State v. Martinez , 2022 Ohio 404 ( 2022 )

[Cite as State v. Martinez, 2022-Ohio-404.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LUCAS COUNTY
State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. L-21-1120
Appellee Trial Court No. CR0201701090
v.
Nicholas Martinez DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Appellant Decided: February 11, 2022
*****
Nicholas Martinez, Pro se.
Julia R. Bates, Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, and
Alyssa Breyman, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
*****
OSOWIK, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Nicholas Martinez, appeals the May 13, 2021
judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, denying his motion to vacate
conviction and sentence after recasting it as a petition for postconviction relief. For the
following reasons, we affirm the trial court judgment.
I. Background
{¶ 2} On January 13, 2017, and February 8, 2017, Nicholas Martinez was indicted
in Lucas County case Nos. CR17-1090 and CR17-1268 in connection with a string of
robberies that occurred in Toledo. Each indictment alleged four counts of aggravated
robbery, violations of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1) and (C), first-degree felonies, along with
firearms specifications as to each count, violations of R.C. 2941.145(A), (B), (C), and
(F). The charges against him were resolved as follows:
Case Count Plea Finding Sentence Consecutive
CR17- 1 Guilty pursuant to Guilty of 3 years on Yes, as to all
1090 North Carolina v. aggravated offense plus 3 other counts in
Alford to offense robbery and years firearms case No. CR17-
and firearms specification specification 1090 and to
specification CR17-1268
2 Guilty pursuant to Guilty of 4 years Yes, as to all
North Carolina v. aggravated other counts in
Alford; firearms robbery only case No. CR17-
specification 1090 and to
nolled prosequi CR17-1268
3 Guilty pursuant to Guilty of 4 years plus 3 Yes, as to all
North Carolina v. aggravated years firearms other counts in
Alford to offense robbery and specification case No. CR17-
and firearms specification 1090 and to
specification CR17-1268
4 Guilty pursuant to Guilty of 5 years plus 3 Yes, as to all
North Carolina v. aggravated years firearms other counts in
Alford to offense robbery and specification case No. CR17-
and firearms specification 1090 and to
specification CR17-1268
CR-17- 1 Guilty pursuant to Guilty of 4 years Yes, as to all
1268 North Carolina v. aggravated counts in case
Alford; firearms robbery only No. CR17-1090
specification
nolle prosequi
2.
2 Nolle prosequi
3 Nolle prosequi
4 Nolle prosequi
{¶ 3} Martinez’s convictions and sentence were memorialized in a sentencing
entry journalized on August 31, 2017. His aggregate sentence totaled 29 years.
{¶ 4} Martinez appealed the August 31, 2017 judgment, challenging the trial
court’s sentence on the basis that it imposed consecutive sentences without making the
necessary findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). We found that the trial court made the
required findings at Martinez’s sentencing hearing, but failed to incorporate those
findings in its sentencing entry. State v. Martinez, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-17-1290, 2019-
Ohio-305. We remanded the matter so that the court could issue a nunc pro tunc entry
incorporating the findings stated on the record. The docket reflects that the trial court
recently entered this nunc pro tunc entry on January 14, 2022.
{¶ 5} On June 14, 2019, Martinez filed a pro se motion to vacate his convictions
and sentences. He claimed that he “only agreed to enter a [sic] Alford pleas [sic] of guilty
to the lesser offense(s) for the four counts of Agg. Robbery: yet, the trial court convicted
and sentenced him as though he had pled guilty to four counts of Agg. Robbery.” He
based his argument on the language contained in the August 30, 2017 judgment entry in
case No. CR17-1090, indicating that he entered a plea of guilty to lesser offenses:
The Court finds on August 9, 2017 the defendant entered a plea of
guilty pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford to the lesser offense and was
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found guilty by the Court of Aggravated Robbery, Count One, a violation
of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1) & (C) with the firearm specification in violation of
R.C. 2941.145, a felony of the first degree, the defendant entered a plea of
guilty pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford to lesser offense of Aggravated
Robbery and was found guilty by the Court of Aggravated Robbery, Count
Two, in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1) & (C), a felony of the first degree,
the defendant entered a plea of guilty pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford
to lesser offense of Aggravated Robbery, Count Three, in violation of R.C.
