State v. Battle ( 2016 )

[Cite as State v. Battle, 2016-Ohio-2917.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT )
STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 27549
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
LAMONT BATTLE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. CR 2005-07-2434 (A)
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: May 11, 2016
CARR, Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Lamont Battle, appeals from his convictions in the Summit
County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms in part, reverses in part, and remands for
further proceedings.
I.
{¶2} Following certain events that occurred in July 2005, a grand jury indicted Battle
on two counts of aggravated murder, one count of kidnapping, one count of arson, two counts of
tampering with evidence, and six firearm specifications. Battle ultimately pleaded guilty to the
amended charge of murder and a single firearm specification in exchange for the dismissal of his
five remaining counts and firearm specifications. The court sentenced him to 18 years to life in
prison. Battle did not initially appeal from the court’s judgment.
{¶3} In 2009, Battle filed a motion to withdraw his plea on the basis that he had not
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered into it. The State opposed the motion, and the
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trial court ultimately denied it. Although Battle attempted to appeal from the court’s denial of
his motion, he did not do so for more than two years. This Court denied his motion to file a
delayed appeal by journal entry and dismissed the attempted appeal because Battle “provided
insufficient cause to justify the two-year delay” in his filing of the appeal. State v. Battle, 9th
Dist. Summit No. 26253 (Jan. 27, 2012).
{¶4} In 2014, Battle filed another motion for delayed appeal, this time seeking to
appeal from his original judgment of conviction. Battle alleged that he could not have filed his
appeal at an earlier date because, until recently, he was unaware of his right to appeal from a
guilty plea. This Court granted Battle’s motion and allowed the case to proceed as a delayed
appeal. See State v. Battle, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27549 (Dec. 5, 2014).
{¶5} Battle now appeals from his judgment of conviction and raises four assignments
of error for our review. For ease of analysis, we consolidate several of the assignments of error.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO STRICTLY COMPLY WITH RULE 11’S
CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN TAKING MR. BATTLE’S
PLEA[.]
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
THE TRIAL COURT DID NOT MINIMALLY COMPLY WITH RULE 11’S
NON-CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN TAKING MR.
BATTLE’S PLEA[.]
{¶6} In his first and second assignments of error, Battle argues that his guilty plea was
not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary because, during his plea colloquy, the trial court failed to
comply with various provisions of Crim.R. 11. We do not agree that Battle’s plea is invalid.
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{¶7} “When a defendant enters a plea in a criminal case, the plea must be made
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. Failure on any of those points renders enforcement of
the plea unconstitutional under both the United States Constitution and the Ohio Constitution.”
State v. Veney, 120 Ohio St. 3d 176, 2008-Ohio-5200, ¶ 7, quoting State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St. 3d
525, 527 (1996). “To determine whether a plea is being made knowingly, intelligently, and
voluntarily, the court must conduct a colloquy with the defendant before accepting a guilty plea
in a felony case.” State v. Stoddard, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26663, 2013-Ohio-4896, ¶ 5.
{¶8} Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c) requires the trial court to inform a criminal defendant that a
plea waives the defendant’s constitutional 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.” Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c); Veney
at syllabus. “Because Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c) deals with the waiver of constitutional rights, strict
compliance with the rule is required.” State v. Jordan, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27690, 2015-Ohio-
4354, ¶ 5. Meanwhile, “Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) and 11(C)(2)(b) deal with nonconstitutional
notifications, and substantial compliance by a trial court during a plea colloquy is sufficient.” Id.
Pursuant to those provisions, a trial court must ensure that a defendant understands the effect of
his plea, including the maximum penalties he faces, and determine that the defendant is making
his plea voluntarily. See Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a), (b). “[A] defendant who challenges his guilty plea
on the basis that it was not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made must show a
prejudicial effect. The test is whether the plea would have otherwise been made.” (Internal
citations omitted.) State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St. 3d 106, 108 (1990).
