State v. Blair , 2021 Ohio 266 ( 2021 )

[Cite as State v. Blair, 2021-Ohio-266.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
PAULDING COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 11-20-01
v.
TRISTEN A. BLAIR, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 11-20-02
v.
TRISTEN A. BLAIR, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeals from Paulding County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court Nos. CR-17-592 and CR-18-681
Judgments Affirmed
Date of Decision: February 1, 2021
APPEARANCES:
Howard A. Elliott for Appellant
Joseph R. Burkard for Appellee
Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
PRESTON, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Tristen A. Blair (“Blair”), appeals the January 17,
2020 judgments of the Paulding County Court of Common Pleas. For the reasons
that follow, we affirm.
{¶2} This appeal involves two separate, unrelated criminal cases. The first
of these cases, case number CR-17-592, began on September 15, 2017, when the
Paulding County Grand Jury indicted Blair on two counts: Count One of burglary
in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(1), a second-degree felony; and Count Two of theft
in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1), a fourth-degree felony. (Case No. CR-17-592,
Doc. No. 2). On October 17, 2017, Blair appeared for arraignment and pleaded not
guilty to the counts of the September 15, 2017 indictment. (Case No. CR-17-592,
Doc. No. 11).
{¶3} A change-of-plea hearing in case number CR-17-592 was held on
December 20, 2018. (Case No. CR-17-592, Doc. No. 35). At the change-of-plea
hearing, under a negotiated plea agreement, Blair withdrew his pleas of not guilty
and entered a plea of guilty to Count One of the September 15, 2017 indictment.
(Id.). In exchange, the State agreed to recommend dismissal of Count Two. (Id.).
The trial court accepted Blair’s guilty plea, found him guilty of Count One, and
ordered a presentence investigation. (Id.). In addition, the trial court dismissed
Count Two of the September 15, 2017 indictment. (Id.).
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
{¶4} The second case involved in this appeal arises from the death of Z.B.,
Blair’s child. Following Z.B.’s death, Blair was charged with a single count of
murder in case number CR-17-618.1 A jury trial in case number CR-17-618 was
held on December 18-20, 2018. However, before the case was submitted to the jury,
the parties reached a negotiated plea agreement to resolve the case. Pursuant to the
agreement, on December 20, 2018, the State issued a bill of information charging
Blair with one count of reckless homicide in violation of R.C. 2903.041(A), a third-
degree felony. (Case No. CR-18-681, Doc. No. 1). The bill of information was
entered under a new, separate case number, case number CR-18-681. (Id.). That
same day, Blair pleaded no contest to the charge in the bill of information in case
number CR-18-681. (Case No. CR-18-681, Doc. No. 3). (See Case No. CR-18-
681, Doc. No. 2). The trial court accepted Blair’s no contest plea and found him
guilty of reckless homicide. (Case No. CR-18-681, Doc. No. 3). Further, at the
request of the State, the trial court dismissed case number CR-17-618.
{¶5} On January 14, 2019, the trial court held a sentencing hearing in case
numbers CR-17-592 and CR-18-681. (Case No. CR-17-592, Doc. No. 36); (Case
No. CR-18-681, Doc. No. 4). The trial court sentenced Blair to 7 years in prison as
to Count One of case number CR-17-592 and 36 months in prison as to the charge
1
Although Blair filed the transcripts from the December 18-20, 2018 jury trial in case number CR-17-618
as part of the record here, the remainder of the record in case number CR-17-618 (murder) is not available
for our review. Consequently, the record before this court contains little procedural information about the
crime, as originally charged.
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contained in the bill of information in case number CR-18-681. (Id.); (Id.). Further,
the trial court ordered the sentences in case numbers CR-17-592 and CR-18-681 to
be served consecutively for an aggregate term of ten years in prison. (Id.); (Id.). On
January 16, 2019, the trial court filed its judgment entries of sentence. (Id.); (Id.).
{¶6} On February 1, 2019, Blair filed his notices of appeal in case numbers
CR-17-592 and CR-18-681. (Case No. CR-17-592, Doc. No. 40); (Case No. CR-
18-681, Doc. No. 6). The cases were consolidated for the purpose of appeal. In his
initial appeal, Blair raised four assignments of error.2 In State v. Blair, 3d Dist.
