State v. Taylor , 158 Ohio App. 3d 597 ( 2004 )

{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Scott R. Taylor ("Taylor"), appeals from the decision of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, imposing consecutive sentences for two counts of receiving stolen property. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

{¶ 2} On June 18, 2003, Taylor was indicted by the Lake County Grand Jury for one count of failure to comply with order or signal of police officer, a third degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2921.331(B), and two counts of receiving stolen property, the first a fourth degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A), and the second count, a fifth degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A). The charges arose from a May 17, 2003 incident in which Taylor led police on a ten mile chase, causing injury to a police officer and property damage, while operating a stolen vehicle with stolen license plates.

{¶ 3} On June 19, 2003, Taylor waived his right to be present at the arraignment and the trial court entered not guilty pleas on his behalf. On July 31, 2003, Taylor appeared in court and opted to change his plea to guilty as charged on all counts. After accepting Taylor's pleas, the matter was referred to the Lake County Adult Probation Department for a presentence investigation report, a drug and alcohol evaluation, and a psychiatric evaluation.

{¶ 4} On September 3, 2003, Taylor appeared for his sentencing hearing. The trial court sentenced Taylor to three years for the failure to comply conviction, to be served consecutively with the other convictions as required by R.C. 2921.331(B). The trial court additionally sentenced Taylor to serve seventeen months and eleven months, respectively, for the receiving stolen property convictions, to be served consecutively, for an aggregate prison term of five years and four months. This timely appeal followed, wherein Taylor asserts a single assignment of error:

{¶ 5} "The trial court erred to the prejudice of the defendant-appellant when it ordered consecutive sentences on counts two and three."

{¶ 6} Specifically, Taylor asserts that the trial court misapplied the consecutive sentencing factors contained in R.C. 2929.14(E)(4) by failing to account for various factors that mitigate against imposing consecutive sentences.

{¶ 7} Since Taylor's assignment of error challenges the propriety of his sentencing, we first turn to the applicable standards of review. An appellate court reviews a felony sentence under a clear and convincing evidence standard of review. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). In doing so, we conduct a meaningful review of the imposition of sentence. State v. Comer,99 Ohio St.3d 463, 2003-Ohio-4165, at ¶ 10. "``Meaningful review' means that an appellate court hearing an appeal of a felony sentence may modify or vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the trial court for resentencing if the court clearly and convincingly finds that the record does not support the sentence or that the sentence is otherwise contrary to law." Id., citing R.C. 2953.08.

{¶ 8} "A court that sentences an offender for a felony shall be guided by the overriding purposes of felony sentencing. The overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and others and to punish the offender. To achieve those purposes, the sentencing court shall 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." R.C. 2929.11(A).

{¶ 9} To impose consecutive sentences on a defendant, R.C. 2929.14(E)(4) requires that the trial court make three findings: (1) consecutive sentences are "necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender[,] * * * [(2)] consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public[,] * * * [and (3)] the court mustfind the existence of one of the enumerated circumstances in R.C.2929.14(E)(4)(a) through (c)." Comer, 99 Ohio St.3d 463, at ¶ 13 (emphasis sic). These circumstances include: "(a) the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing or was under community control sanction; (b) the harm caused by the offenses was so great or unusual that a single prison term would not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offender's conduct, or (c) the offender's history of criminal conduct proves consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime." State v. Thompson, 11th Dist. No. 2003-L-052, 2004-Ohio-2925, at ¶ 22, quoting State v. Earle, 11th Dist. No. 2001-L-159, 2002-Ohio-4510, at ¶ 6.; R.C. 2929.14(E)(4)(a)-(c). Furthermore, "[p]ursuant to R.C.2929.14(E)(4) and 2929.19(B)(2)(c), when imposing consecutive sentences, a trial court is required to make the statutorily enumerated findings and give reasons supporting those findings at the sentencing hearing."Comer, 99 Ohio St.3d 463, at ¶ 20. Thus, in imposing consecutive sentences, the trial court must support its decision with specific findings as to all three requirements of R.C. 2929.14(E)(4). Id.

{¶ 10} In addition, this court has stated that "R.C. 2929.14(E)(4) must be read in conjunction with R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c), which requires a trial court to state ``its reasons for imposing consecutive sentences.' The reasons required by R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c) are separate and distinct from the finding required by R.C. 2929.14(E)(4)." State v. King, 11th Dist. Nos. 2000-L-143, 2000-L-144, 2001-Ohio-8758, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 5431, at *6 (citation omitted); accord Thompson, 2004-Ohio-2925, at ¶ 23.