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{¶9} Battle first argues that the trial court failed to strictly comply with Crim.R.
11(C)(2)(c) when informing him of his constitutional rights. Specifically, he argues that the
court failed to notify him that, by pleading guilty, he would be waiving his right “to require the
state to prove [his] guilt beyond a reasonable doubt * * *.” Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c). The record,
however, reflects the following exchange took place during Battle’s plea colloquy:
THE COURT: All right. Now, if you enter a plea of guilty, you waive or give up
your right to trial to the court or a jury where you must be proven guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. Do you understand that you’re giving up that right?
[BATTLE]: Yes, Your Honor.
Thus, the court discussed with Battle his right to have the charges against him proven beyond a
reasonable doubt. The only point that the court omitted was that the State would be the one to
prove those charges. See Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c) (court must inform defendant that guilty plea
waives his right “to require the state to prove [his] guilty beyond a reasonable doubt”). While a
court must strictly comply with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c), it “may vary slightly from the literal
wording of the rule in the colloquy * * *.” Veney at ¶ 29. We cannot conclude that the trial
court here failed to strictly comply with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c) simply because it employed the
passive voice when advising Battle of his right. The record reflects that the court orally
informed Battle of his constitutional right to have the charges against him proven beyond a
reasonable doubt. It further reflects Battle’s acknowledgment that his guilty plea would
constitute a waiver of that right. As such, Battle’s first assignment of error lacks merit.
{¶10} Next, Battle argues that the trial court failed to substantially comply with several
provisions of Crim.R. 11 when informing him of his nonconstitutional rights. He argues that the
court failed to: (1) notify him that his guilty plea would be a complete admission of his guilt, see
Crim.R. 11(B)(1); (2) advise him of the maximum penalties involved for his offenses, including
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any fines, see Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a); (3) notify him that he was not eligible for probation or
community control, see Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a); and (4) inquire as to whether his plea was the result
of any threat, promise, or inducement, see Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a). “Substantial compliance means
that under the totality of the circumstances the defendant subjectively understands the
implications of his plea and the rights he is waiving.” State v. Rusu, 9th Dist. Summit No.
25597, 2012-Ohio-2613, ¶ 6, quoting Nero, 56 Ohio St. 3d at 108.
{¶11} At the start of Battle’s plea hearing, the prosecutor informed the court that the
parties had reached a negotiated plea, whereby Battle would plead guilty to one count of murder
and one firearm specification and testify in an upcoming trial in exchange for the State
dismissing the remainder of his charges. The prosecutor further noted that, as part of the plea
agreement, the State would submit a letter to the parole board, requesting Battle’s release once
he finished serving his 3-year firearm sentence and 15-year murder sentence for a combined total
of 18 years. After defense counsel noted his approval of the prosecutor’s recitation of the plea
agreement, the trial court personally addressed Battle.
{¶12} The court asked Battle whether he understood that count one of his amended
indictment charged him with murder, “a special felony * * * that calls for a penalty of life
imprisonment for 15 years to the board for parole purposes.” Battle indicated that he understood.
The court then asked Battle whether he understood that the firearm specification linked to that
count called
for three years which would be consecutive to the 15 to life sentence and prior to.
That means your sentence would be for a total of life imprisonment of 18 years to
the board of parole.
Battle indicated that he understood. He further indicated at the conclusion of the plea colloquy
that he did not have any questions. The trial court ultimately sentenced him to 15 years on the
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murder charge and 3 years on the firearm specification, to run consecutively for a total of 18
years in prison. The court did not impose any fine upon Battle. Thus, the court sentenced him in
accordance with the plea that he and the State had reached.