Paulding Nos. 11-19-01 and 11-19-02, 2019-Ohio-4308, we reversed Blair’s
convictions due to deficiencies in the plea colloquy which rendered Blair’s pleas
invalid. Id. at ¶ 7-8.3
{¶7} Accordingly, on December 3, 2019, the trial court held a second
change-of-plea hearing in case numbers CR-17-592 and CR-18-681. (Case No. CR-
17-592, Doc. No. 52); (Case No. 18-CR-681, Doc. No. 15). With respect to case
number CR-17-592, under a negotiated plea agreement, Blair withdrew his plea of
not guilty as to Count One of the September 15, 2017 indictment and pleaded guilty.
(Case No. CR-17-592, Doc. No. 52). In exchange, the trial court agreed to
2
We note that the four assignments of error that Blair raised in his first appeal are nearly identical, including
typographical errors, to the assignments of error that he raises in his present appeal. See State v. Blair, 3d
Dist. Paulding Nos. 11-19-01 and 11-19-02, 2019-Ohio-4308, ¶ 4.
3
Because we reversed Blair’s convictions in his initial appeal on the basis of deficiencies in the plea colloquy,
Blair’s three remaining assignments of error were rendered moot and, therefore, were not addressed in the
initial appeal. Blair at ¶ 7-8.
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
recommend dismissal of Count Two of the September 15, 2017 indictment. (Id.).
The trial court accepted Blair’s guilty plea and found him guilty of Count One. (Id.).
Additionally, the trial court dismissed Count Two of the September 15, 2017
indictment. (Id.). With respect to case number CR-18-681, Blair entered a no
contest plea to the charge contained in the bill of information. (Case No. CR-18-
681, Doc. No. 15). The trial court accepted Blair’s no contest plea and found him
guilty as charged in the bill of information. (Id.).
{¶8} On January 13, 2020, the trial court held a sentencing hearing in case
numbers CR-17-592 and CR-18-681. (Case No. CR-17-592, Doc. No. 53); (Case
No. CR-18-681, Doc. No. 16). The trial court sentenced Blair to 6 years in prison
as to Count One of case number CR-17-592 and 36 months in prison with respect
to the charge contained in the bill of information in case number CR-18-681. (Id.);
(Id.). Further, the trial court ordered the sentences in case numbers CR-17-592 and
CR-18-681 to be served consecutively for an aggregate term of nine years in prison.
(Id.); (Id.). On January 17, 2020, the trial court filed its judgment entries of
sentence. (Id.); (Id.).
{¶9} On February 13, 2020, Blair filed his notices of appeal. He raises four
assignments of error for our review.
Assignment of Error No. I
The trial court in accepting the Defendant-Appellant’s plea of
guilty to the charge of burglary and the Defendant-Appellant’s
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plea of no contest to the charge of reckless homicide, failed to
properly obtain a knowing and intelligent plea of guilty and no
contest respectfully [sic] and failed to adequately and properly
effect both the guilty and no contest pleas thus invalid requiring
that the pleas be vacated and the case be remanded to the trial
court for further proceedings.
{¶10} In his first assignment of error, Blair argues that the trial court erred
by failing to comply with Crim.R. 11 before accepting his pleas of guilty to burglary
and no contest to reckless homicide. Specifically, Blair argues that the trial court
failed to advise him in his plea colloquy of the effects of his guilty and no contest
pleas.
{¶11} Under Crim.R. 11(C), all guilty and no contest pleas must be made
knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. State v. Miller, 3d Dist. Mercer No. 10-
18-07, 2018-Ohio-3713, ¶ 10, citing State v. Billenstein, 3d Dist. Mercer No. 10-13-
10, 2014-Ohio-255, ¶ 48. “Crim.R. 11(C) requires the trial judge, before accepting
a guilty or no contest plea in a felony case, to inform the defendant of several rights
enumerated under the rule, making sure the defendant understands the nature of
those rights.” Billenstein at ¶ 48, citing State v. Stewart, 51 Ohio St.2d 86, 88
(1977). “A trial court’s failure to ensure that a plea has been entered knowingly,
voluntarily, and intelligently renders the plea unconstitutional.” Miller at ¶ 10,
citing Billenstein at ¶ 48, citing State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St.3d 525, 527 (1996).
