State v. Brown , 2022 Ohio 4197 ( 2022 )

[Cite as State v. Brown, 2022-Ohio-4197.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ROSS COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, : Case No. 21CA3758
:
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
:
v. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
JAMARR E. BROWN, :
:
Defendant-Appellant. : RELEASED: 11/17/2022
APPEARANCES:
Jamarr E. Brown, Appellant, Pro Se.
Jeffrey C. Marks, Ross County Prosecuting Attorney, and Pamela C. Wells, Ross
County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellee.
Wilkin, J.
{¶1} This is an appeal by appellant Jamarr E. Brown (“Brown) of his
criminal conviction in the Ross County Court of Common Pleas. Appellee, the
state of Ohio (“state”) has filed a brief in opposition.
{¶2} Brown asserts four assignments of error: (1) “It was prejudicial error
in violation of the defendant-appellant’s Absolute right to procedural due process
of law as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as well as
Article I Section 16, Ohio Constitution for the trial court to dismiss the application
to withdraw without the court making and filing written findings of facts and
conclusions of law relative its decision to overrule the motion to withdraw plea
which effectively a warranted the appellee a summary judgment[,]” (2) “It was
prejudicial error in violation of the appellant’s absolute right to procedural Due
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 2
process of law for the trial court to sua sponte grant the State of Ohio the
equivalent of a summary judgment even though the State never appeared in the
case in violation of the appellant right as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution as well as Under Article I, Section 16, Ohio Constitution[,]”
(3) “The trial court erred and abused its discretion and violated the appellant’s
absolute right to procedural due process of law where the court failed to give the
motion to withdraw plea its due consideration in violation of the 14th Amendment
to the U.S. Constitution as well as Article I, Section 16, Ohio Constitution [,]” and
(4) “It was plain and prejudicial error for the trial court below not to Grant the
appellant relief in the case where the record is clear that the appellant arrest and
prosecution was illegally obtained and contrary to clearly established federal
constitutional law as determined by the U.S. Supreme Court and the result of
defense counsel’s ineffectiveness.”
{¶3} In response, the state asserts: (1) the trial court is not required to
issue findings of fact and conclusions of law when addressing post-sentence
motions to withdraw guilty pleas according to Crim.R. 32.1, (2) when the
defendant files a motion to withdraw a plea post-sentencing, the state is not
required to respond and contest it – it is the defendant’s burden to show that a
manifest injustice has occurred, (3) the trial court did not abuse its discretion
when it entered a ruling without a hearing on this post-sentence motion to
withdraw plea, and (4) Brown’s motion to withdraw guilty plea is barred by the
doctrine of res judicata, and he did not establish a manifest injustice occurred in
his trial proceedings.
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 3
{¶4} After our review of the party’s arguments, the record, and the
applicable law, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying
Brown’s motion to withdraw his plea. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s
judgment.
BACKGROUND
{¶5} On July 12, 2019, the state charged Brown with eight criminal counts
that included (1) two counts of having a weapon while under a disability in
violation of R.C. 2923.13, third-degree felonies; (2) one count of possession of
heroin in violation of R.C. 2925.11, a first-degree felony; (3) two counts of
aggravated possession of drugs in violation of 2925.11, third and fifth-degree
felonies; (4) one count of trafficking in heroin in violation of R.C. 2925.03, a first-
degree felony; and (5) two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs in violation of
R.C. 2925.03, third and fifth-degree felonies.
{¶6} On February 6, 2020, the trial court held a plea hearing during which
the court engaged in a Crim.R. 11 colloquy with Brown advising him of the
constitutional rights he was waiving in pleading guilty to all eight counts, and
confirmed that his plea was knowing, intelligent and voluntary. Brown signed a
plea agreement acknowledging the same. At sentencing the court merged: (1)
counts three and six (possession of heroin and trafficking in heroin), (2) counts
four and seven (aggravated possession of drugs and aggravated trafficking in
drugs), (3) counts five and eight (aggravated possession of drugs and
aggravated trafficking in drugs). The court then sentenced Brown as follows:
Counts One and Two, 36 months; Count Three, mandatory four years; Count
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 4
Four, twelve months; and Count Five, 36 months. Counts One, Two and Five
were to be served concurrently to each other and consecutively to Counts Three
and Four.