{¶13} Even assuming that the trial court failed to substantially comply with certain
portions of Crim.R. 11(B)(1) and 11(C)(2)(a)-(b) during Battle’s plea colloquy, “failure to
comply with nonconstitutional rights will not invalidate a plea unless the defendant thereby
suffered prejudice.” State v. Griggs, 103 Ohio St. 3d 85, 2004-Ohio-4415, ¶ 12. Battle has not
set forth any argument that, but for errors on the part of the trial court, he would not have entered
his plea. See Nero, 56 Ohio St. 3d at 108. Battle was originally charged with two counts of
aggravated murder, kidnapping, arson, two counts of tampering with evidence, and six firearm
specifications. He faced a substantial prison sentence if convicted following a trial. By pleading
guilty, Battle was able to secure the dismissal of the vast majority of his charges and ensure the
possibility of his release from prison in the specified time period. Accordingly, he has not shown
that he was prejudiced as a result of any errors the trial court may have made with regard to his
nonconstitutional rights. Battle’s first and second assignments of error are overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III
THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO SENTENCE MR. BATTLE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH ORC § 2929.19[.]
{¶14} In his third assignment of error, Battle argues that the trial court failed to comply
with various provisions of Former R.C. 2929.19 when it imposed his sentence. We do not agree
that the court committed reversible error.
{¶15} In reviewing a felony sentence, “[t]he appellate court’s standard for review is not
whether the sentencing court abused its discretion.” R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). “[A]n appellate court
may vacate or modify a felony sentence on appeal only if it determines by clear and convincing
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evidence” that: (1) “the record does not support the trial court’s findings under relevant statutes,”
or (2) “the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.” State v. Marcum, Slip Opinion No. 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.” Cross v.
Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469 (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶16} Former R.C. 2929.19(A)(1) provided that, at an offender’s sentencing hearing,
“[t]he court shall inform the offender of the * * * finding of the court and ask the offender
whether [he] has anything to say as to why sentence should not be imposed upon [him].” It
further provided that,
if the sentencing court determines at the sentencing hearing that a prison term is
necessary or required, the court shall do all of the following:
(a) Impose a stated prison term;
(b) Notify the offender that, as part of the sentence, the parole board may extend
the stated prison term for certain violations of prison rules for up to one-half of
the stated prison term;
***
(f) Require that the offender not ingest or be injected with a drug of abuse and
submit to random drug testing as provided in section 341.26, 753.33, or 5120.63
of the Revised Code, whichever is applicable to the offender who is serving a
prison term, and require that the results of the drug test administered under any of
those sections indicate that the offender did not ingest or was not injected with a
drug of abuse.
Former R.C. 2929.19(B)(3)(a), (b), and (f). According to Battle, the trial court did not comply
with any of the foregoing provisions when it sentenced him on his guilty plea.
{¶17} First, Battle claims that the court erred when it sentenced him without
“inform[ing] [him] of the * * * finding of the court” or affording him his right to allocution.
Former R.C. 2929.19(A)(1). Yet, Battle pleaded guilty, and “a plea of guilty requires no finding
or verdict.” State v. Baker, 119 Ohio St. 3d 197, 2008-Ohio-3330, ¶ 15. “When a guilty plea is
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accepted, the court is to proceed with sentencing under Crim.R. 32 upon determining that the
plea was voluntarily and knowingly given.” State v. Greenleaf, 9th Dist. Summit No. 21370,
2003-Ohio-5901, ¶ 5, citing Crim.R. 11(B)(3), (C). The court here proceeded to sentencing after
accepting Battle’s guilty plea. Further, at his sentencing hearing, the court inquired whether
there was “anything [Battle] want[ed] to say before sentence [was] pronounced against [him].”
This Court has held “a trial court complies with a defendant’s right of allocution when it
personally addresses the defendant and asks whether he has anything to say.” State v. Daniels,
9th Dist. Summit No. 26406, 2013-Ohio-358, ¶ 14. Battle has not shown that the court violated
Former R.C. 2929.19(A)(1) when it imposed his sentence. Consequently, we reject his
arguments to the contrary.
{¶18} Second, Battle argues that the court failed to “[i]mpose a stated prison term” upon
him because it did not tell him what his actual term of imprisonment would be. Former R.C.