Crim.R. 11(C) provides:
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(2) In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or
a plea of no contest, and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest
without first addressing the defendant personally and doing all of the
following:
(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.
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a)-(c).
{¶12} Crim.R. 11 “‘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.’” State
v. Dangler, ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2020-Ohio-2765, ¶ 11, quoting State v. Stone, 43
Ohio St.2d 163, 168 (1975). The Supreme Court of Ohio has recently reaffirmed
that “our focus in reviewing pleas has not been on whether the trial judge has
‘[incanted] the precise verbiage’ of the rule, State v. Stewart, 51 Ohio St.2d 86, 92,
364 N.E.2d 1163 (1977), but on whether the dialogue between the court and the
defendant demonstrates that the defendant understood the consequences of his
plea[.]” Dangler at ¶ 12, citing State v. Veney, 120 Ohio St.3d 176, 2008-Ohio-5200,
¶ 15-16.
{¶13} “When a criminal defendant seeks to have his conviction reversed on
appeal, the traditional rule is that he must establish that an error occurred in the trial-
court proceedings and that he was prejudiced by that error.” Dangler at ¶ 13, citing
State v. Perry, 101 Ohio St.3d 118, 2004-Ohio-297, ¶ 14-15; Crim.R. 52. Generally,
to demonstrate prejudice, a defendant would have to establish that “his plea would
not have otherwise been made.” Dangler at ¶ 24.
{¶14} There are limited exceptions to the prejudice requirement in the
criminal-plea context. “When a trial court fails to explain the constitutional rights
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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. at ¶ 14, citing State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-Ohio-3748,
¶ 31 and Veney at syllabus. The “constitutional” rights are set forth in Crim.R.
11(C)(2)(c) above. See Dangler at ¶ 14. When a trial court fails to fully cover
“nonconstitutional” rights in Crim.R. 11, “a defendant must affirmatively show
prejudice to invalidate a plea.” Dangler at ¶ 14, citing Clark at ¶ 17.
{¶15} The Supreme Court of Ohio recognized one other exception to the
prejudice requirement: “a trial court’s complete failure to comply with a portion of
Crim.R. 11(C) eliminates the defendant’s burden to show prejudice.” (Emphasis
sic.) Dangler at ¶ 15, citing State v. Sarkozy, 117 Ohio St.3d 86, 2008-Ohio-509, ¶
22. However, “[a]side from these two exceptions, the traditional rule continues to
apply: 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).” Id. at ¶ 16, citing State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St.3d 106, 108 (1990).
“The test for prejudice is ‘whether the plea would have otherwise been made.’” Id.
at ¶ 16, quoting Nero at 108.
{¶16} “Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b) requires the trial court to inform the defendant
of the effect of his guilty or no-contest plea and to determine whether he understands
that effect.” State v. Jones, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25688, 2014-Ohio-5574, ¶ 7,
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
citing State v. Jones, 116 Ohio St.3d 211, 2007-Ohio-6093, ¶ 12 and State v. Griggs,
103 Ohio St.3d 85, 2004-Ohio-4415, ¶ 10-12. “To satisfy the effect-of-plea
requirement under Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b), a trial court must inform the defendant,
either orally or in writing, of the appropriate language in Crim.R. 11(B).” Id. at ¶
8, citing Jones at ¶ 25, 51. Furthermore, the trial court must also inform the
defendant that upon acceptance of his pleas, it “may proceed with judgment and
sentence.” Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b).
{¶17} At the December 3, 2019 change of plea hearing, the trial court stated,
“[B]efore I can accept these pleas, I do need to make sure that you are aware of * *
* the potential consequences of what you are doing here.” (Dec. 3, 2019 Tr. at 9).
Additionally, on three separate occasions, the trial court informed Blair that by
entering a “no contest” plea, he was “admitting to the facts as charged” in the bill
of information. (Id. at 9-11, 14). Moreover, the trial court inquired whether Blair
understood that if the trial court accepted his pleas of guilty and no contest and finds
him guilty, “it may proceed immediately with judgment and sentencing * * *.” (Id.
at 11). In response, Blair responded, “Yes.” (Id.). Accordingly, the trial court did
not completely fail to comply with the notification required by Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b).