2911.01(A)(1) & (C) with the firearm specification in violation of R.C.
2941.145, a felony of the first degree, the defendant entered a plea of guilty
pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford to lesser offense of Aggravated
Robbery, Count Four, in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1) & (C) with the
firearm specification in violation of R.C. 2941.145, a felony of the first
degree. (Emphasis added.)
He contrasted this judgment to the one entered in case No. CR17-1268, which did not
contain the lesser-offense language.
{¶ 6} Martinez also pointed to his plea agreement, stating that “By this plea I DO
NOT admit committing the offense, but I enter this plea only to avoid the risk of
conviction on a more serious offense if I went to trial on the original charge and the
possibility of a higher penalty as a result.” (Emphasis in original.) He contended that
4.
within the category of theft, there can be no more serious offense than aggravated
robbery, thus no higher penalty was possible. He maintained that his plea was invalid.
{¶ 7} According to Martinez, “the exact lesser included offense(s) of the
Aggravated Robbery charges were to be determined after the State’s and Court’s review
of Martinez’s presentence investigative report (PSI).” He also maintained that a
mandatory five-year term of post-release control could not be imposed because he did not
plead to first-degree felonies. He claimed that his convictions and sentences in case No.
CR17-1090 must be declared a nullity.
{¶ 8} The state moved for summary judgment or dismissal of Martinez’s motion.
It argued that Martinez’s motion is, in substance, a petition for postconviction relief, is
untimely under R.C. 2953.21(A)(2), and fails to meet the statutory exceptions for a late
petition set forth in R.C. 2953.23(A). It also argued that Martinez’s claims are
unsupported by the record and are barred by res judicata because they could have been
raised in his direct appeal. The state maintained that the trial court properly accepted
Martinez’s plea under Crim.R. 11, and it insisted that the trial court properly sentenced
Martinez based on his convictions.
{¶ 9} In an opinion and judgment journalized on May 13, 2021, the trial court
denied Martinez’s motion. It began by explaining that while captioned as a motion to
vacate, in substance, Martinez’s motion was a petition for postconviction relief and must
be construed as such. It found that the petition was untimely under R.C.
5.
2953.21(A)(2)(a) because it was not filed within 365 days of the trial transcript being
filed with this court in his direct appeal, and Martinez did not show that the exceptions
under R.C. 2953.23(A) apply to excuse his untimeliness. The court observed that the
plea forms clearly state that he was entering pleas to aggravated robbery, and the court
confirmed Martinez’s understanding of the pleas he was entering.
{¶ 10} Martinez appealed. He assigns the following errors for our review:
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT RECAST
APPELLANT’S MOTION TO VACATE CONVICTIONS AND
SENTENCES INTO A POSTCONVICTION PETITION.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER TWO:
TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN FAILED
[sic] TO CORRECT THE CONVICTION AND SENTENCES WHEN
INFORMED OF THE DIFFERENCES.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER THREE:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FOUND THAT
APPELLANT’S JUDGMENT REGARDING THE AGGRAVATED
ROBBERY WERE NOT VOID.
6.
II. Law and Analysis
{¶ 11} In his first assignment of error, Martinez challenges the trial court’s
decision to treat his motion to vacate as a petition for postconviction relief. He claims in
his second assignment of error that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to
correct his convictions and sentences after Martinez brought to the court’s attention that
errors were made. And in his third assignment of error, he argues that the trial court
erred in finding that his judgment of conviction was not void.
A. Martinez’s motion was properly recast as
a petition for postconviction relief.
{¶ 12} In his first assignment of error, Martinez argues that the trial court erred
when it recast his motion to vacate sentence as a petition for postconviction relief.
