHAEL RAYMOND GREEN : (Criminal Appeal from
: Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
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OPINION
Rendered on the 8th day of January, 2021.
...........
SAMANTHA B. WHETHERHOLT, Atty. Reg. No. 0092010, Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office, 200 North Main Street, Urbana, Ohio
43078
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
ANTOINETTE DILLARD, Atty. Reg. No. 0083191, 117 South Main Street, Suite 400,
Dayton, Ohio 45422
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
WELBAUM, J.
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{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Michael Raymond Green, appeals from his conviction
in the Champaign County Court of Common Pleas after pleading guilty to one count of
operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (“OVI”) with a repeat offender
specification, one count of aggravated vehicular assault, and two counts of vehicular
assault. On August 6, 2020, Green’s assigned counsel filed a brief under the authority
of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), asserting
that there are no issues with arguable merit to present on appeal and raising a single
potential assignment of error concerning the validity of Green’s guilty plea. On August
12, 2020, this court notified Green that his counsel found no meritorious claims for appeal
and granted him 60 days to file a pro se brief assigning any errors. On September 8,
2020, Green filed a pro se brief that contained arguments challenging his sentence and
the indicted charges. The State then filed a brief opposing Green’s arguments.
{¶ 2} After reviewing Green’s pro se arguments and his counsel’s potential
assignment of error, we find that they all lack arguable merit. Furthermore, after
conducting an independent review of the record as required by Anders, we find that there
are no issues with arguable merit for Green to advance on appeal. Therefore, the
judgment of the trial court will be affirmed.
Facts and Course of Proceedings
{¶ 3} On September 9, 2019, a Champaign County grand jury indicted Green on
two third-degree-felony counts of OVI—one count in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a)
and the other count in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(2). Both of the counts included a
specification that Green was a repeat offender who had five prior OVI offenses within the
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past 20 years.
{¶ 4} The charges arose from an incident at the Champaign County Fairgrounds
on August 3, 2019. Bystanders at the fairgrounds reported a black Chevy Silverado
striking another vehicle in the parking lot and then driving away to a camping area at the
fairgrounds, where the vehicle continued to drive recklessly. When law enforcement
officers arrived at the scene, the driver of the Chevy, Green, refused to submit to any
testing for intoxication. Green, however, admitted that he had consumed four or five
beers. Thereafter, the investigating officers observed a cooler inside of Green’s vehicle
that contained several cans of Bud Light and a Styrofoam cup that smelled of beer.
Green was then taken into custody and charged with the aforementioned OVI offenses
and repeat offender specifications.
{¶ 5} Following his indictment, Green was released on bond. While awaiting his
arraignment hearing, Green was taken back into custody after he caused a traffic accident
on September 17, 2019. It was reported that Green collided with an oncoming vehicle
after he ran a stop sign at the intersection of Three Mile Road and East State Route 29
in Champaign County. The oncoming vehicle contained three occupants who were
physically injured as a result of the collision. When law enforcement arrived at the scene,
the investigating officers detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Green’s
person. Green refused any testing for intoxication, but admitted that he had consumed
five beers. Thereafter, the officers discovered several opened cans of Bud Light in the
front-passenger compartment of Green’s vehicle.
{¶ 6} After the traffic accident, Green was charged with several offenses in the
Champaign County Municipal Court, including OVI in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a).
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The municipal court case, however, was bound over to the Champaign County Court of
Common Pleas and combined with Green’s earlier pending OVI case. Therefore, in
addition to the two previously indicted OVI charges related to the fairgrounds incident,
Green was indicted on 11 additional charges related to the subsequent traffic accident.
Those 11 charges included two third-degree-felony counts of OVI in violation of R.C.
4511.19(A)(1)(a) and R.C. 4511.19(A)(2), each with a repeat offender specification, six
second-degree-felony counts of aggravated vehicular assault in violation of R.C.