{¶7} On June 28, 2021, Brown filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea
purporting that his plea was not knowing, voluntary, or intelligent because his
counsel did not did not file a motion to suppress and should have requested
“summary dismissal based on the insufficiency of evidence[.]” On September 27,
2021, the trial court issued an entry denying Brown’s motion without holding an
evidentiary hearing. It is this judgment that Brown appeals.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
I. IT WAS PREJUDICIAL ERROR IN VIOLATION OF THE DEFENDANT-
APPELLANT’S ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS
OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION AS WELL AS ARTICLE I SECTION 16, OHIO
CONSTITUTION FOR THE TRIAL COURT TO DISMISS THE
APPLICATION TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT THE COURT MAKING AND
FILING WRITTEN FINDINGS OF FACTS AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
RELATIVE ITS DECISION TO OVERRULE THE MOTION TO
WITHDRAW PLEA WHICH EFFECTIVELY A WARRANTED THE
APPELLEE SUMMARY JUDGEMENT
II. IT WAS PREJUDICIAL ERROR IN VIOLATION OF THE APPELLANT’S
ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS OF LAW FOR
THE TRIAL COURT TO SUA SPONTE GRANT THE STATE OF OHIO
THE EQUIVALENT OF A SUMMARY JUDGMENT EVEN THOUGH THE
STATE NEVER APPEARED IN THE CASE IN VIOLATION OF THE
APPELLANT RIGHT AS GUARANTEED BY THE 14TH AMENDMENT
TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AS WELL AS UNDER ARTICLE I,
SECTION 16, OHIO CONSTITUTION
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND
VIOLATED THE APPELLANT’S ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO PROCEDURAL
DUE PROCESS OF LAW WHERE THE COURT FAILED TO GIVE THE
MOTION TO WITHDRAW PLEA ITS DUE CONSIDERATION IN
VIOLATION OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
AS WELL AS ARTICLE I, SECTION 16, OHIO CONSTITUTION
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 5
IV. IT WAS PLAIN AND PREJUDICIAL ERROR FOR THE TRIAL COURT
BELOW NOT TO GRANT THE APPELLANT RELIEF IN THE CASE
WHERE THE RECORD IS CLEAR THAT THE APPELLANT ARREST
AND PROSECUTION WAS ILLEGALLY OBTAINED AND CONTRARY
TO CLEARLY ESTABLISHED FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AS
DETERMINED BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND THE RESULT OF
DEFENSE COUNSEL’S INEFFECTIVENESS.
A. Standard of Review
{¶8} “An appellate court reviews a trial court's decision on a motion to
withdraw a plea under an abuse-of-discretion standard.” State v. Francis, 104
Ohio St. 3d 490, 2004-Ohio-6894, 820 N.E.2d 355, ¶ 32, citing State v. Smith, 49
Ohio St.2d 261, 361 N.E.2d 1324 (1977), paragraph two of the syllabus (deciding
a post-sentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea is within the trial court’s
discretion); State v. Xie, 62 Ohio St.3d 521, 584 N.E.2d 715, (1992), paragraph
two of the syllabus (deciding a presentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea is
within the trial court’s discretion). The Supreme Court has defined “ ‘abuse of
discretion’ as an ‘unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable use of discretion, or
as a view or action that no conscientious judge could honestly have taken.’
” State v. Kirkland, 140 Ohio St.3d 73, 2014-Ohio-1966, 15 N.E.3d 818, ¶ 67,
quoting State v. Brady, 119 Ohio St.3d 375, 2008-Ohio-4493, 894 N.E.2d 671, ¶
23. “ ‘Abuse of discretion’ has been described as including a ruling that lacks a
‘sound reasoning process.’ ” State v. Morris, 132 Ohio St.3d 337, 2012-Ohio-
2407, 972 N.E.2d 528, ¶ 14, quoting AAAA Ents., Inc. v. River Place Community
Urban Redevelopment Corp., 50 Ohio St.3d 157, 161, 553 N.E.2d 597 (1990).
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 6
B. Crim.R. 32.1
{¶9} Crim R. 32.1 distinguishes between a motion to withdraw a guilty plea
filed prior to sentencing, and one filed after sentencing.
1. Pre-sentence Motion to Withdraw a Plea
{¶10} “ ‘ “[A] presentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea should
be freely and liberally granted.” ’ ” State v. Lester, 4th Dist. Vinton No. 12CA689,
2013-Ohio-2485, quoting State v. Ketterer, 126 Ohio St.3d 448, 2010-Ohio-3831,
935 N.E.2d 9, ¶ 57, quoting Xie at 527. When presented with a presentence
motion to withdraw a guilty plea, the “trial court must conduct a hearing to
determine whether there is a reasonable and legitimate basis for the withdrawal
of the plea.” State v. Davis, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 05CA9, 2005-Ohio-5015, ¶
9, citing Xie at 527.
