State v. Kincade , 2010 Ohio 1497 ( 2010 )

[Cite as State v. Kincade, 2010-Ohio-1497.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
WYANDOT COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 16-09-20
v.
DANA LEE KINCADE, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Wyandot County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 09-CR-0014
Judgment Reversed and Cause Remanded
Date of Decision: April 5, 2010
APPEARANCES:
Cindy Wolph for Appellant
Jonathan K. Miller for Appellee
Case No. 16-09-20
PRESTON, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Dana Lee Kincade (hereinafter “Kincade”),
appeals the judgment of the Wyandot County Court of Common Pleas sentencing
him to a mandatory prison term of sixty (60) days, and an additional basic prison
term of four (4) years. For the reasons that follow, we reverse and remand for re-
sentencing.
{¶2} In September 2009, Kincade was found guilty after a jury trial of one
count of felony operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in
violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a), and one count of felony operating a vehicle
while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs of abuse in violation of R.C.
4511.19(A)(1)(c), both felonies of the third degree. For purposes of sentencing,
the trial court merged count one and count two.
{¶3} The sentencing hearing was held on October 16, 2009, and
consequently the trial court sentenced Kincade to a mandatory prison term of sixty
(60) days and an additional basic prison term of four (4) years. In addition, the
trial court ordered Kincade to pay the mandatory minimum fine of $1,350.00,
suspended Kincade’s operator’s license for life, and ordered that he attend and
successfully complete an alcohol and drug addiction program.
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{¶4} Kincade now appeals his sentence and raises two assignments of
error. For purposes of our discussion, we elect to address them out of the order
that they were presented in his brief.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. II
THE TRIAL COURT WHILE NOT ORDERING THE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL PRISON
SENTENCE TO BE SERVED, CONSIDERED APPELLANT’S
HISTORY OF OFFENSES FOR THE “PROTECT THE
PUBLIC” AND “INCAPACITATING THE OFFENDER”
SENTENCING PURPOSES OF OHIO REVISED CODE
SECTION 2929.11, BUT IT DID NOT FULLY CONSIDER
THE “REHABILITATING THE OFFENDER” PURPOSE. BY
SUPPLANTING A PORTION OF THE FOUR YEARS OF
ADDITIONAL TIME TO BE SERVED UNDER COMMUNITY
CONTROL OR COMMUNITY NON-RESIDENTIAL
SANCTIONS, AS AUTHORIZED BY OHIO REVISED CODE
SECTIONS 2929.15(A)(1) AND 2929.13(G)(2), APPELLANT
WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO MAKE A MORE
SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO LIVING DRUG-AND
ALCOHOL-FREE IN SOCIETY ONCE HE IS RELEASED
FROM STATE SUPERVISION.
{¶5} In his second assignment of error, Kincade argues that the trial court
did not “fully consider” the need for “rehabilitating the offender” under the
purposes of felony sentencing in R.C. 2929.11(A), and requests a “re-structuring
of the non-mandatory, additional prison sentence to include both community non-
residential and community control sanctions.”
{¶6} A trial court’s sentence will not be disturbed on appeal absent a
defendant’s showing by clear and convincing evidence that the sentence is
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unsupported by the record; the sentencing statutes’ procedure was not followed or
there was not a sufficient basis for the imposition of a prison term; or that the
sentence is contrary to law. State v. Ramos, 3d Dist. No. 4-06-24, 2007-Ohio-767,
¶23 (the clear and convincing evidence standard of review set forth under R.C.
2953.08(G)(2) remains viable with respect to those cases appealed under the
applicable provisions of R.C. 2953.08(A), (B), and (C) * * *); State v. Rhodes,
12th Dist. No. CA2005-10-426, 2006-Ohio-2401, ¶4; State v. Tyson, 3d Dist. Nos.
1-04-38; 1-04-39, 2005-Ohio-1082, ¶19, citing R.C. 2953.08(G). Clear and
convincing evidence is that “which will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a
firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established.” Cross v. Ledford
(1954), 161 Ohio St. 469, 120 N.E.2d 118, paragraph three of the syllabus; State v.
Boshko (2000), 139 Ohio App.3d 827, 835, 745 N.E.2d 1111. An appellate court
should not, however, substitute its judgment for that of the trial court because the
trial court is ‘“clearly in the better position to judge the defendant’s likelihood of
recidivism and to ascertain the effect of the crimes on the victims.”’ State v.