2903.08(A)(1)(a), and three third-degree-felony counts of vehicular assault in violation of
R.C. 2903.08(A)(2).
{¶ 7} On December 20, 2019, Green entered into a plea agreement with the State
whereby he agreed to plead guilty to one of the OVI counts with a repeat offender
specification; one of the aggravated vehicular assault counts, and two of the vehicular
assault counts. In exchange for his guilty plea, the State agreed to dismiss the remaining
charges and specifications and to recommend a presentence investigation (“PSI”). The
State also agreed to recommend a total term of 19 years in prison if the PSI did not reveal
any unknown information regarding Green’s criminal history. The State further agreed
to remove language from the vehicular assault charges stating that he was driving under
suspension during the offenses, which ultimately amended the vehicular assault counts
from third- to fourth-degree felonies. See R.C. 2903.08(C)(2).
{¶ 8} After a Crim.R. 11 plea colloquy, the trial court accepted Green’s guilty plea
as knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered. The trial court then ordered a PSI
and scheduled Green’s case for sentencing. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court
imposed the maximum possible sentence. Specifically, the trial court sentenced Green
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to 36 months in prison for the OVI, 18 months in prison for each of the two vehicular
assault counts, and, in accordance with the recently enacted Reagan Tokes Law, an
indefinite sentence of 8 to 12 years in prison for aggravated vehicular assault. The trial
court then ordered all of the prison terms to be served consecutively for an aggregate
term of 14 to 18 years in prison. The trial court also sentenced Green to five years in
prison for the repeat OVI offender specification. The trial court advised Green that he
would be required to serve the five-year prison term prior and consecutive to the 14 to 18
year prison term. Therefore, when taken in its entirety, Green was ultimately sentenced
to 19 to 23 years in prison.
{¶ 9} Greene now appeals from his conviction. As previously noted, Green’s
appellate counsel filed an Anders brief that raised one potential assignment of error
challenging the validity of Green’s guilty plea. Green also filed a pro se brief that
challenged his sentence and the indicted charges. We will address each of these claims
separately.
Standard of Review
{¶ 10} In Anders cases, we are charged with conducting an independent review of
the record “to determine whether any issues involving potentially reversible error that are
raised by appellate counsel or by a defendant in his pro se brief are ‘wholly frivolous.’ ”
State v. Marbury, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19226, 2003-Ohio-3242, ¶ 7, quoting Anders,
386 U.S. at 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493. An issue is wholly frivolous if it lacks
arguable merit, meaning that “on the facts and law involved, no responsible contention
can be made that it offers a basis for reversal.” Id. at ¶ 8, citing State v. Pullen, 2d Dist.
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Montgomery No. 19232, 2002-Ohio-6788, ¶ 4. If we find that any issue—whether
presented by appellate counsel, presented by the appellant, or found through an
independent analysis—is not wholly frivolous, we must appoint different appellate counsel
to represent the appellant. Id. at ¶ 7, citing Pullen.
Counsel’s Potential Assignment of Error
{¶ 11} As a potential assignment of error, Green’s appellate counsel suggested
that this court review whether the trial court failed to comply with Crim.R. 11 during the
plea proceedings. We note that counsel did not point to any specific violation of Crim.R.
11. Instead, counsel generally requested that this court review the plea proceedings for
compliance with the rule.
{¶ 12} “Ohio’s Crim.R. 11 outlines the procedures that trial courts are to follow
when accepting pleas.” State v. Dangler, Ohio Slip Opinion No. 2020-Ohio-2765, __
N.E.3d __, ¶ 11. “[T]he rule ‘ensures an adequate record on review by requiring the trial
court to personally inform the defendant of his rights and the consequences of his plea
and determine if the plea is understandingly and voluntarily made.’ ” Id., quoting State
v. Stone, 43 Ohio St.2d 163, 168, 331 N.E.2d 411 (1975). The Supreme Court of Ohio
has urged trial courts to comply literally with Crim.R. 11. State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d
239, 2008-Ohio-3748, 893 N.E.2d 462, ¶ 29. However, in reviewing the plea colloquy,
the focus should be “on whether the dialogue between the court and the defendant
demonstrates that the defendant understood the consequences of his plea.” (Citations
omitted.) Dangler at ¶ 12.