Thus, Blair is not relieved of his burden to establish prejudice.
{¶18} With respect to whether he was prejudiced, Blair has failed to
establish, or even argue, that he would not have entered his pleas of no contest and
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guilty if not for the trial court’s alleged errors. State v. Montgomery, 3d Dist.
Putnam No. 12-13-11, 2014-Ohio-1789, ¶ 13, citing Nero, 56 Ohio St.3d at 108.
Thus, because the trial court did not completely fail to comply with Crim.R.
11(C)(2)(b) and Blair failed to show prejudice, we find that Blair has failed to
establish that his plea was not made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. See
Dangler, 2020-Ohio-2765, at ¶ 24.
{¶19} Accordingly, Blair’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. II
The trial court abused its discretion and committed reversible
error by over objection description [sic] of the law enforcement
officer’s recollection an interview with the Defendant in lieu of
recording the same, all in violation of Evidence Rule 1002, the so
called best evidence rule.
{¶20} In his second assignment of error, Blair argues that the trial court
committed reversible error by overruling his objections to testimony by Deputy
Brion Hanenkratt (“Deputy Hanenkratt”) regarding Deputy Hanenkratt’s
recollection of two interviews he conducted with Blair. Blair contends that Deputy
Hanenkratt’s testimony violated the best evidence rule.
{¶21} Generally, the admission or exclusion of evidence lies within the trial
court’s discretion, and a reviewing court should not reverse absent an abuse of
discretion and material prejudice. State v. Conway, 109 Ohio St. 3d 412, 2006-
Ohio-2815, ¶ 62, citing State v. Issa, 93 Ohio St.3d 49, 64 (2001). An abuse of
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
discretion implies that the court’s attitude was unreasonable, arbitrary, or
unconscionable. State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157 (1980). “When applying
the abuse of discretion standard, a reviewing court is not free to merely substitute
its judgment for that of the trial court.” In re Jane Doe 1, 57 Ohio St.3d 135, 137-
138 (1991). However, here, we need not engage in ordinary abuse of discretion
review with respect to the admission or exclusion of evidence because Blair entered
a no contest plea.
{¶22} “In general any errors by a trial court concerning the admission or
exclusion of evidence are necessarily harmless when a criminal defendant
subsequently pleads guilty or no contest, since the defendant’s conviction, being
derived from the plea, has not been affected by the trial court’s error.” State v. Gard,
2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25727, 2014-Ohio-531, ¶ 9. “The effect of the ‘no
contest’ plea is to admit the truth of all the factual allegations in the [bill of
information] and to relieve the prosecutor of the burden of proving the defendant
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Baumgartner, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos.
89190, 91207, and 91208, 2009-Ohio-624, ¶ 16.
{¶23} Here, Blair fails to acknowledge the effect his no contest plea had on
his objections to the State’s evidence during trial, and he does not argue that the
alleged violations of the best evidence rule had any effect on his plea. Rather, Blair
argues the trial court’s ruling on his objections to the evidence at issue “was an
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abuse of discretion and certainly effects the information presented to the jury,”
despite the fact that, because he entered a plea of no contest to reckless homicide,
his murder charge was not submitted to the jury. (Appellant’s Brief at 14). Thus,
because Blair entered a no contest plea to the charge of reckless homicide, any error
relating to his objections to the State’s evidence during his trial for murder did not
materially affect his conviction for reckless homicide. See State v. Colburn, 5th
Dist. Fairfield No. 04 CA 44, 2005-Ohio-1111, ¶ 22.
{¶24} Accordingly, Blair’s second assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. III
The conviction herein of reckless of [sic] homicide by way of the
no contest plea of the Defendant must be reversed in that
insufficient evidence in support of the necessary element of the
offense of recklessness be imposed [sic] to negligence or an
accident.
{¶25} In his third assignment of error, Blair argues that the trial court erred
by finding him guilty of reckless homicide following his no contest plea.
Specifically, Blair argues that insufficient evidence exists to support the element of
“recklessness.” We disagree.