Watkins, 3d Dist. No. 2-04-08, 2004-Ohio-4809, ¶16, quoting State v. Jones
(2001), 93 Ohio St.3d 391, 400, 754 N.E.2d 1252.1
1
We note that the Supreme Court of Ohio recently released a plurality opinion in State v. Kalish, 120 Ohio
St.3d 23, 2008-Ohio-4912, 869 N.E.2d 124, which established a two-part test utilizing both the clear and
convincing and abuse of discretion standard of review in reviewing felony sentencing decisions under R.C.
2953.08(G). While we cite to this Court’s precedential clear and convincing standard of review, which was
affirmed and adopted by three dissenting Justices in Kalish, we note that the outcome of our decision in this
case would be identical under the Kalish plurality’s two-part test as well.
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{¶7} In State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d
470, the Ohio Supreme Court declared unconstitutional those portions of the
felony sentencing statutes that required judicial fact-finding before the trial court
could impose a prison sentence. 2006-Ohio-856, at ¶100. Subsequently, the
Supreme Court excised those provisions that related to judicial fact-finding from
the sentencing statutes, specifically including R.C. 2929.14(E)(4) and R.C.
2929.41(A). Id. at ¶97. As a result of the excision of those unconstitutional
provisions, the Court ultimately held that, “[t]rial 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.” Id. at paragraph seven of the syllabus.
{¶8} However, a trial court must still consider the overall purposes of
sentencing as set forth in R.C. 2929.11, as well as the factors relating to the
seriousness of the offense and recidivism of the offender under R.C. 2929.12,
when sentencing an offender. State v. Smith, 3d Dist. No. 2-06-37, 2007-Ohio-
3129, ¶26, citing State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio St.3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855, 846 N.E.2d
1, ¶38. But, under R.C. 2929.12, a sentencing court is not required to use specific
language regarding its consideration of the seriousness and recidivism factors. Id.,citing State v. Sharp, 10th Dist. No. 05AP-809, 2006-Ohio-3448; State v. Amett
(2000), 88 Ohio St.3d 208, 205, 724 N.E.2d 793; State v. McAdams, 162 Ohio
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App.3d 318, 2005-Ohio-3895, 833 N.E.2d 373; State v. Patterson, 8th Dist. No.
84803, 2005-Ohio-2003. Further, there is no requirement in R.C. 2929.12 that the
trial court state on the record that it has considered the statutory criteria or even
discussed them. Id., citing State v. Polick (1995), 101 Ohio App.3d 428, 431, 655
N.E.2d 820; State v. Gant, 7th Dist. No. 04 MA 252, 2006-Ohio-1469 (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); State v. Hughes, 6th Dist. No. WD-05-024,
2005-Ohio-6405.
{¶9} Although Kincade acknowledges that the trial court clearly
considered the factors of R.C. 2929.11, 2929.12, and 2929.13, especially the
“punishing” and “protecting the public” factors, he argues that it failed to fully
consider the purpose of “rehabilitation.” As Kincade stated in his brief,
“conventional sentencing has not worked for Appellant in the past – his lengthy
record of crimes directly and indirectly resulting from his substance abuse has
shown that the ‘punishment’ and ‘deterrent’ aspects of the sentencing is not
working as it has been implemented thus far.” (Appellant’s Brief at 12). As such,
he argues that the trial court should have imposed community control sanctions, or
at least a combination of community control sanctions with the prison term, in
order to fully deal with the purpose of “rehabilitation.”
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{¶10} After a review of the record, we find that the trial court did fully
consider the principles and purposes of sentencing, including the factor of
“rehabilitation.” First of all, even though it was not required to state that it had
considered the purposes and principles of sentencing, the trial court specifically
stated on the record and in its judgment entry that it had considered the purposes
and principles of sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and that Kincade was not
amenable to community control. (Oct. 20, 2009 JE at 2); (Oct. 16, 2009 Tr. at 20).