{¶ 13} Pursuant to Crim.R. 11(C)(2), the trial court may not accept a defendant’s
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guilty plea without first addressing the defendant personally and:
(a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, with
understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum
penalty involved, and if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible
for probation or for the imposition of community control sanctions at
the sentencing hearing.
(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant
understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the
court, upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and
sentence.
(c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant
understands that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to
jury trial, to confront witnesses against him or her, to have
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in the defendant’s favor,
and to require the state to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt at a trial at which the defendant cannot be
compelled to testify against himself or herself.
Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a)-(c).
{¶ 14} Generally speaking, “a defendant is not entitled to have his plea vacated
unless he demonstrates he was prejudiced by a failure of the trial court to comply with the
provisions of Crim.R. 11(C).” Dangler at ¶ 16, citing State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St.3d 106,
108, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990). “The test for prejudice is ‘whether the plea would have
otherwise been made.’ ” Id., quoting Nero at 108. There are, however, two exceptions
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to this rule. Id. at ¶ 14-16.
{¶ 15} The first exception is that the trial court must comply strictly with Crim.R.
11(C)(2)(c) as it pertains to the waiver of federal constitutional rights. Id. at ¶ 14. “When
a trial court fails to explain the constitutional rights that a defendant waives by pleading
guilty or no contest, we presume that the plea was entered involuntarily and unknowingly,
and no showing of prejudice is required.” Id., citing Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-
Ohio-3748, 893 N.E.2d 462, at ¶ 31.
{¶ 16} The second exception is that “a trial court’s complete failure to comply with
a portion of Crim.R. 11(C) eliminates the defendant’s burden to show prejudice.” Id. at
¶ 15, citing State v. Sarkozy, 117 Ohio St.3d 86, 2008-Ohio-509, 881 N.E.2d 1224, ¶ 22.
However, a defendant still must show prejudice if the trial court partially complied with
Crim.R. 11(C) in regard to a non-constitutional right. State v. Bishop, 156 Ohio St.3d
156, 2018-Ohio-5132, 124 N.E.3d 766, ¶ 19.
{¶ 17} We have reviewed the transcript of the plea hearing in this case and find
that the trial court fully complied with Crim.R. 11(C). With respect to the requirements
under Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a), the record establishes that the trial court advised Green of the
nature of his offenses and that Green indicated he understood them. The trial court also
questioned Green about the voluntariness of his guilty plea and ensured that Green was
not under the influence of any drugs, alcohol, or prescribed medications. Green also
advised the trial court that his plea was not being made as the result of any threats or
promises (other than what was in the plea agreement), and indicated that his decision to
plead guilty was of his own free will. Green further indicated that he had sufficient time
to speak with his attorney about his case, had no defense to the charges, and had been
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given all the information he needed to enter a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary guilty
plea.
{¶ 18} With regard to the penalty, the trial court advised Green that, upon pleading
guilty, he would be receiving a prison term for his offenses. The trial court ensured that
Green understood that the prison terms for aggravated vehicular assault and the repeat
OVI offender specification were mandatory. The trial court then correctly advised Green
that if maximum, consecutive prison sentences were imposed, he would be required to
serve 5 years in prison for the repeat OVI offender specification plus an aggregate term
of 14 to 18 years in prison for his offenses, meaning that he would be required to serve
at least 19 years in prison.
{¶ 19} The trial court also explained that once Green served the five-year prison
term for the specification and the aggregate 14-year minimum prison term for the
offenses, there was a presumption that he would be released from prison. However, the
trial court advised that the presumption for release could be rebutted by the prison system.