{¶26} “An appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at
trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average
mind of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
St.3d 259 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus, superseded by state constitutional
amendment on other grounds, State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89 (1997). Accordingly,
“[t]he relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most
favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. “In deciding if the
evidence was sufficient, we neither resolve evidentiary conflicts nor assess the
credibility of witnesses, as both are functions reserved for the trier of fact.” State v.
Jones, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-120570 and C-120571, 2013-Ohio-4775, ¶ 33,
citing State v. Williams, 197 Ohio App.3d 505, 2011-Ohio-6267, ¶ 25 (1st Dist.).
See also State v. Berry, 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-12-03, 2013-Ohio-2380, ¶ 19
(“Sufficiency of the evidence is a test of adequacy rather than credibility or weight
of the evidence.”), citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386 (1997).
{¶27} Blair was convicted of reckless homicide in violation of R.C.
2903.041(A), which provides that “[n]o person shall recklessly cause the death of
another * * *.” “A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the
consequences, the person disregards the substantial and unjustifiable risk that the
person’s conduct is likely to cause a certain result or is likely to be of a certain
nature.” R.C. 2901.22(C). “A person is reckless with respect to circumstances
when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, the person disregards a
substantial and unjustifiable risk that such circumstances are likely to exist.” Id.-14-
Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
Blair only disputes the sufficiency of the evidence presented at the trial relating to
his mental state at the time of Z.B.’s death, specifically, whether he acted recklessly.
{¶28} However, Blair’s argument is made irrelevant by his no contest plea.
Crim.R. 11(B) provides that a “plea of no contest is not an admission of defendant’s
guilt, but is an admission of the truth of the facts alleged in the indictment.”
Crim.R.11(B). “‘Where the indictment, information or complaint contains
sufficient allegations to state a felony offense and the defendant pleads no contest,
the court must find the defendant guilty of the charged offense.’” (Emphasis sic.)
State v. Hernandez, 3d Dist. Defiance Nos. 4-16-27 and 4-16-28, 2017-Ohio-2797,
¶ 15, quoting State v. Bird, 81 Ohio St.3d 582 (1998), syllabus. “Consequently, ‘by
pleading no contest to the [bill of information] [an] appellant is foreclosed from
challenging the factual merits of the underlying charge.” (Emphasis sic.) Id.,quoting Bird at syllabus. “The language of a [bill of information] is sufficient to
charge an offense if its language mirrors the statute with which the defendant is
charged.” State v. Francis, 3d Dist. Mercer No. 10-08-02, 2008-Ohio-2605, ¶ 11,
citing Bird at 585 and In re Manns, 3d Dist. Hardin No. 6-07-11, 2007-Ohio-6019,
¶ 5.
{¶29} Here, the bill of information stated the following:
“[O]n or about the 20th day of October, 2017, in Paulding County,
Ohio, TRISTEN A. BLAIR did, recklessly cause the death of
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
another, to wit: [Z.B.], in violation of Section 2903.041(A) of the
Ohio Revised Code, and against the peace and dignity of the State of
Ohio, (Reckless homicide) a felony of the third degree.
(Emphasis sic.) (Case No. CR-18-681, Doc. No. 1). Therefore, the language of the
bill of information mirrors the language of the reckless homicide statute, and it was,
accordingly, sufficient to charge the offense. See R.C. 2903.041(A) and Bird at 585.
Thus, by pleading no contest to the bill of information, Blair is foreclosed from
challenging the factual merits of the reckless homicide charge. See Francis at ¶ 11.
{¶30} Further, we note that, at the change of plea hearing, the parties
referenced Blair’s inability to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence in the
following exchange:
[Trial Court]: * * * Just to remind everyone, there were two
(2) pleas in the case. In the Reckless
Homicide case that was brought in the midst
of [the December 18-20, 2018 trial] by the
bill of information, that was a plea of “No
Contest.” In the Burglary charge in the CR-
17-592 case, that was a “Guilty” plea. Are
those the pleas that Mr. Blair would intend to
make at this time?
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[Blair’s Trial Counsel]: Yes, Your Honor.
[Trial Court]: Thank you. * * * [A]ny input at this point
from the State?
