State v. Fonseca , 2016 Ohio 7348 ( 2016 )

[Cite as State v. Fonseca, 2016-Ohio-7348.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
HENRY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 7-16-04
v.
TONY FONSECA, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Henry County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 15CR0042
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: October 17, 2016
APPEARANCES:
Todd B. Guelde for Appellant
Case No. 7-16-04
PRESTON, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Tony Fonseca (“Fonseca”), appeals the February
4, 2016 judgment entry of sentence of the Henry County Court of Common Pleas.
For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
{¶2} This case stems from an incident on April 20, 2015 in which Fonseca
threatened Charles Schroeder (“Schroeder”) because Schroeder reported to law
enforcement in November 2014 that he observed suspicious activity at Fonseca’s
house. Schroeder was hired by Fonseca’s landlord to provide masonry-repair work
at the house. Schroeder reported to law enforcement that, while he was working at
the house, he observed a lot of traffic coming and going from the house, and that
marijuana and cat-urine odors were coming from the house.
{¶3} On May 7, 2015, the Henry County Grand Jury indicted Fonseca on one
count of intimidation of a witness in a criminal case in violation of R.C.
2921.04(B)(2), a third-degree felony. (Doc. No. 1).
{¶4} On May 29, 2015, Fonseca appeared for arraignment and entered a plea
of not guilty. (Doc. No. 11).
{¶5} The case proceeded to a jury trial on January 4-5, 2016. (Doc. No. 19).
The jury found Fonseca guilty as to the count in the indictment. (Doc. Nos. 19, 21);
(Jan. 4-5, 2016 Tr. at 234). The trial court filed its judgment entry of conviction on
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January 5, 2016. (Doc. No. 19). On February 4, 2016 the trial court sentenced
Fonseca to 36 months in prison. (Doc. No. 23); (Feb. 4, 2016 Tr. at 11).
{¶6} On February 23, 2016, Fonseca filed his notice of appeal.1 (Doc. No.
25). He raises two assignments of error for our review.
Assignment of Error No. I
Appellant’s Conviction Was Not Supported by Sufficient
Evidence and the Trial Court Erred When it Denied Appellant’s
Motion for Acquittal.
{¶7} In his first assignment of error, Fonseca argues that the trial court erred
by overruling his Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal. Specifically, Fonseca argues that
his intimidation-of-a-witness-in-a-criminal-case conviction is based on insufficient
evidence—namely, that there is insufficient evidence that the witness was a witness
as defined by the statute.
{¶8} “Under Crim.R. 29(A), a court shall not order an entry of judgment of
acquittal if the evidence is such that reasonable minds can reach different
conclusions as to whether each material element of a crime has been proved beyond
a reasonable doubt.” State v. Tatum, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-10-18, 2011-Ohio-
3005, ¶ 43, citing State v. Bridgeman, 55 Ohio St.2d 261, 263 (1978). “A motion
1
The State failed to file an appellee’s brief in this case. As such, “in determining the appeal, this court may
accept [Fonseca’s] statement of the facts and issues as correct and reverse the judgment if his appellate brief
reasonably appears to sustain such action.” State v. Kleinhans, 7th Dist. Noble No. 14 NO 425, 2015-Ohio-
5007, ¶ 10, citing App.R. 18(C).
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for acquittal tests the sufficiency of the evidence.” Id., citing State v. Miley, 114
Ohio App.3d 738, 742 (4th Dist.1996).
{¶9} “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
St.3d 259 (1981), paragraph two of the syllabus, superseded by state constitutional
amendment on other grounds, State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89 (1997), fn. 4.
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).
{¶10} The criminal offense of intimidation of a witness in a criminal case is
codified in R.C. 2921.04, which provides, in relevant part:
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No person, knowingly and by force or by unlawful threat of harm to
any person * * * or by unlawful threat to commit any offense or
calumny against any person, shall attempt to influence, intimidate, or
hinder any of the following persons:
***
(2) A witness to a criminal * * * act by reason of the person being a
witness to that act.
R.C. 2921.04(B)(2).
{¶11} Because it is the only element that Fonseca challenges on appeal, we
will address only whether the State presented sufficient evidence that the victim-
witness, Charles Schroeder (“Schroeder”), is a witness as defined under the statute.