The trial court explained that if the presumption for release were successfully rebutted,
Green could be retained in prison up to the aggregate 18-year maximum prison term.
{¶ 20} The trial court further advised Green that he was not eligible for judicial
release or earned reduction of the minimum prison term, and that post-release control
was mandatory for three years. The trial court then advised Green that a license
suspension was mandatory for all of his offenses and that the maximum suspension he
could receive would be for his lifetime. The trial court additionally explained to Green
that he faced a mandatory fine of $1,350 to $10,500 for his OVI offense, and that the total,
maximum fine he could receive for all of his offenses amounted to $35,500. Green was
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also advised that his OVI offense included a mandatory drug and alcohol assessment.
After receiving all of this information, Green indicated that he understood the maximum
possible penalty for his offenses.
{¶ 21} For the foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court complied with all the
requirements under Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a). We also find that the trial court complied with
all the requirements under Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b) and (c). Specifically, Green indicated that
he understood that a guilty plea was a complete admission of his guilt, that the trial court
could proceed immediately to sentencing, and that he was waiving all the constitutional
rights listed under Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c).
{¶ 22} Therefore, because the record establishes that the trial court complied with
all the requirements for accepting guilty pleas under Crim.R. 11(C), counsel’s potential
assignment of error lacks arguable merit.
Green’s Pro Se Arguments
{¶ 23} In his pro se brief, Green challenges the trial court’s decision to impose
maximum, consecutive sentences. According to Green, the trial court should not have
been permitted to consider his criminal history when sentencing him. Green also claims
that his 13-count indictment was excessive and unfair. For the following reasons, we
find that both of Green’s claims lack arguable merit.
Maximum Consecutive Sentences
{¶ 24} When reviewing felony sentences, this court must apply the standard of
review set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-
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Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 1 and 7. Under that statute, an appellate court may
increase, reduce, or modify a sentence, or it may vacate the sentence and remand for
resentencing, only if it clearly and convincingly finds either: (1) the record does not support
the sentencing court’s findings under certain statutes (including R.C. 2929.14(C)(4),
which concerns the imposition of consecutive sentences); or (2) the sentence is otherwise
contrary to law. Id. at ¶ 9, citing R.C. 2953.08(G)(2).
{¶ 25} With regard to consecutive sentences, “a trial court is required to make the
findings mandated by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at the sentencing hearing and incorporate its
findings into its sentencing entry[.]” State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-
3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, syllabus. Pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), a trial court may impose
consecutive sentences if it finds that: (1) consecutive service is necessary to protect the
public from future crime or to punish the offender; (2) consecutive sentences are not
disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the
offender poses to the public; and (3) one or more of the following three findings are
satisfied:
(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while
the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction
imposed pursuant to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the
Revised Code, or was under post-release control for a prior offense.
(b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one
or more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of
the multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no
single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any
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of the courses of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the
offender’s conduct.
(c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that
consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from
future crime by the offender.
R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c).
{¶ 26} “[W]here a trial court properly makes the findings mandated by R.C.
2929.14(C)(4), an appellate court may not reverse the trial court’s imposition of
consecutive sentences unless it first clearly and convincingly finds that the record does
not support the trial court’s findings.” State v. Withrow, 2016-Ohio-2884, 64 N.E.3d 553,
¶ 38 (2d Dist.). The consecutive nature of the trial court’s sentencing decision should
therefore stand “unless the record overwhelmingly supports a contrary result.” (Citation
omitted.) Id. at ¶ 39.
{¶ 27} After reviewing the record, we find that the trial court made all the required
consecutive-sentence findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at Green’s sentencing hearing
and included those findings within Green’s sentencing entry. See Sentencing Trans. p.