[The State]: Your Honor, that is my understanding with
one (1) additional item: the “No Contest”
plea. It’s my understanding that there is
going to be a stipulation as to the need that no
additional testimony is needed as far as a
factual basis.
[Trial Court]: Yes, let’s go ahead and address that as well.
The Reckless Homicide charge was brought
by a bill of information, and that was in the
midst of the jury trial. That bill of
information indicates * * * [:] I, Joseph R.
Burkhard, the Prosecuting Attorney of the
County, say by way of information that, on or
about the 20th day of October, 2017, in
Paulding County, Ohio, Tristen A. Blair did,
recklessly cause the death of another, to wit:
[Z.B.], in violation of Section 2903.041(A) of
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
the Ohio Revised Code, and against the peace
and dignity of the State of Ohio, (Reckless
Homicide) a felony of the third degree.” So
that is what he is admitting to as with the “No
Contest” plea. He has to admit those facts.
[Blair’s Trial Counsel]: Yes, Your Honor. At this time, understanding
the bill of information, we are inclined to do
that.
[Trial Court]: Thank you. Mr. Blair, do you understand
what your attorney is saying on your behalf?
[Blair]: Yes.
(Dec. 3, 2019 Tr. at 8-9). Thus, the transcript of the December 3, 2019 change-of-
plea hearing indicates that not only was Blair aware of the facts he was admitting
by entering a plea of no contest, it also indicates that the parties intended to stipulate
to the fact that the State did not need to present additional evidence related to any
of the elements of the offense.
{¶31} Accordingly, Blair’s third assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. IV
The trial counsel for the Defendant, rendered in effect [sic]
assistance of counsel advised [sic] the Defendant to proceed with
a no contest plea to the reckless homicide charge may preclude
defective [sic] in lieu of the evidence concerning the mental
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capability [the] state [sic] presented insupportably [sic] in
defense.
{¶32} In his fourth assignment of error, Blair argues that he was denied the
right to effective assistance of counsel as provided for by the United States
Constitution and by the Ohio Constitution. Specifically, Blair argues that his trial
counsel failed to inform him that, by entering a no contest plea to the bill of
information charging him with reckless homicide, he was waiving his ability to
challenge the sufficiency of the evidence relating to the offense. For the reasons
that follow, we disagree.
{¶33} “In criminal proceedings, a defendant has the right to effective
assistance of counsel under both the United States and Ohio Constitutions.” State
v. Evick, 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA2019-05-010, 2020-Ohio-3072, ¶ 45. A
defendant asserting a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must establish: (1)
the counsel’s performance was deficient or unreasonable under the circumstances;
and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced the defendant. State v. Kole, 92 Ohio
St.3d 303, 306 (2001), citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct.
2052 (1984). In order to show counsel’s conduct was deficient or unreasonable, the
defendant must overcome the presumption that counsel provided competent
representation and must show that counsel’s actions were not trial strategies
prompted by reasonable professional judgment. Strickland at 689. Counsel is
entitled to a strong presumption that all decisions fall within the wide range of
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
reasonable professional assistance. State v. Sallie, 81 Ohio St.3d 673, 675 (1998).
Tactical or strategic trial decisions, even if unsuccessful, do not generally constitute
ineffective assistance. State v. Frazier, 61 Ohio St.3d 247, 255 (1991). Rather, the
errors complained of must amount to a substantial violation of counsel’s essential
duties to his client. See State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142 (1989), citing
State v. Lytle, 48 Ohio St.2d 391, 396-397 (1976), vacated in part on other grounds,
Ohio v. Lytle, 438 U.S. 910, 98 S.Ct. 3135 (1978).
{¶34} Prejudice results when “‘there is a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.’” Bradley at 142, quoting Strickland at 694. “‘Where a conviction is
based on * * * [a] no contest plea[], the prejudice element requires the defendant to
show that there is reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, he would not
have entered [the] plea.’” State v. Miller, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-16-1029, 2017-
Ohio-670, ¶ 7, quoting State v. Luciano, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-14-023, 2015-
Ohio-1264, ¶ 24, quoting State v. Trevino, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-08-1394, 2009-
Ohio-6983, ¶ 16. See State v. Lett, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 08-MA-84, 2010-Ohio-
4188, ¶ 32; State v. Francis, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2009-T-0015, 2010-Ohio-
2686, ¶ 91 (“[I]n the context of a no contest plea, in asserting a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel, the defendant must demonstrate that, but for his attorney’s
error, he would not have entered his no contest plea and instead would have insisted
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
on going to trial.”), citing State v. Barnett, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2006-P-0117,
2007-Ohio-4954, ¶ 52. “‘A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to
undermine confidence in the outcome.’” Bradley at 142, quoting Strickland at 694.