2929.19(B)(3)(a). At Battle’s plea hearing, the prosecutor indicated that the parties had reached
a plea agreement whereby “[t]he sentence that [Battle] would receive would be 15 years to life,
plus three years for the firearm specification, for a total of 18 years that he would be eligible for
parole.” Likewise, at the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor informed the court that the
“sentence imposed should be 15 years to life on the murder, three years consecutive on the
firearm specification, for a total of 18 years’ eligibility to the parole board.” The court then
stated that Battle would receive “life imprisonment, 15 years to the board,” on his murder charge
“and for the use of a firearm to commit that murder three years which will be consecutive to and
prior to the murder giving you the eligibility for parole in 18 years.” The trial court did not
neglect to sentence Battle on one of his counts or otherwise fail to impose a stated prison term
upon him. Compare State v. Tooley, 9th Dist. Medina Nos. 09CA0098-M, 09CA0099-M &
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09CA0100-M, 2011-Ohio-2449, ¶ 11-13 (court failed to impose stated prison term where it did
not specifically impose a prison term for each of the defendant’s three theft offenses).
Accordingly, we reject Battle’s argument to the contrary.
{¶19} Third, Battle argues that the trial court erred when it sentenced him in the absence
of a notification that, “as part of his sentence, the parole board [could] extend [his] stated prison
term for certain violations of prison rules for up to one-half of [his] stated prison term.” Former
R.C. 2929.19(B)(3)(b). “In reliance on * * * State ex rel. Bray v. Russell[, 89 Ohio St. 3d 132,
136 (2000)], wherein the high court held Ohio’s ‘bad time’ statute unconstitutional, this Court
[has] held that ‘the notification requirement [] set forth in [Former] R.C. 2929.19(B)(3)(b) is
moot.’” State v. Bullard, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 08CA0034, 2009-Ohio-1826, ¶ 36, quoting State
v. Geiger, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22073, 2004-Ohio-7189, ¶ 20. As such, Battle’s argument
regarding Former R.C. 2929.19(B)(3)(b) lacks merit.
{¶20} Finally, Battle argues that the trial court erred when it failed to comply with
Former R.C. 2929.19(B)(3)(f). The requirements of that provision, however,
were not intended to benefit a defendant, but to facilitate drug testing of prisoners
in state institutions by discouraging defendants who are sentenced to prison from
using drugs. * * * Because the statute creates no substantive rights, a trial court’s
failure to comply with its terms results in no prejudice to a defendant and
constitutes harmless error.
(Internal citations and quotations omitted.) State v. Culgan, 9th Dist. Medina No. 09CA0060-M,
2010-Ohio-2992, ¶ 18. As such, any error on the part of the trial court in not complying with
Former R.C. 2929.19(B)(3)(f) was, at best, harmless. Battle’s third assignment of error is
overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ASSESSING ATTORNEY FEES AND
COSTS AGAINST [MR. BATTLE] WITHOUT INFORMING [HIM] AT HIS
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SENTENCING OR MAKING AN “ABILITY TO PAY” FINDING AS
REQUIRED UNDER O.R.C. §§ 2947.23 AND 2941.51(D)[.]
{¶21} In his fourth assignment of error, Battle argues that the trial court erred when it
ordered him to pay his attorney fees and court costs without first making an ability to pay
determination. He further argues that the court erred by imposing costs against him in the
absence of the community service notifications set forth in Former R.C. 2947.23. For the
reasons set forth below, we agree that this matter must be remanded for additional proceedings.
{¶22} Initially, we note that the trial court did not order Battle to pay his attorney fees.
The court only ordered him “to pay all prosecution costs, including any fees permitted pursuant
to O.R.C. 2929.18(A)(4).” Former R.C. 2929.18(A)(4) allowed the court to impose upon an
offender “[a] state fine or costs as defined in section 2949.111 of the Revised Code.” That
definition did not include attorney fees as “State fines or costs.” See Former R.C.