41-42; Judgment Entry of Conviction p. 8-9. Specifically, the trial court found that
consecutive sentences were necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish
Green, and were not disproportionate to the seriousness of Green’s conduct and to the
danger he posed to the public. The trial court also found that Green’s history of criminal
conduct demonstrated that consecutive sentences were necessary to protect the public
from future crime by him. See R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(c). The trial court further found that
at least two of the multiple offenses committed by Green were committed as part of one
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or more courses of conduct, and that the harm caused by two or more of the multiple
offenses was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any of those offenses
adequately reflected the seriousness of Green’s conduct. See R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b).
{¶ 28} We do not clearly and convincingly find that the record fails to support the
aforementioned consecutive-sentence findings. First and foremost, the record
establishes that Green had an extensive criminal history. Green argues that the trial
court should not have been able to consider his criminal history when sentencing him, but
Green is wrong. Pursuant to R.C. 2929.12(D)(2), an offender’s criminal history is a
sentencing factor that must be considered by the trial court when determining the
likelihood of recidivism. Therefore, “an offender’s prior criminal conduct bears directly
on a sentencing court’s decision on the length of sentence to impose.” State v.
Bromagen, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-120148, 2012-Ohio-5757, ¶ 9. Accord State v.
Ward, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2015-CA-115, 2018-Ohio-1230, ¶ 34.
{¶ 29} Here, Green’s PSI report established that, between 1987 and 2009, Green
acquired ten OVI convictions in six different counties. The information pertaining to each
of those convictions is set forth in the following table:
Year Offense County Sentence
1987 OVI – M1 Champaign 3-day jail term1
County
1988 OVI – M1 Champaign 3-day jail term2
1 The sentencing information for Green’s 1987 OVI offense was not in the PSI report.
Green informed the trial court of the sentence he received for that offense at his
sentencing hearing.
2 The sentencing information for Green’s 1988 OVI offense was not in the PSI report.
Green informed the trial court of the sentence he received for that offense at his
sentencing hearing.
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County
1994 OVI – M1 Champaign 10-day jail term
County
1994 OVI – M1 Clark Unknown
County
1998 OVI – M1 Champaign Fines, costs, and substance abuse treatment
County
1999 OVI – F4 Preble 4 years community control (community control
County revoked in 2002)
2002 OVI – M1 Delaware 30-day jail term and 5 years community control
County (community control revoked in 2005)
2004 OVI – F4 Clinton 12-month prison term
County
2007 OVI – F4 Fayette 6-month prison term
County
2009 OVI – F3 Clark 4-year prison term
County
{¶ 30} In addition to his ten prior OVI convictions, Green had a 2001 felony
conviction for assault on a peace officer for which he served 16 months in prison. Green
also had a 1997 felony conviction for disrupting public service for which he was sentenced
to 3 years of community control. Green’s community control, however, was revoked in
2000, and Green was required to serve 10 months in prison. Over the years, Green also
acquired multiple misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence and disorderly conduct.
{¶ 31} The record also established that Green did not take his alcoholism seriously
and was a danger to society. Green advised the trial court that he first recognized his
substance abuse problem in 2000, yet he continued to acquire several OVIs between
2000 and 2009. Moreover, despite being imprisoned and having his driver’s license
suspended multiple times, Green continued his conduct of driving while intoxicated when
he should not have been driving at all. The record also indicated that Green had sought
minimal treatment for his substance abuse problem. Prior to the incidents in question,
other than prison programming, Green only attended outpatient treatment between May
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2013 and September 2013 and for a brief period of time between 2002 and 2004.
{¶ 32} We also find it significant that the two OVI incidents for which Green was
charged in this case happened within a mere seven weeks of each other, with the second
incident happening while Green was out on bond. During the second incident—the traffic
accident—Green’s intoxicated driving injured multiple people. One of the victims was a
12-year-old boy who, in addition to other injuries, suffered a broken nose and received a
permanent scar below his lip. The boy’s mother, who was also in the vehicle, suffered
bruised ribs, tissue damage, and a broken thumb. Because the mother could not work
as a result of her injuries, she lost her job and then suffered from depression and mental
anguish. The mother’s boyfriend, who was also injured, advised the trial court that as a
result of the accident he had to miss work to take care of the mother and her son, which
resulted in him being unable to pay his rent and losing his apartment.