The statute defines a “witness” as “any person who has or claims to have knowledge
concerning a fact or facts concerning a criminal * * * act, whether or not criminal *
* * charges are actually filed.” R.C. 2921.04(E).2
{¶12} Fonseca argues that the State failed to prove that Schroeder “possessed
or claimed to possesses [sic] knowledge concerning a criminal act.” (Appellant’s
Brief at 7). More specifically, Fonseca argues that Schroeder did not have
2
R.C. 2921.04 was amended in 2012 to add the definition of a witness. 2012 Sub.H.B. 20, 2012 Ohio Laws,
File 83. See also State v. Davis, 132 Ohio St.3d 25, 2012-Ohio-1654, fn.1 (acknowledging the General
Assembly’s amendment of R.C. 2921.04 broadened the definition of a “witness” under the statute).
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knowledge of a criminal act because Schroeder was not trained in detecting the odor
of marijuana.
{¶13} In support of his argument, Fonseca relies on State v. Shuttlesworth in
which this court affirmed the trial court’s suppression of marijuana evidence seized
as part of a probable-cause search of Shuttlesworth. 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-14-13,
2014-Ohio-5206. In that case, the trial court did not find the arresting officer’s
“testimony regarding his olfactory detection of raw marijuana on Shuttleworth’s
person” credible despite that the arresting officer “was qualified and experienced in
the detection and identification of the odor of raw marijuana in general[.]” Id. at ¶
24. In this case, Fonseca argues that, since the arresting officer’s testimony in
Shuttlesworth, which was based on his qualification and experience in detecting the
odor of marijuana, was not credible to form the basis for the probable-cause search,
“there was insufficient evidence presented as to Schroeder being a ‘witness’ as
defined in R.C. 2921.04(E).” (Appellant’s Brief at 9). That is, he argues there is
“not sufficient evidence to support that Schroeder had knowledge of a ‘criminal
act’” since “[p]ermitting a lay person’s belief as to a particular smell of an illegal
drug should not constitute sufficient evidence of a criminal act.” (Id.).
{¶14} Fonseca’s argument is erroneous. The State presented sufficient
evidence that Schroeder is a witness as defined under R.C. 2921.04(E). That is,
based on the testimony presented at trial, a rational juror, could conclude that
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Schroeder had knowledge concerning facts concerning a criminal act—namely,
knowledge of facts concerning drug-related activity—making him a witness as
defined by R.C. 2921.04(E). See State v. Brent, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 14AP-5246,
2014-Ohio-5246, ¶ 16.
{¶15} Schroeder testified that he was performing masonry-repair work in
November 2014 at a residence located at 327 East Clinton Street, Napoleon, Ohio
and observed suspicious activity. (Jan. 4-5, 2016 Tr. at 114-115). In particular, he
reported to law enforcement that he “was able to smell dope coming out of the
house, basically that there was a lot of traffic coming and going at the residence.”
(Id. at 115). He also reported that he smelled the odor of cat urine. (Id. at 115-116).
Schroeder testified that he saw the occupants of the residence while he was working
there, including Fonseca. (Id. at 116). Schroeder testified that, on April 20, 2015,
he was again at the residence and Fonseca made threatening statements to him
regarding his report to law enforcement. (Id. at 118-120). In particular, Schroeder
testified that Fonseca said “he heard that [Schroeder] had said some foul shit to the
cops, told them that [Fonseca’s] house smelled like cat piss and dope and * * * went
on to say that if [Schroeder] had something to say then [he] should step into the
street right now and we can deal with this[.]” (Id. at 119). He further testified that
Fonseca threatened that Schroeder “pissed a lot of people off, now he knows who
[Schroeder is] and [he is] going to get [his].” (Id.).
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{¶16} Detective Jamie Mendez (“Detective Mendez”) of the Napoleon
Police Department testified that he obtained a search warrant for the residence based
on Schroeder’s report. (Id. at 64-66, 68). Detective Mendez testified that the
affidavit on which the search warrant is based states,
On November 5th, 2014 this officer spoke with two individuals who
had been at the property located at 327 E. Clinton Street, Napoleon,
Ohio. On multiple occasions during the past week these individuals
provided their names and addresses to the police department however
they did not want to be identified in any reports or requests for search
warrants out of fear for their safety. These individuals stated that
during the time they were at the subjects [sic] property they observed
constant, vehicle, bicycle and foot traffic at the residence. They
described the traffic _______ [sic] that people would come to the
property, enter the residence and then leave several minutes later.
These individuals stated that they were able to smell a strong odor
coming from inside the residence that they recognize as marijuana.
These individuals also described an occasion which they noted a
strong odor coming from the residence that they described as a smell
of cat urine…[sic]
(Id. at 68).
