State v. Anderson , 2020 Ohio 6912 ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. Anderson, 2020-Ohio-6912.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
SCIOTO COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
: Case No. 19CA3871
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
:
vs. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
KEQUAN D. ANDERSON :
:
Defendant-Appellant. : RELEASED 12/16/2020
________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Shane A. Tieman, Scioto County Prosecuting Attorney, and Jay Willis, Assistant
Scioto County Prosecuting Attorney, Portsmouth, Ohio, for Appellee.
Kequan Anderson, Pro Se Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Hess, J.
{¶1} This is an appeal from a Scioto County Court of Common Pleas
judgment entry that denied Kequan Anderson’s petition for post-conviction relief.
After reviewing the facts and the law, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
{¶2} In 2017, the State charged Anderson with a three-count indictment:
(1) trafficking in cocaine in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(2) and (C)(4)(f), (2)
possession of cocaine in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(4)(e), and (3)
possession of marijuana in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(3)(a). Pending
sentencing, Anderson was released on bond subject to numerous conditions,
including that he refrain from using illegal drugs.
Scioto App. No. 19CA3871 2
{¶3} In his plea agreement, Anderson acknowledged that he could be
sentenced up to eleven years for trafficking in cocaine. He then pleaded guilty to
trafficking in cocaine with a recommended three-year sentence.
{¶4} On September 12, 2017, the court held a sentencing hearing in which
the Judge recognized that “[Anderson] pled guilty to a felony of the first degree, a
charge of trafficking in Cocaine, and it was a negotiated plea “ * * * that as long
as he abided by the conditions of his bond, he would receive a three year
mandatory prison term.” However, the Judge found that Anderson did not abide
by the terms of his bond because he was late to appear for sentencing and he
tested positive for marijuana. The Judge sentenced Anderson to a four-year
prison term.
{¶5} Anderson never filed a direct appeal. However, on June 6, 2018,
Anderson, acting pro se, filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging four
claims: (1) he was denied his counsel of choice, (2) his counsel was ineffective,
(3) the prosecutor committed misconduct by failing to disclose evidence that was
favorable to Anderson, and (4) the trial court improperly sanctioned Anderson by
punishing him by increasing his prison term for being late to sentencing and
testing positive for marijuana. The trial court denied his petition without a hearing
in an entry that was filed January 30, 2019. The trial judge found no evidence to
support any of Anderson’s claims and consequently denied his petition. It is from
this judgment that Anderson appeals, asserting a single assignment of error.
Scioto App. No. 19CA3871 3
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
“THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT
DENIED THE RELIEF OF SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OF
THE PLEA BARGAIN.”
{¶6} Anderson asserts that the trial court abused its discretion when it
denied him the relief of specific performance of the plea bargain, i.e. the court
cannot punish a defendant for violating the conditions of bond by imposing a
sentence that is greater than the sentence agreed to pursuant to a plea bargain.
{¶7} The State argues that Anderson’s petition was not timely filed. In
pertinent part, the State also argues that because Anderson violated the terms of
his negotiated plea agreement the trial court’s imposition of the four-year prison
term, which was within the statutory range permitted for Anderson’s offense,
should be affirmed.
{¶8} “ ‘[A] trial court’s decision granting or denying a postconviction
petition filed pursuant to R.C. 2953.21 should be upheld absent an abuse of
discretion; a reviewing court should not overrule the trial court's finding on a
petition for postconviction relief that is supported by competent and credible
evidence.’ ” State v. Rinehart, 4th Dist. Ross No. 17CA3606, 2018-Ohio-1261, ¶
10, quoting State v. Gondor, 112 Ohio St.3d 377, 2006–Ohio–6679, 860 N.E.2d
77, ¶ 58. And “the doctrine of res judicata is generally applicable to petitions for
postconviction relief in that the doctrine ‘bars claims for post-conviction relief
based on allegations which the petitioner raised, or could have raised, in the trial
court or on direct appeal .’ ” State v. Clark, 4th Dist. Highland No. No. 15CA12,
2016-Ohio-2705, ¶ 15, quoting State v. Howard, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 96CA2470,
Scioto App. No. 19CA3871 4
1997 WL 46006 (Aug. 11, 1997), citing State v. Perry, 10 Ohio St.2d 175, 226
N.E.2d 104, at paragraph nine of the syllabus (1967).