{¶ 33} For all the foregoing reasons, any contention that the record failed to
support the trial court’s consecutive-sentence findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) would
be wholly frivolous. Therefore, we find no issue with arguable merit concerning the
imposition of consecutive sentences.
{¶ 34} We also do not clearly and convincingly find that the trial court’s sentencing
decision was otherwise contrary to law. “A sentence is contrary to law when it does not
fall within the statutory range for the offense or if the trial court fails to consider the
purposes and principles of felony sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the sentencing
factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12.” (Citation omitted.) State v. Brown, 2017-Ohio-8416,
99 N.E.3d 1135, ¶ 74 (2d Dist.). “ ‘The trial court has full discretion to impose any
sentence within the authorized statutory range, and the court is not required to make any
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findings or give its reasons for imposing maximum or more than minimum sentences.’ ”
State v. Fyffe, 2018-Ohio-112, 109 N.E.3d 51, ¶ 31 (2d Dist.), quoting State v. King, 2013-
Ohio-2021, 992 N.E.2d 491, ¶ 45 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 35} In this case, the record of the sentencing hearing and the sentencing entry
indicate that prior to issuing its sentencing decision, the trial court considered the
purposes and principles of felony sentencing in R.C. 2929.11, as well as the sentencing
factors in R.C. 2929.12. See Sentencing Trans. p. 37; Judgment Entry of Conviction p.
5-7. The record also indicates that the individual prison sentences imposed for each of
Green’s offenses and for the repeat OVI offender specification were within the authorized
statutory range. See R.C. 2929.14(A)(2)(a), (A)(3)(b), (A)(4), and R.C. 2941.1413(A).
Therefore, we do not clearly and convincingly find that Green’s individual prison
sentences were contrary to law.
{¶ 36} For the foregoing reasons, Green’s argument challenging the trial court’s
decision to impose maximum, consecutive sentences lacks arguable merit.
Indicted Charges
{¶ 37} Green also claims that the 13 charges in his indictment were excessive and
unfair. However, “by entering a voluntary guilty plea while represented by competent
counsel, [Green] waived his right to appeal all non[-]jurisdictional defects in prior stages
of the proceedings.” (Citations omitted.) State v. Guerra, 2d Dist. Miami No. 2015-CA-
28, 2016-Ohio-5647, ¶ 9. Therefore, Green has waived the right to appeal any alleged
defects in his indictment, including that the charges in the indictment were excessive.
See State v. Black, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102586, 2017-Ohio-953, ¶ 9 (a guilty plea
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“waives the right to a direct appeal of any alleged defects in the indictment, such as
‘overcharging’ ”); State v. Boyle, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2018-CA-12, 2018-Ohio-3284, ¶ 8
(“a guilty plea waives the right to claim error rising from a defective indictment”); State v.
Lopez, 2d Dist. Greene No. 99-CA-120, 2003-Ohio-3974, ¶ 14 (”a defendant who, prior
to pleading guilty, fails to assert that the indictment is defective, waives any error in the
indictment”). Accordingly, Green’s claim that the charges in his indictment were
excessive and unfair lacks arguable merit.
Conclusion
{¶ 38} For the foregoing reasons, counsel’s potential assignment of error and
Green’s pro se arguments lack arguable merit. Furthermore, after conducting an
independent review of the record as required by Anders, we find that there are no issues
with arguable merit for Green to advance on appeal. Therefore, the judgment of the trial
court is affirmed.
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TUCKER, P.J. and HALL, J., concur.
Copies sent to:
Samantha B. Whetherholt
Antoinette Dillard
Michael Raymond Green
Hon. Nick A. Selvaggio