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{¶17} Schroeder’s report to law enforcement of his observations at the
Clinton Street residence constitutes knowledge concerning facts concerning a
criminal act. See Brent, 2014-Ohio-5246, at ¶ 14 (concluding that the victim-
witness was a witness as defined by R.C. 2921.04(E) because the evidence presented
at trial demonstrated that she “had knowledge of facts about [a homicide] case” even
though she did not witness the homicide itself). That is, Schroeder’s report that he
observed “a lot of traffic coming and going at the residence” along with his
observation of the marijuana and cat-urine odors coming from that residence is
knowledge concerning facts concerning drug-related activity. (Jan. 4-5, 2015 Tr. at
115-116). See State v. Gartrell, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-14-02, 2014-Ohio-5203,
(noting that the smell of marijuana coupled with “other evidence” of drug activity
can serve as probable cause of illegal activity), citing State v. Price, 6th Dist.
Sandusky No. S-11-037, 2013-Ohio-130, ¶ 19 and State v. Franklin, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 99806, 2014-Ohio-1422, ¶ 24. See also State v. O’Neal, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 12593, 1991 WL 261676, *2 (Dec. 10, 1991) (noting that “heavy
foot traffic is indicative of drug activity”); State v. Cobb, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2003-
CA-00412, 2004-Ohio-4944, ¶ 2 (noting that “foot traffic in the area was indicative
of drug trafficking”); State v. Gale, 105 Or.App. 489, 495, 805 P.2d 158 (1991)
(noting that “chemicals used in manufacturing methamphetamine have a strong
odor, often described as similar to cat urine”); State v. Cardwell, 119 Wash.App.
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1051 (2003) (noting that the odor of cat urine is associated with methamphetamine
labs).
{¶18} Moreover, a rational trier of fact could conclude that Schroeder had
knowledge concerning facts concerning a criminal act involving Fonsenca based on
Schroeder’s testimony that Fonseca threatened him because of Schroeder’s report
to law enforcement. See Brent at ¶ 15-16 (concluding that evidence that the victim-
witness was attacked “because of what she knew about [the] case” is evidence of
knowledge concerning facts concerning a criminal act). That Schroeder did not
witness the criminal act does not preclude him from being a witness as defined by
R.C. 2921.04(E). See State v. Fox, 5th Dist. Licking No. 13-CA-71, 2014-Ohio-
1652, ¶ 31 (“Appellant maintains he could not be convicted of intimidation of a
witness because Spires was not a witness to the alleged offense as she did not see
what occurred between himself and A.M. Appellant’s assertion has no merit.”).
{¶19} Accordingly, a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a
reasonable doubt that Schroeder was a witness as defined under R.C. 2921.04(E).
Therefore, a rational trier of fact could have found that Fonseca is guilty of
intimidating a witness in a criminal case. See Brent at ¶ 16. As such, the trial court
did not err in denying Fonseca’s Crim.R. 29 motion.
{¶20} Fonseca’s first assignment of error is overruled.
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Assignment of Error No. II
The Trial Court’s Sentence of a Maximum Prison Term Was
Unreasonable and Unconscionable.
{¶21} In his second assignment of error, Fonseca argues that his maximum
prison term is unconscionable. In particular, he argues “that there is not a particular
factor in R.C. 2929.12(B) that makes [his] conduct more serious than conduct
normally constituting the offense.” (Appellant’s Brief at 9).
{¶22} Under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), an appellate court will reverse a sentence
“only if it determines by clear and convincing evidence that the record does not
support the trial court’s findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence is
otherwise contrary to law.” State v. Marcum, ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2016-Ohio-1002,
¶ 1. 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.’” Id.
at ¶ 22, quoting Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469 (1954), paragraph three of the
syllabus.
{¶23} “It is well-established that the statutes governing felony sentencing no
longer require the trial court to make certain findings before imposing a maximum
sentence.” State v. Maggette, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-16-06, 2016-Ohio-5554, ¶ 29,
citing State v. Dixon, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2015-CA-67, 2016-Ohio-2882, ¶ 14
(“Unlike consecutive sentences, the trial court was not required to make any
particular ‘findings’ to justify maximum prison sentences.”) and State v. Hinton, 8th
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Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102710, 2015-Ohio-4907, ¶ 9 (The law no longer requires the
trial court to make certain findings before imposing a maximum sentence.). Rather,
“‘trial courts have full discretion to impose any sentence within the statutory
range.’” State v. Smith, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-15-17, 2015-Ohio-4225, ¶ 10,
quoting State v. Noble, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-14-06, 2014-Ohio-5485, ¶ 9, citing
State v. Saldana, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-12-09, 2013-Ohio-1122, ¶ 20. As a third-
degree felony, intimidation of a witness in a criminal case carries a non-mandatory
sanction of 9 to 36 months imprisonment. R.C. 2921.04(D); R.C. 2929.13(C); R.C.