Secondly, a review of the sentencing transcript and the trial court’s judgment entry
shows that the trial court explicitly considered the relevant statutory factors before
imposing its sentence. In particular, at the sentencing hearing the trial court
addressed Kincade’s “attitude,” addiction, prior juvenile and adult record:
This Court notes Defendant’s addiction wasn’t his biggest
problem, it is his attitude. It allowed Defendant to have at least
twenty four offenses as a juvenile. Beginning at the age of
fourteen Defendant’s attitude was responsible for his convictions
for which there are dispositions reported in his Pre-sentence
investigation report of: three underage consumption convictions;
five resisting arrest convictions; one drug abuse conviction; one
possession of drug paraphernalia conviction; six OMVI
convictions, [sic] one assault conviction; three obstructing
official business convictions; one public intoxication conviction;
two failure to comply convictions; one criminal mischief
convictions; one consuming liquor in a motor vehicle; one
disorderly conduct conviction; one falsification conviction; one
possession of a controlled substance conviction and now these
offenses.
After Defendant was charged in this case, approximately
two months later, he was convicted of resisting arrest,
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obstructing official business and possession of a controlled
substance.
It is Defendant’s attitude, that despite having his driver’s
license suspended, he has driven and been caught driving at least
eleven times while under suspension or with no operator’s
license.
In this offense, Defendant chose to drive even though this
Court had suspended his operator’s license for a previous O.V.I.
This record smacks of an attitude that has complete indifference
for the law and the safety of others.
It was Defendant’s attitude that allowed him to violate
program rules when he was in a Volunteers of America halfway
house program, which got his release from prison revoked and
return to prison. Defendant had also received an unfavorable
final release when he was on post-release control because he
made no good faith effort to make restitution to his victim in
that case.
Defendant has been in counseling with Community
Counseling on three different occasions pursuant to Crawford
County Court Orders. In 2006, despite being referred for
therapy, individual therapy and counseling, Defendant failed to
return for services.
Defendant’s attitude allowed him to recently walk away
from treatment at New Destiny Treatment Center against
medical advice on August 10, 2009. The Court notes from
Defendant’s exhibits there was some question about treatment
and medications prescribed and that Defendant disagreed with
taking Klonipin. However the pre-sentence investigation states
this was prescribed after Defendant started experiencing
seizures after running from the police, was tazed and hit his
head. Again, the treating doctor recommended that the
Defendant be referred to rehabilitation and to see a psychiatrist
to plan a neuro-psychological evaluation for rehabilitation and it
was that doctor’s belief, once again, Defendant did not follow
through with that recommendation.
Finally, Defendant’s attitude allowed this father of three on
February 8, 2009 to get into a vehicle, to pick up two fellows,
almost half of Defendant’s age, to party all night. Defendant’s
actions resulted in one of his passengers suffering physical harm
in an accident where any one of them could have been killed.
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Defendant’s life thus far, has been one of irresponsibility and
lawlessness. Defendant does what he wants despite repeated
negative consequences, despite who he might hurt, including his
own children and despite other’s efforts to help him.
(Oct. 20, 2009 JE at 2-4); (Oct. 16, 2009 Tr. at 20-23). It is clear from the trial
court’s statements that not only did it fully consider all of the principles and
purposes of felony sentencing, but it specifically considered the rehabilitation
factor. The trial court simply chose to give little weight to the purpose of
rehabilitation in Kincade’s sentence given the multiple unsuccessful attempts to
rehabilitate Kincade in the past.
{¶11} Therefore, Kincade’s second assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. I
THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO PROPERLY CONSIDER
AND APPLY THE SENTENCING GUIDELINES OF OHIO
REVISED CODE SECTION 2929.14(D)(4) WHEN IT
ORDERED THE ADDITIONAL PRISON SENTENCE OF
FOUR YEARS WITHOUT REDUCING SAID TIME BY THE
MANDATORY SIXTY DAYS APPELLANT WAS ALSO
SENTENCED TO SERVE. (JUDGMENT ENTRY, PAGES 4
AND 5).
{¶12} Under his first assignment of error, Kincade argues that the trial
court failed to properly apply the sentencing guidelines of R.C. 2929.14(D)(4)
when it ordered an additional prison term of four (4) years without reducing it by
the sixty (60) days imposed upon Kincade as the mandatory prison term. In
response, the State acknowledges that there is a discrepancy between the language
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used in R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(e) and R.C. 2929.14(D)(4). While it asks this Court to
find that the trial court can impose the mandatory prison term of sixty (60) days
consecutive to a basic prison term based on the language in R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(e),
it agrees that should we find otherwise, then the matter should be remanded for
purposes of re-sentencing. After reviewing the applicable statutory provisions
governing third degree felony OVI sentences, we find that the trial court erred in
imposing the mandatory sixty (60) day prison term consecutive to the four (4) year
basic prison term.