{¶ 11} Finally, "[w]hen reviewing the imposition of a sentence upon a defendant by a trial court, this court will not disturb the sentence unless we find, by clear and convincing evidence, that the record does not support the sentence or that the sentence is contrary to the law."State v. Fitzpatrick, 11th Dist. No. 2001-L-017, 2002-Ohio-1172, 2002 Ohio App. LEXIS 1207, at *5 (citation omitted).

{¶ 12} Taylor, relying on State v. Johnson (May 11, 2001), 2nd Dist. No. 18383, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 2101, argues that the court failed to consider Taylor's "long standing drug and alcohol problem stemming from an abusive childhood" as mitigating factors that do not support the imposition of consecutive sentences under counts two and three. Taylor's reliance on Johnson is misplaced.

{¶ 13} In Johnson, the Second District held that the trial court did not make all of the necessary findings to impose consecutive sentences, discussing at great length the seriousness of the crime and the impact on its victims, but failing to adequately address the necessity of the consecutive sentencing to protect the public or whether consecutive sentences were disproportionate to the danger the defendant posed to the public. In addition, the court was unable to determine clearly from the record, which of the factors contained within R.C. 2929.14(E)(4)(a) through (c), applied. Id. at *6-*7.

{¶ 14} Here, by contrast, the trial court, in making its findings, reviewed a video tape taken from cameras installed in each police cruiser involved in the chase, the presentencing report, and Taylor's psychological report. The court also heard from the prosecution, the defense, and Taylor himself. The court then made the following findings on the record:

{¶ 15} "That consecutive sentences are necessary in order to protect the public and punish the offender and are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and the danger the offender poses to the public. That the offenses were committed while the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, that he was under warrant for arrest. That the harm that was caused by the multiple offenses was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any one of the offenses committed as part of a single course of conduct that reflect the seriousness of the offender's conduct and that the offender's history of criminal conduct demonstrates that the consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender." Thus, the court's findings satisfied the statutory requirements with respect to the first two factors. Additionally, the court found all three of the factors in 2929.14(E)(4) (a)-(c).

{¶ 16} With respect to each of the factors, the court provided a litany of reasons supporting its findings. The court determined that a police officer had suffered physical harm as a result of the chase and that there was a threat of physical harm to others during the course of the chase and, thus, the harm caused by the multiple offenses was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses reflected the seriousness of the conduct. The trial court further found that the chase involved excessive speeds, endangering the lives of others as well as a complete disregard for traffic laws. The court also found that at the time of the offense, Taylor was using stolen license plates and driving with a suspended license. In addition, the trial court found that the offense was committed while Taylor was under a warrant for arrest and while he was under community control sanctions for a previous offense. The court also addressed Taylor's history of criminal convictions and delinquency adjudications, and his failure to respond favorably to previously imposed sanctions, demonstrating the necessity of imposing consecutive sentences to protect the public. We, therefore, cannot find, by clear and convincing evidence, that the trial court's record fails to support a finding allowing for the imposition of consecutive sentences.

{¶ 17} Taylor's final argument, that the court improperly failed to consider his history of substance abuse stemming from an abusive childhood, is also not well taken. On the contrary, the record indicates that the court considered his substance abuse history and his failure to seek treatment up until this point as a factor in determining that Taylor showed no genuine remorse for his actions. In addition, the court relied heavily on Dr. Fabian's psychological report, which indicated a high likelihood that Taylor would relapse and re-offend, even if he received treatment. Furthermore, as this court has previously held, not only is there no case or rule of law supporting the proposition that an offender's drug abuse mitigates against the imposition of consecutive sentences, but that where such factors are considered, courts have found substance abuse, particularly when an offender has demonstrated a history of failure to avail himself of treatment, as a factor that justifies imposing consecutive sentences. State v. Caldwell, 11th Dist. No. 2002-L-142, 2003-Ohio-6964, at ¶ 29-30. Here, as in Caldwell, the trial court, in support of its findings for the purpose of imposing consecutive sentences, cited to Taylor's long history of drug and alcohol abuse and his persistent denial of any drug or alcohol problem. The court also relied on Taylor's psychiatric evaluation, which indicated a significant likelihood that he would relapse and re-offend even if substance abuse treatment were provided.