2929.14(A)(3)(b). Because the trial court sentenced Fonseca to 36 months in prison,
the trial court’s sentence falls within the statutory range. “[A] sentence imposed
within the statutory range is ‘presumptively valid’ if the [trial] court considered
applicable sentencing factors.” Maggette at ¶ 31, quoting State v. Collier, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 95572, 2011-Ohio-2791, ¶ 15.
{¶24} “R.C. 2929.11 provides, in pertinent part, that the ‘overriding purposes
of felony sentencing are to protect the public from future crime and to punish the
offender.’” Smith at ¶ 10, quoting R.C. 2929.11(A). “In advancing these purposes,
sentencing courts are instructed to ‘consider the need for incapacitating the offender,
deterring the offender and others from future crime, rehabilitating the offender, and
making restitution to the victim of the offense, the public, or both.’” Id., quoting
R.C. 2929.11(A). “Meanwhile, R.C. 2929.11(B) states that felony sentences must
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be ‘commensurate with and not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender’s
conduct and its impact upon the victim’ and also be consistent with sentences
imposed in similar cases.” Id., quoting R.C. 2929.11(B). “In accordance with these
principles, the trial court must consider the factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12(B)-(E)
relating to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and the likelihood of the
offender’s recidivism.” Id., citing R.C. 2929.12(A). “‘A sentencing court has broad
discretion to determine the relative weight to assign the sentencing factors in R.C.
2929.12.” Id. at ¶ 15, quoting State v. Brimacombe, 195 Ohio App.3d 524, 2011-
Ohio-5032, ¶ 18 (6th Dist.), citing State v. Arnett, 88 Ohio St.3d 208, 215 (2000).
{¶25} “Although the trial court must consider the purposes and principles of
felony sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the sentencing factors listed in R.C.
2929.12, the sentencing court is not required to ‘state on the record that it considered
the statutory criteria or discuss[ed] them.’” Maggette at ¶ 32, quoting State v.
Polick, 101 Ohio App.3d 428, 431 (4th Dist.1995). “A trial court’s statement that
it considered the required statutory factors, without more, is sufficient to fulfill its
obligations under the sentencing statutes.” Id., citing State v. Abrams, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 103786, 2016-Ohio-4570, citing State v. Payne, 114 Ohio St.3d 502,
2007-Ohio-4642, ¶ 18. At Fonseca’s sentencing hearing and in its sentencing entry,
the trial court considered the R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 factors. (Feb. 4, 2016 Tr.
at 10-11); (Doc. No. 19).
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{¶26} In particular, in addressing the seriousness of Fonseca’s conduct, the
trial court concluded that Fonseca’s “conduct is more serious than conduct normally
constituting the offense” because society has an interest in encouraging the public
to report suspected illegal activity to law enforcement and Fonseca’s conduct in
threatening Schroeder undermines that purpose—namely, the fear of retribution
would undermine or prevent people from reporting suspected illegal activity and
thwart the government’s ability to effectively prosecute criminal offenses. (Feb. 4,
2016 Tr. at 11). The trial court did not find any factors under R.C. 2929.12(C)
indicating that Fonseca’s conduct is less serious than conduct normally constituting
the offense. (See Feb. 4, 2016 Tr. at 10-11). In assessing whether Fonseca was
likely to commit future crimes, the trial court weighed against Fonseca his prior
record and his lack of remorse. (Id. at 11). See also R.C. 2929.12(D)(2), (5). The
trial court did not find any factors indicating that Fonseca is likely to commit future
crimes under R.C. 2929.12(E).
{¶27} On appeal, Fonseca appears to argue that the trial court abused its
discretion in weighing the R.C. 2929.12 factors to sentence Fonseca to a maximum
term of imprisonment. In particular, he challenges the trial court’s conclusion that
Fonseca’s conduct was more serious than conduct normally constituting
intimidation of a witness in a criminal case because none of the particular factors
codified under R.C. 2929.12 applied indicating that Fonseca’s conduct was more
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serious than the conduct that normally constitutes that offense. Fonseca’s argument
is meritless because he disregards the language of the statute which states, “The
sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply regarding the offender,
the offense, or the victim, and any other relevant factors, as indicating that the
offender’s conduct is more serious than conduct normally constituting the offense.”