{¶13} Overall, the trial court specifically ordered that “the Defendant shall
serve a mandatory prison term of sixty (60) days in the custody of the Ohio
Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Defendant is further ORDERED in
accordance with the law to serve an additional basic prison term of four (4) years
in the custody of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections; said four
(4) years basic prison term shall be served consecutively to the mandatory sixty
(60) days prison term.” (Oct. 20, 2009 JE at 4-5); (Oct. 16, 2009 Tr. at 23).
{¶14} For a third degree felony OVI offense, without a specification, R.C.
4511.19(G)(1)(e), in pertinent part, provides the following with respect to
sentencing:
(G)(1) Whoever violates any provision of divisions (A)(1)(a) to (i)
or (A)(2) of this section is guilty of operating a vehicle under the
influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them.
Whoever violates division (A)(1)(j) of this section is guilty of
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operating a vehicle while under the influence of a listed
controlled substance or a listed metabolite of a controlled
substance. The court shall sentence the offender for either
offense under Chapter 2929. of the Revised Code, except as
otherwise authorized or required by divisions (G)(1)(a) to (e) of
this section:
(e) An offender who previously has been convicted of or pleaded
guilty to a violation of division (A) of this section that was a
felony, regardless of when the violation and the conviction or
guilty plea occurred, is guilty of a felony of the third degree. The
court shall sentence the offender to all of the following:
(i) If the offender is being sentenced for a violation of division
(A)(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (j) of this section, a mandatory
prison term of one, two, three, four, or five years as required by
and in accordance with division (G)(2) of section 2929.13 of the
Revised Code if the offender also is convicted of or also pleads
guilty to a specification of the type described in section
2941.1413 of the Revised Code or a mandatory prison term of
sixty consecutive days in accordance with division (G)(2) of section
2929.13 of the Revised Code if the offender is not convicted of and
does not plead guilty to a specification of that type. The court may
impose a prison term in addition to the mandatory prison term.
The cumulative total of a sixty-day mandatory prison term and the
additional prison term for the offense shall not exceed five years.
In addition to the mandatory prison term or mandatory prison
term and additional prison term the court imposes, the court
also may sentence the offender to a community control sanction
for the offense, but the offender shall serve all of the prison
terms so imposed prior to serving the community control
sanction.
(Emphasis added). As cross-referenced in R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(e), R.C.
2929.13(G) prescribes when a trial court must impose a mandatory sentence upon
the offender of a fourth or third degree felony OVI. R.C. 2929.13(G)(2) governs
third degree felony OVI, and in pertinent part states:
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(G) Notwithstanding divisions (A) to (E) of this section, if an
offender is being sentenced for a fourth degree felony OVI
offense or for a third degree felony OVI offense, the court shall
impose upon the offender a mandatory term of local
incarceration or a mandatory prison term in accordance with
the following:
(2) If the offender is being sentenced for a third degree felony
OVI offense * * * the court shall impose upon the offender a
mandatory prison term of sixty days or one hundred twenty days
as specified in division (G)(1)(d) or (e) of section 4511.19 of the
Revised Code if the offender has not been convicted of and has
not pleaded guilty to a specification of that type. The court shall
not reduce the term pursuant to section 2929.20, 2967.193, or
any other provision of the Revised Code. The offender shall
serve the one-, two-, three-, four-, or five-year mandatory prison
term consecutively to and prior to the prison term imposed for
the underlying offense and consecutively to any other mandatory
prison term imposed in relation to the offense. In no case shall
an offender who once has been sentenced to a mandatory term of
local incarceration pursuant to division (G)(1) of this section for
a fourth degree felony OVI offense be sentenced to another
mandatory term of local incarceration under that division for
any violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised
Code.
(Emphasis added). Finally, although neither R.C. 2929.13 nor R.C. 4511.19
specifically cross-reference it, if the trial court wishes to impose an additional
basic prison term on an offender who commits a third degree felony OVI, R.C.