{¶9} Initially, we note that it appears that Anderson could have raised his
breach-of-plea argument in his direct appeal of his criminal conviction, and
Anderson does not argue that he was somehow prevented from doing so.
Consequently, res judicata should have precluded the trial court from considering
his petition on the merits, but it nevertheless did. Therefore, we will examine the
merits of Anderson’s argument.
{¶10} “A negotiated plea agreement is essentially a contract between the
state and the defendant.” State v. Bush, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2004-T-0003,
2005-Ohio-1898, ¶ 21. “[W]hen a valid plea agreement is breached by the state,
the trial court, within its sound discretion, may either allow the negotiated plea to
be withdrawn, or may require the state to fulfill its end of the bargain.” State v.
Thompson, 4th Dist. Adams No. 3CA766, 2004-Ohio-2413, ¶ 12, citing State v.
Mathews, 8 Ohio App.3d 145, 456 N.E.2d 539 (10th Dist. 1982), State v.
Davenport, 116 Ohio App.3d 6, 10-11, 686 N.E.2d 531 (12th Dist. 1996), State v.
Quinn, 2d Dist. Miami No. 02CA54, 2003-Ohio-5743, State v. Ford, 4th Dist.
Lawrence App. No. 97CA32, 1998 WL 79885 (Feb. 18, 1998), State v. Woyan,
4th Dist. Athens No. 96 CA 1772, 1997 WL 426117 (July 21, 1997), State v.
Hess, 4th Dist. Adams No. 515, 1991 WL 286052 (Dec. 24, 1991). However, a
defendant’s breach of a plea agreement relieves the prosecutor of his or her
obligation(s) under the agreement, such as recommending a particular sentence.
State v. Adkins, 161 Ohio App. 3d 114, 2005-Ohio-2577, 829 N.E.2d 729, ¶ 4,7
Scioto App. No. 19CA3871 5
(4th Dist.). A defendant’s failure to abide by conditions of bond, such as taking
illegal drugs, results in a breach of the plea agreement. See State v. Billiter,
2018-Ohio-733, 106 N.E.3d 785, ¶ 26 (4th Dist.).
{¶11} Further, [p]unishment, * * * is not subject to plea bargaining. State
v. Minshall, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 93CA511, 1993 WL 472887, *3 (Nov. 9, 1993).
“While the state may, pursuant to a plea agreement, agree to recommend a
certain sentence or to make no recommendation regarding sentencing,
punishment is a matter either determined expressly by statute or lying with the
sound discretion of the trial court.” Id., citing State v. Mathews, 8 Ohio App.3d
145, 146, 456 N.E.2d 539 (10th Dist. 1982), State v. Morehouse, 4th Dist. Meigs
No. 92CA478, 1993 WL 6564 (Jan. 14, 1993).
{¶12} The record demonstrates that Anderson, not the State, breached
the plea agreement by testing positive for marijuana while out on bond prior to
sentencing, despite agreeing that he would not use illegal drugs pursuant to his
bond agreement. As a result, the trial court imposed a four-year prison sentence,
instead of the agreed three-year sentence, which is well within the maximum
eleven-year prison sentence that the court could have imposed for trafficking.
See State v. Johnson, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 14CA3612, 2016-Ohio-1070, ¶ 13.
Under these circumstances we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion
in denying Anderson’s petition.
{¶13} Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s judgment denying
Anderson’s petition for post-conviction relief.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Scioto App. No. 19CA3871 6
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and that costs be assessed
to Appellant.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for Appellant’s petition.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the
Scioto 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.
Smith, P.J. & Abele, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court,
BY: ______________________________
Michael D. Hess, 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.
Scioto App. No. 19CA3871 7