If the petitioner cannot prove one of the elements, it is “unnecessary for a court to
consider the other prong of the test.” State v. Walker, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-15-
42, 2016-Ohio-3499, ¶ 20.
{¶35} First, we note that facts were not put in the record to support Blair’s
claim that he was unaware of the implications of his no contest plea. “‘It is
impossible to determine whether the attorney was ineffective in his representation
of appellant where the allegations of ineffectiveness are based on facts not appearing
in the record.’” Hernandez, 2017-Ohio-2797, at ¶ 16, quoting State v. Cooperrider,
4 Ohio St.3d 226, 228 (1983). We have previously held that an ineffective
assistance of counsel claim in similar circumstances of a no contest plea is “more
properly reserved for post-conviction petitions and as such cannot sustain an
ineffective assistance of counsel argument on direct appeal.” Id., citing State v.
Rothonbuhler, 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-03-05, 2004-Ohio-2059, ¶ 11-13.
Additionally, as indicated in our discussion of Blair’s third assignment of error, the
record indicates that the parties stipulated that the prosecutor was not required to
present additional evidence relating to any of the elements of reckless homicide and
that Blair was aware of the stipulation. (Dec. 3, 2019 Tr. at 8-9).
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
{¶36} Furthermore, notwithstanding Blair’s assertions that his counsel was
ineffective, Blair has not established that he was prejudiced. Here, Blair argues that
his trial counsel erred by advising him to enter a no contest plea without sufficiently
advising him that entering a plea of no contest may preclude him from challenging
the sufficiency of the evidence relating to his mental culpability.
{¶37} However, in his initial appeal, Blair’s fourth assignment of error was
as follows:
The trial counsel for [Blair] rendered [ineffective assistance] of
counsel in advising [Blair] to proceed with a no contest plea to the
reckless homicide charge which may preclude effective challenge of
the evidence concerning the mental capability the [State] presented to
establish the charge.
State v. Blair, 2019-Ohio-4308, at ¶ 4. This assignment of error was rendered moot
in Blair’s initial appeal because this court remanded the cause to the trial court on
the grounds that his initial plea colloquy was deficient. Id. at ¶ 7-8. However, on
remand, Blair again entered a no contest plea to reckless homicide as charged in the
bill of information. Thus, even if we assume (without deciding) that on December
20, 2018, when Blair entered his initial no contest plea to reckless homicide, he was
unaware of the potential implications his plea could have on his ability to challenge
the sufficiency of the evidence concerning his mental culpability, the fact that he
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Case Nos. 11-20-01 and 11-20-02
raised the issue in his initial appeal demonstrates that he was aware of the potential
implications of his no contest plea when, on remand, he again entered a no contest
plea to the bill of information. Accordingly, because he entered a second no contest
plea after previously raising the same issue on appeal, Blair cannot demonstrate (1)
that he was unaware of the implications his no contest plea could have on his ability
to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence concerning his mental culpability and
(2) that, absent his trial counsel’s alleged error, he would not have entered a no
contest plea to reckless homicide. See State v. James, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-19-
30, 2020-Ohio-720, ¶ 15.
{¶38} Because Blair failed to satisfy his burden of demonstrating that he was
prejudiced by his trial counsel’s alleged errors, we need not consider whether Blair’s
trial counsel’s performance was defective or unreasonable. See Bradley, 42 Ohio
St.3d at 143 (“‘[T]here is no reason for a court deciding an ineffective assistance
claim to * * * address both components of the inquiry if the defendant makes an
insufficient showing on one.’”), quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697.
{¶39} Accordingly, Blair’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶40} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Judgments Affirmed
WILLAMOWSKI, P.J. and ZIMMERMAN, J., concur.
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