Martinez acknowledges that irregular motions are often “recast into whatever category
necessary to identify and establish the criteria by which the motion should be judged,”
and that in some instances, courts have treated motions to correct an illegal or void
sentence as petitions for postconviction relief. He claims, however, that language in
various court decisions “may suggest that the time frames and requirements for filing a
postconviction petition do not apply when the assertion is that the sentence is void.” And
here, he contends, his motion to vacate is premised on statutory law, not constitutional
violations. He also asserts that he has asked only to correct his judgment—which he
maintains is governed by App.R. 9(E)—and not to vacate it.
7.
{¶ 13} The state responds that Martinez’s motion specifically requested the trial
court to vacate his void convictions and sentences, and in his third assignment of error, he
asserts that the trial court should have held that his conviction was void for lack of
subject-matter jurisdiction. The state points out that Martinez has cited to App.R. 9(E)
for the first time on appeal—he did not raise this argument in the trial court—and it
emphasizes that while Martinez now argues that his motion was based on statutory law,
he argues in his appeal brief that he did not “knowing[ly], voluntary[ily], and intelligently
plead guilty1 to aggravated robbery”—a challenge to the constitutionality of the plea.2
The state insists that Martinez’s motion is in fact a petition for postconviction relief
because it was (1) filed after his direct appeal, (2) claimed that his constitutional rights
had been violated, (3) sought to render the judgment void, and (4) asked the trial court to
vacate his convictions and sentences.
{¶ 14} As Martinez acknowledges, it is well-established that “‘[c]ourts may recast
irregular motions into whatever category necessary to identify and establish the criteria
by which the motion should be judged.’” State v. Parker, 157 Ohio St.3d 460, 2019-
Ohio-3848, 137 N.E.3d 1151, ¶ 16, quoting State v. Schlee, 117 Ohio St.3d 153, 2008-
Ohio-545, 882 N.E.2d 431, ¶ 12. To that end, the Ohio Supreme Court has held that
“pursuant to R.C. 2953.21(A)(1), ‘where a criminal defendant, subsequent to his or her
1
We note that Martinez has not sought to withdraw his plea.
2
Martinez also specifically claimed that he was denied due process, rendering his
conviction void.
8.
direct appeal, files a motion seeking vacation or correction of his or her sentence on the
basis that his or her constitutional rights have been violated, such a motion is a petition
for postconviction relief as defined in R.C. 2953.21.’” Id., quoting State v. Reynolds, 79
Ohio St.3d 158, 160, 679 N.E.2d 1131 (1997).
{¶ 15} Here, Martinez’s motion was (1) filed after his direct appeal, (2) claimed
that his constitutional rights had been violated, (3) sought to render the judgment void,
and (4) asked the trial court to vacate his convictions and sentences. The arguments
made in Martinez’s motion and in his appeal brief belie any contention that this motion is
anything but a petition for postconviction relief. We, therefore, agree with the state and
conclude that the trial court properly recast Martinez’s motion as a petition for
postconviction relief.
{¶ 16} We find Martinez’s first assignment of error not well-taken.
B. Martinez’s petition was untimely and
his challenge is barred by res judicata.
{¶ 17} In his second assignment of error, Martinez argues that the trial court
abused its discretion when it failed to correct his conviction and sentence. The trial court
did not reach the merits of Martinez’s motion because it concluded that Martinez’s
motion, in substance, was a petition for postconviction relief that was not timely filed.
Therefore, the court held, it was not permitted to consider Martinez’s motion.
{¶ 18} Under R.C. 2953.21(A)(1)(a)(i),a petition for postconviction relief must be
filed “no later than three hundred sixty-five days after the date on which the trial
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transcript is filed in the court of appeals in the direct appeal of the judgment of conviction
* * *,” except as provided in R.C. 2953.23. Here, the transcripts in the direct appeal were
filed on March 20, 2018. Martinez’s petition was not filed until June 14, 2019—more
than 365 days after the transcripts were filed. His petition was, therefore, untimely.