{¶ 18} For the foregoing reasons, Taylor's assignment of error is without merit.

{¶ 19} By leave of this court granted on October 14, 2004, Taylor raises the following supplemental assignment of error: "The trial court erred when it imposed consecutive sentences based upon of finding of factors which R.C. 2929.14 makes essential to the imposition of punishment and which the defendant-appellant did not admit to and a jury did not find."

{¶ 20} Under Ohio's sentencing statutes, "if the court [is] imposing a sentence upon an offender for a felony * * *, the court shall impose the shortest prison term authorized for the offense * * * unless * * * the offender previously had served a prison term * * * [or] [t]he court finds on the record that the shortest prison term will demean the seriousness of the offender's conduct or will not adequately protect the public from future crime by the offender * * *." R.C. 2929.14(B)(1) and (2).

{¶ 21} The range of possible terms for failure to comply with order or signal of police officer, a third degree felony, is one to five years, with an additional statutory requirement that the sentence be served consecutively with any other sentence imposed. The range of possible terms for receiving stolen property, a fourth degree felony, is six to eighteen months. The range of possible terms for receiving stolen property, a fifth degree felony, is six to twelve months.

{¶ 22} In Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000) 530 U.S. 466, 490, the United States Supreme Court held that "[o]ther than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt." Blakely v. Washington (2004), ___ U.S. ___,124 S.Ct. 2531, 2537, further refined the Apprendi rule when it held that "the ``statutory maximum' for Apprendi purposes is the maximum sentence a judge may impose solely on the basis of the facts reflected in a juryverdict or admitted by the defendant." (Emphasis sic.).

{¶ 23} Taylor, relying on Apprendi and Blakely, argues that his consecutive sentence went beyond the "statutory maximum" for Apprendi purposes since the trial court made a number of factual findings under R.C. 2929.14(E)(4) in its decision to impose consecutive sentences. Taylor concludes that since these additional factual findings were neither admitted by him nor found by a jury, his constitutional rights to trial by jury were violated when the court inflicted the punishment. Taylor's reliance on Blakely is misplaced.

{¶ 24} Under R.C. 2929.14(B)(1), the court is entitled to depart from the shortest authorized prison term if the "offender had previously served a prison term." Under Apprendi, the fact of a prior conviction may be used to enhance the penalty for a crime without being submitted to a jury and proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 530 U.S. at 490, citing Jonesv. United States (1999), 526 U.S. 227, 243, n. 6. According to Taylor's pre-sentence investigation report, Taylor had served at least one prior prison term for convictions of larceny, breaking and entering, and destroying private property. Therefore, the trial court's imposition of prison terms of three years for the failure to comply conviction, seventeen months for the conviction on the first count of receiving stolen property and eleven months on the second count of receiving stolen property are all constitutionally permissible under Apprendi and, by extension, Blakely.

{¶ 25} Turning to Taylor's main argument, both Blakely and Apprendi can be distinguished from the instant case, as they deal with the issue of sentencing for a single crime. Courts in Ohio have consistently held that Apprendi does not apply to consecutive sentencing as long as the sentence does not exceed the statutory maximum for each individual underlying offense. See, State v. Carter, 6th Dist. No. L-00-1082, 2002-Ohio-3433 at ¶ 25 (holding that appellant's two eight year consecutive sentences for rape, because they were each within the ten year statutory range for a single offense, did not violate Apprendi.) Accord, State v. Gambrel (Feb. 2, 2001), 2nd Dist. No. 2000-CA-29, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 339 at *14; State v. Brown, 2nd Dist. No. 18643, 2002-Ohio-277, 2002 Ohio App. LEXIS 211, at *15 (maximum sentence); Statev. Wilson (Oct. 25, 2002), 6th Dist. No. L-01-1196, 2002-Ohio-5920. Federal courts have likewise held that Apprendi is not implicated in consecutive sentencing. See, United States v. Wingo (C.A.6, 2003), Case Nos. 01-1669, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 18828, at **12; United States v.Sauceda (C.A. 6, 2002), Case No. 01-2340, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 19118, at **3- ** 4. We find nothing in the holding of Blakely that would change this rule. Since Taylor's individual sentences are all less than the statutory maximum, his supplemental assignment of error is without merit.

{¶ 26} For the foregoing reasons, both of Taylor's assignments of error are without merit. The judgment of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

O'Neill, J., Rice, J., concur.