2. Post-Sentence Motion to Withdraw Plea
{¶11} However, a “defendant who seeks to withdraw a plea of guilty after
the imposition of sentence has the burden of establishing the existence
of manifest injustice.” State v. Straley, 159 Ohio St. 3d 82, 2019-Ohio-5206, 147
N.E.3d 623, ¶ 14, quoting State v. Smith, 49 Ohio St.2d 261,361 N.E.2d 1324(1977), paragraph one of the syllabus; State v. Smith, 4th Dist. Ross No.
21CA3739, 2021-Ohio-4028, ¶ 16. “A ‘manifest injustice’ is defined as a clear or
openly unjust act. Straley at ¶ 14, citing State ex rel. Schneider v. Kreiner, 83
Ohio St.3d 203, 208, 699 N.E.2d 83 (1998). It “relates to a fundamental flaw in
the plea proceedings resulting in a miscarriage of justice.” Id., citing State v.
Tekulve, 188 Ohio App.3d 792, 2010-Ohio-3604, 936 N.E.2d 1030, ¶ 7 (1st
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 7
Dist.), citing Kreiner at 208, 699 N.E.2d 83 and Smith at 264, 361 N.E.2d 1324.
While manifest injustice has been described under various circumstances, it is
permissible as grounds to withdraw a post-sentence motion to withdraw a plea
“only in extraordinary cases.” Id., quoting Smith at 264, 361 N.E.2d 1324. “The
logic behind this precept is to discourage a defendant from pleading guilty to test
the weight of potential reprisal, and later withdraw the plea if the sentence was
unexpectedly severe.” State v. Caraballo, 17 Ohio St. 3d 66, 67, 477 N.E.2d 627(1985), citing State v. Peterseim, 68 Ohio App.2d 211, 213, 428 N.E.2d 863 (8th
Dist.1980), quoting Kadwell v. United States, 315 F.2d 667 (C.A.9 1963).
{¶12} Moreover, “[this court], along with other districts, have held that a
defendant also cannot establish the manifest injustice required under Crim.R.
32.1 to withdraw a plea where he could have sought redress for the alleged error
through another application reasonably available to him[,]” including a direct
appeal of a criminal conviction. State v. Mitchem, 4th Dist. Jackson Nos.
19CA10, 19CA11, 2020-Ohio-1080, ¶ 16, citing State v. Ables, 4th Dist.
Pickaway No. 11CA22, 2012-Ohio-3377, ¶ 12; State v. Current, 2d Dist.
Champaign No. 2010 CA 31, 2012-Ohio-1851, ¶ 7.
{¶13} Finally, “[a] trial court is not always required to conduct an
evidentiary hearing when presented with a post-sentence motion to withdraw a
guilty plea.” State v. Vincent, 4th Dist. Ross No. 3CA2713, 2003-Ohio-3998, ¶
10, citing State v. Nathan, 99 Ohio App.3d 722, 651 N.E.2d 1044 (3d Dist.
1995); State v. Woods, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 82120, 2003-Ohio-2475; State v.
Jacobson, 4th Dist. Adams No. 01CA730, 2003-Ohio-1201; State v. Moore, 4th
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 8
Dist. Pike No. 01CA674, 2002-Ohio-5748. “Instead, a trial court need only
conduct an evidentiary hearing when the facts, as alleged by the defendant,
indicate a manifest injustice would occur if the plea was allowed to stand.” Id.,citing Nathan; Jacobson.
3. Res Judicata
{¶14} Straley also recognized that “[r]es judicata generally bars a
defendant from raising claims in a Crim.R. 32.1 postsentencing motion to
withdraw a guilty plea that he raised or could have raised on direct appeal.” 159
Ohio St. 3d 82, at ¶ 14, citing Ketterer, 126 Ohio St.3d 448, 2010-Ohio-3831, 935
N.E.2d 9, ¶ 59; State v. Pemberton, 4th Gallia No. 10CA4, Dist. 2011-Ohio-373,
¶ 19. Similarly, “[a] claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is * * * waived by a
guilty plea, unless the ineffective assistance of counsel precluded the defendant
from knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entering a guilty plea.” State v. Betts,
4th Dist. Vinton No. 18CA710, 2018-Ohio-2720, ¶ 26, quoting State v. Grove, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103042, 2016-Ohio-2721, ¶ 26.
FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶15} Brown contends that the trial court erred in failing to issue findings
of fact and conclusions of law pertaining to its judgment denying his motion to
withdraw his plea.
{¶16} It is well settled that “[a] trial court is not required to issue findings of
fact and conclusions of law when it rules on a Crim.R. 32.1 motion to withdraw a
guilty plea.” State v. Davis, 158 Ohio App. 3d 478, 2004-Ohio-5354, 816 N.E.2d
1102, ¶ 16 (4th Dist.), citing State ex rel. Chavis v. Griffin, 91 Ohio St.3d 50,
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 9
2001-Ohio-241, 741 N.E.2d 130, ¶ 2. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion when it failed to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding
its judgment in this case.