{¶ 19} Under 2953.23, a court may not entertain an untimely petition unless R.C.
2953.23(A)(1) (or R.C. 2953.23(A)(2), which is not applicable here) applies. R.C.
2953.23(A)(1) permits a court to entertain a petition filed after the 365-day deadline set
forth in R.C. 2953.21(A)(1)(a)(i) under the following circumstances:
(a) Either the petitioner shows that the petitioner was unavoidably
prevented from discovery of the facts upon which the petitioner must rely
to present the claim for relief, or, subsequent to the period prescribed in
division (A)(2) of section 2953.21 of the Revised Code or to the filing of an
earlier petition, the United States Supreme Court recognized a new federal
or state right that applies retroactively to persons in the petitioner’s
situation, and the petition asserts a claim based on that right. [and]
(b) The petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but
for constitutional error at trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found
the petitioner guilty of the offense of which the petitioner was convicted or,
if the claim challenges a sentence of death that, but for constitutional error
10.
at the sentencing hearing, no reasonable factfinder would have found the
petitioner eligible for the death sentence.
{¶ 20} Martinez has not argued that he was unavoidably prevented from discovery
of the facts upon which he must rely to present the claim for relief, or that the United
States Supreme Court has recognized a new federal or state right that applies
retroactively to persons in his situation, and the petition asserts a claim based on that
right. R.C. 2953.21(A) is, therefore, inapplicable. Martinez’s petition was untimely, thus
the trial court lacked statutory authority to grant his untimely request for postconviction
relief. Parker, 157 Ohio St.3d 460, 2019-Ohio-3848, 137 N.E.3d 1151, at ¶ 22.
{¶ 21} Even if Martinez’s petition was not untimely, we find that his arguments
would nevertheless fail because they are barred by the doctrine of res judicata. The
doctrine of res judicata precludes any defense or any claimed lack of due process that was
raised or could have been raised on an appeal from a judgment. State v. Stevens, 6th Dist.
Lucas No. L-06-1128, 2006-Ohio-5358, ¶ 9. It applies to “‘any proceeding’ initiated
after a final judgment of conviction and direct appeal,” including postconviction
motions. State v. Reznickcheck, 6th Dist. Lucas Nos. L-04-1029, 2004-Ohio-4801, ¶ 13,
quoting State v. Gaston, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga App. No. 82628, 2003-Ohio-5825, ¶ 8. Res
judicata prevents a criminal defendant from repeatedly attacking a final judgment based
on issues that were raised or could have been raised previously. (Citations omitted.) Id.
11.
{¶ 22} Here, the challenges Martinez raises could have been raised on direct
appeal. His arguments are, therefore, barred by the doctrine of res judicata. Accordingly,
we find his second assignment of error not well-taken. Given our resolution of
Martinez’s first and second assignments of error, we deny his third assignment error as
moot.
III. Conclusion
{¶ 23} The trial court properly recast Martinez’s motion to vacate conviction and
sentence as a petition for postconviction relief. We, therefore, find his first assignment of
error not well-taken. Because Martinez did not file his motion within 365 days of the
transcripts being filed in his direct appeal and did not show that the exceptions under
R.C. 2953.23(A) apply to excuse his untimeliness, the trial court lacked authority to
consider it. Moreover, his arguments are barred by the doctrine of res judicata. We,
therefore, find his second assignment of error not well-taken. And given our resolution
of his first and second assignments of error, we deny his third assignment of error as
moot.
{¶ 24} We affirm the May 13, 2021 judgment of the Lucas County Court of
Common Pleas. Martinez is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal under App.R. 24.
Judgment affirmed.
12.
State of Ohio
v. Nicholas Martinez
Case No. L-21-1120
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. ____________________________
JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
____________________________
Myron C. Duhart, P.J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
____________________________
JUDGE
This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.
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