(Emphasis added.) R.C. 2929.12(B).
{¶28} Nonetheless, even if we assume that the trial court erroneously
considered Fonseca’s conduct to be more serious than conduct normally constituting
intimidation of a witness in a criminal case, the trial court did not err in sentencing
Fonseca to prison. Indeed, the trial court concluded that Fonseca is likely to commit
future crimes based on his prior record and lack of remorse. See R.C. 2929.12(D).
The trial court’s conclusion that Fonseca is likely to commit future crimes is clearly
and convincingly supported by the record. The trial court’s presentence
investigation (“PSI”) report includes five pages detailing Fonseca’s prior record.
(PSI at 6-11). Moreover, the PSI report reflects that Fonseca committed, and was
convicted of, crimes after he committed the offense underlying this appeal. (PSI at
10-11).
{¶29} Likewise, at Fonseca’s sentencing hearing, Fonseca asserted that
Schroeder lied in his testimony at trial. (Feb. 4, 2016 Tr. at 7-8). In particular,
Fonseca proclaimed,
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You know, if anybody noticed [Schroeder’s] whole testimony of what
I said flowed just nice until he said those words, [you better watch
your back; you’re going to get yours], those words didn’t even sound
like me, they sounded like his words, or coached words[.]
(Id. at 8). Fonseca continued,
I will say that I know I was a little out of line in coming at them guys
that way Your Honor, but I didn’t come at them talking out of the side
of my neck saying you’re going to get yours. I asked them, do you
have anything to say to me personally? And when he didn’t Your
Honor, I got in my car and left.
***
I really feel I should have just took the disorderly conduct deal
because that’s, but the reason I didn’t take it was because I don’t feel
I threatened these guys, and I didn’t Your Honor, I just asked them
what their problem was and how come they would make up lies like
that.
(Id. at 8-9). Fonseca further asserted to the trial court that Schroeder “lied” to law
enforcement because he was angry with Fonseca because “a couple of [his] friends
stepped on [Schroeder’s] fresh brick.” (Id. at 9). Fonseca said, “I know that it
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stemmed from there because the very next day there, but I apologized and said I did
not know my friends were going to step on your bricks like that guys.” (Id.).
{¶30} Further, Fonseca’s PSI report details a pattern of a lack of remorse for
his crimes. Under the heading “Defendant’s Version,” Fonseca responded to “the
PSI Questionnaire,”
“I confronted the guys who said lies about my family and me, I asked
them what their problem was lieing [sic] about my family-They said
I threatened them. But I did NOT! * * * I really feel I was done
injustice because all I did was ask why they said lies about me and my
family. There was no future testamony [sic] from these guys, so I
couldn’t have made future threats.”
(Emphasis sic.) (PSI at 5). The PSI report also states,
In [Fonseca’s] 2010 PSI, the writer noted, “The offender’s attitude
was terrible as he blamed everyone except himself.” The undersigned
can say that [Fonseca’s] attitude has not changed a bit as some of his
convictions from twenty years ago were explained away as not his
fault. [Fonseca] has never shown an attitude that would allow him to
successfully complete community control.
(PSI at 17). In addition, the PSI report reflects that the “[o]ffense was committed
while under probation, community control sanction, bond or personal
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recognizance” and that Fonseca was “out on bail before trial or sentencing, under
felony Court sanction, or under post-release control, or parole when offense was
committed.” (Emphasis sic.) (PSI at 19-20).
{¶31} Therefore, the record clearly and convincingly supports the trial
court’s conclusion that Fonseca is likely to commit future crimes. As such, it was
within the trial court’s discretion to conclude that the imposition of a prison sentence
is “the most effective way to comply with the purposes and principles of sentencing
set forth in section 2929.11 of the Revised Code.” R.C. 2929.12(A). See also R.C.
2929.13(C) (“in determining whether to impose a prison term as a sanction for a
felony of the third degree * * * the sentencing court shall comply with the purposes
and principles of sentencing under section 2929.11 of the Revised Code and with
section 2929.12 of the Revised Code”).
{¶32} Accordingly, we will not reverse Fonseca’s sentence because it is
within the permissible statutory range, the trial court properly considered the criteria
found in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12, and the record clearly and convincingly
supports the trial court’s findings under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. See Maggette,
2016-Ohio-5554, at ¶ 36.
{¶33} Fonseca’s second assignment of error is overruled.
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{¶34} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
SHAW, P.J., concurs.
ROGERS, J., concurs in Judgment Only.
/jlr
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