{¶17} Accordingly, we overrule Brown’s first assignment of error.
SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶18} In his second assignment of error, Brown alleges that the trial court
violated his procedural due process rights by denying his motion to withdraw
because the state “did not appear” in the case.
{¶19} As a party to this case, the state had the right to respond to Brown’s
motion to withdraw, but there is no authority that compels the state to file a
response. As we noted supra, the defendant has the burden to show that the
denial of his motion to withdraw his plea caused him to suffer a manifest
injustice. Straley, 159 Ohio St. 3d 82, 2019-Ohio-5206, 147 N.E.3d 623, ¶ 14.
The state’s failure to respond did not alleviate Brown’s burden in this regard.
Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ruling on Brown’s motion
to withdraw merely because the state never filed a response.
{¶20} Accordingly, we overrule Brown’s second assignment of error.
THIRD AND FOURTH ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶21} Because they are related, we address Brown’s third and fourth
assignments together. In his third assignment of error, Brown argues that the
trial court abused its discretion in failing to hold an evidentiary hearing on his
motion to withdraw his guilty plea. And in his fourth assignment of error, he
maintains that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion to
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 10
withdraw his plea. More specifically, Brown maintains that his counsel was
ineffective for not filing a motion to suppress evidence, and instead advised him
to plead guilty.
{¶22} “ ‘ “[A] guilty plea waives all appealable errors except for a challenge
as to whether the defendant made a knowing, intelligent and voluntary
acceptance of the plea.” ’ ” State v. Robinson, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 13CA18,
2015-Ohio-2635, ¶ 45, quoting State v. Neu, 4th Dist. Adams No. 12CA942,
2013-Ohio-616, ¶ 13, quoting State v. Patterson, 5th Dist. Muskingum No.
CT2012–0029, 2012–Ohio–5600, ¶ 30. “Consequently, a defendant who
voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently admits ‘in open court that he is in fact
guilty of the offense with which he is charged * * * may not thereafter raise
independent claims relating to the deprivation of constitutional rights that
occurred prior to the entry of the guilty plea.’ ” (ellipses sic.) State v. Howard,
2017-Ohio-9392, 103 N.E.3d 108, (4th Dist.) ¶ 69, quoting Tollett v. Henderson,
411 U.S. 258, 267, 93 S.Ct. 1602, 36 L.Ed.2d 235 (1973). Therefore, “Ohio
courts routinely hold that a guilty plea waives the right to challenge on appeal a
trial court's decision denying a motion to suppress evidence.” Id., at ¶ 70, citing
State v. Obermiller, 147 Ohio St.3d 175, 2016-Ohio-1594, 63 N.E.3d 93, ¶
55; State v. Crawford, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 27046, 2017-Ohio-308, ¶
9; State v. Spangler, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 16CA4, 2016-Ohio-8583, ¶ 16-
17; State v. Beasley, 2016-Ohio-1603, 49 N.E.3d 378, ¶ 7 (1st Dist.).
{¶23} Because the record indicates that Brown’s plea is knowingly,
voluntarily, and intelligently, he has waived his right to challenge his counsel’s
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 11
effectiveness for failing to file a motion to suppress, which was the basis of his
motion to withdraw his plea. Consequently, the trial court’s denial of Brown’s
motion to withdraw his plea did not cause a “fundamental flaw in the plea
proceedings resulting in a miscarriage of justice,” i.e., it did not cause Brown to
suffer a “manifest injustice.” Straley at ¶ 14. Therefore, we hold that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion by denying Brown’s motion to withdraw his plea,
or by doing so without holding a hearing.
{¶24} Moreover, Brown could have raised the effectiveness of his trial
counsel in a direct appeal of his plea agreement, but failed to do so. Therefore,
res judicata also bars our consideration of his appeal herein challenging the trial
court’s denial of his motion to withdraw his plea. See Straley at ¶ 14.
{¶25} Accordingly, we overrule Brown’s third and fourth assignments of
error.
CONCLUSION
{¶26} Having overruled all four of Brown’s assignments of error, we affirm
the trial court’s judgment entry denying his motion to withdraw his plea.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Ross App. No. 21CA3758 12
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and appellant shall pay
the costs.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the
Ross County Court of Common Pleas 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 60 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 60-day period, or the failure of the Appellant to
file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the 45-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 60 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. and Abele, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court,
BY: ________________________
Kristy S. Wilkin, 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.