2929.14(D)(4) governs, and in pertinent part, prescribes:
(4) If the offender is being sentenced for a third or fourth degree
felony OVI offense under division (G)(2) of section 2929.13 of
the Revised Code, the sentencing court shall impose upon the
offender a mandatory prison term in accordance with that
division. In addition to the mandatory prison term, * * * and if
the offender is being sentenced for a third degree felony OVI
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offense, the sentencing court may sentence the offender to an
additional prison term of any duration specified in division
(A)(3) of this section. In either case, the additional prison term
imposed shall be reduced by the sixty or one hundred twenty days
imposed upon the offender as the mandatory prison term. The total
of the additional prison term imposed under division (D)(4) of this
section plus the sixty or one hundred twenty days imposed as the
mandatory prison term shall equal a definite term in the range
of six months to thirty months for a fourth degree felony OVI
offense and shall equal one of the authorized prison terms
specified in division (A)(3) of this section for a third degree felony
OVI offense. If the court imposes an additional prison term
under division (D)(4) of this section, the offender shall serve the
additional prison term after the offender has served the
mandatory prison term required for the offense.
(Emphasis added). R.C. 2929.14(A)(3) further states that the trial court shall
impose a “definite prison term” and that for a felony of the third degree, “the
prison term shall be one, two, three, four, or five years.” After reviewing the
above applicable sentencing provisions for third degree felony OVI convictions,
we find that the trial court should have reduced the additional four (4) year basic
prison term by the mandatory sixty (60) days.
{¶15} R.C. 4511.19(G)(1) specifies that “[t]he court shall sentence the
offender for either offense under Chapter 2929. of the Revised Code, except as
otherwise authorized or required by divisions (G)(1)(a) to (e) of this section.”
(emphasis added). Thus, unless R.C. 4511.19(G)(1) specifically states otherwise,
a trial court must sentence under Chapter 2929 for a third degree felony OVI. We
admit that in isolation the language in R.C. 4511.19, in particular the “in addition
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to” and “the cumulative total of” language, is confusing and could be interpreted
to mean that the mandatory prison term can be made consecutive to any basic
prison term imposed. Despite this isolated language, the language under R.C.
4511.19(G)(1)(e) does not clearly address the issue of whether the mandatory
prison term is to run consecutively or concurrently to any additional prison terms
imposed, and it is not of a nature that we could find that it was “as otherwise
authorized” under R.C. 4511.19(G)(1). On the other hand, R.C. 2929.14(D)(4) is
explicit and very clear as far as the treatment of the mandatory sixty (60) day
prison term with respect to any additional prison term imposed for a third degree
felony OVI conviction. R.C. 2929.14(D)(4) specifically states that “the additional
prison term imposed shall be reduced by the sixty or one hundred twenty days
imposed upon the offender as the mandatory prison term,” and that “[t]he total of
the additional prison term imposed under division (D)(4) of this section plus the
sixty * * * shall equal one of the authorized prison terms specified in division
(A)(3) of this section for a third degree felony OVI offense.” (emphasis added).
Because R.C. 2929.14(D)(4) clearly addresses the issue regarding the imposition
of both a mandatory prison term and an additional prison term for a third degree
felony OVI conviction, and R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(e) does not address the issue, or at
a minimum is confusing and misleading, we find that the trial court erred in
imposing the sixty (60) day mandatory prison term run consecutively to the four
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(4) year basic prison term. See State v. Garrett, 8th Dist. No. 92349, 2009-Ohio-
5363, ¶¶44-50, citing R.C. 1.51 (statutory construction requires that specific
statutory provisions prevail over conflicting general statutes).
{¶16} Kincade’s first assignment of error is, therefore, sustained.
{¶17} Although having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in
the particulars assigned and argued as to appellant’s second assignment of error,
we find error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the particulars assigned and
argued as to appellant’s first assignment of error; therefore, we reverse the
judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion.
Judgment Reversed and
Cause Remanded
SHAW J., concurs.
/jlr
WILLAMOWSKI, P.J., concurring separately.
{¶18} I concur fully with the majority opinion, however write separately to
emphasize that the appropriate standard of review was applied. In his assignments
of error, Kincade alleges that the trial court failed to properly consider the
sentencing guidelines of R.C 2929.11 and R.C 2929.14(D)(4). Kincade’s appeal
of his felony sentence did not raise issue with the application of the factors set
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forth in R.C. 2929.12, which in my opinion would require an abuse of discretion
standard. Thus, the clearly and convincingly standard used to review this case, as
set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) is the proper standard of review herein.
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