2949.111(A)(2). Accordingly, the record does not support Battle’s assertion that the trial court
ordered him to pay his attorney fees. Because he was not ordered to pay attorney fees, we focus
strictly on his arguments regarding the court’s imposition of costs.
{¶23} First, Battle argues that the court erred by ordering him to pay costs without first
assessing his ability to pay them. “Unlike financial sanctions issued pursuant to R.C. 2929.19,
[however,] the imposition of court costs under R.C. 2947.23 does not require the trial court to
first consider the defendant’s ability to pay.” State v. Hodge, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 14CA010648,
2015-Ohio-3724, ¶ 15. Accord State v. Dean, Slip Opinion No. 2015-Ohio-4347, ¶ 231. While
an indigent defendant may motion the court to waive his costs, the motion “must be made at the
time of sentencing.” State v. Threatt, 108 Ohio St. 2d 277, 2006-Ohio-905, paragraph two of the
syllabus. The record reflects that Battle never asked the court to waive his court costs. Because
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the court was not required to consider his ability to pay costs before imposing them and Battle
never sought waive them, his first argument lacks merit. See Hodge at ¶ 17.
{¶24} Second, Battle argues that the court erred by imposing costs against him in the
absence of the community service notifications set forth in Former R.C. 2947.23. Former R.C.
2947.23(A)(1) provided, in relevant part, that
[i]n all criminal cases, * * * the judge * * * shall include in the sentence the costs
of prosecution and render a judgment against the defendant for such costs. At the
time the judge * * * imposes sentence, the judge * * * shall notify the defendant
of both of the following:
(a) If the defendant fails to pay that judgment or fails to timely make payments
towards that judgment under a payment schedule approved by the court, the court
may order the defendant to perform community service in an amount of not more
than forty hours per month until the judgment is paid or until the court is satisfied
that the defendant is in compliance with the approved payment schedule.
(b) If the court orders the defendant to perform the community service, the
defendant will receive credit upon the judgment at the specified hourly credit rate
per hour of community service performed, and each hour of community service
performed will reduce the judgment by that amount.
The statute “required trial courts to advise defendants of the foregoing community service
notifications at their sentencing hearings.” State v. Eader, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26762, 2013-
Ohio-3709, ¶ 19. A court’s failure to comply with the statute resulted in reversible error. Id.
Accord State v. Beach, 9th Dist. Summit Nos. 26021 & 27124, 2015-Ohio-3445, ¶ 51.
{¶25} Battle argues that this matter must be remanded on the issue of costs, and the
State concedes that a remand is necessary. The transcript from Battle’s sentencing hearing
evidences the fact that the trial court failed to comply with Former R.C. 2947.23(A)(1) when it
sentenced Battle to pay his court costs. Although the court informed Battle that he would have to
pay the costs of his prosecution, it did not inform him that his failure to pay them could result in
the imposition of community service or that he would receive credit toward the costs from any
community service so imposed. As such, we agree that it is appropriate to remand the matter for
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further proceedings. Battle’s fourth assignment of error is sustained on that basis and “this
matter is remanded for the trial court * * * to comply with the community service notification
requirements of [F]ormer R.C. 2947.23(A)(1).” Beach at ¶ 54.
III.
{¶26} Battle’s fourth assignment of error is sustained. His remaining assignments of
error are overruled. The judgment of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed in
part, reversed in part, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with the
foregoing opinion.
Judgment affirmed in part,
reversed in part,
and cause remanded.
There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common
Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy
of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the
period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is
instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the
mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
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Costs taxed equally to both parties.
DONNA J. CARR
FOR THE COURT
HENSAL, P. J.
SCHAFER, J.
CONCUR.
APPEARANCES:
ANDREA L. WHITAKER and WILLIAM T. WHITAKER, Attorneys at Law, for Appellant.
SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and RICHARD S. KASAY, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.