State v. Creed ( 2012 )

[Cite as State v. Creed, 2012-Ohio-2305.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 97317
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
JIM CREED
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-548666
BEFORE: Celebrezze, P.J., Cooney, J., and Keough, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: May 24, 2012
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
James E. Valentine
323 Lakeside Avenue
Suite 450
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
William D. Mason
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Jennifer A. Driscoll
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
The Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., P.J.:
{¶1} Appellant, Jim Creed, appeals the judgment of the common pleas court
denying his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. After careful review of the record and
relevant case law, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
{¶2} On April 20, 2011, the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury returned a 15-count
indictment against appellant. The charges included five counts of rape in violation of
R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b); five counts of gross sexual imposition in violation of R.C.
2907.05(A)(4); and five counts of kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(4). All
counts included sexually violent predator specifications, and the kidnapping counts
contained additional sexual motivation specifications.
{¶3} On July 15, 2011, appellant entered a plea of guilty to three counts of sexual
battery, as amended from rape, in violation of R.C. 2907.03(A)(1), a felony of the third
degree, without sexually violent predator specifications. All other counts were
dismissed by the state.
{¶4} Prior to the sentencing hearing, appellant, through counsel, filed a motion to
withdraw his guilty plea. In his motion, appellant argued that he felt pressure from his
attorney to enter the guilty plea and that he did not understand the ramifications of his
plea because he was “confused and bewildered” throughout the proceedings.
{¶5} On August 11, 2011, the trial court held a hearing on appellant’s motion to
withdraw. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court denied the withdrawal motion,
finding that appellant “had absolutely no credibility in this matter” and that allowing
appellant to withdraw his plea would be “inappropriate and contrary to justice.” 1
Subsequently, appellant was sentenced to three years for each count of sexual battery, to
be served consecutively, for an aggregate sentence of nine years in prison.
{¶6} Appellant now brings this timely appeal, raising one assignment of error for
review.
Law and Analysis
Motion to Withdraw Guilty Plea
{¶7} In his sole assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred and
abused its discretion by denying his motion to withdraw his guilty plea.
{¶8} A motion to withdraw a guilty plea is governed by the standards set forth in
Crim.R. 32.1, which provides:
A motion to withdraw a plea of guilty or no contest may be made only
before sentence is imposed; but to correct manifest injustice the court after
sentence may set aside the judgment of conviction and permit the defendant
to withdraw his or her plea.
1 The trial court further opined that appellant’s motion was an inappropriate
ruse to withdraw his plea because he was worried about his family’s financial
situation, stating, “He’s indicated that he would no longer get Social Security and
that it would not go to his wife. He indicates his family might lose the house. I
don’t think he wants to withdraw the plea for any other reason, other than to
continue his checks coming, so that his family can meet their obligations. That is
not a legal reason to withdraw the plea.”
{¶9} The general rule is that motions to withdraw guilty pleas before sentencing
are to be freely and liberally allowed. State v. Peterseim, 68 Ohio App.2d 211, 214, 428
N.E.2d 863 (8th Dist.1980), citing Barker v. United States, 579 F.2d 1219, 1223 (10th
Cir.1978). However, a defendant does not have an absolute right to withdraw a guilty
plea prior to sentencing. State v. Xie, 62 Ohio St.3d 521, 584 N.E.2d 715 (1992). In
ruling on a presentence motion to withdraw a plea, the court must conduct a hearing and
decide whether there is a reasonable and legitimate basis for withdrawal of the plea. Id.
at 527. The decision to grant or deny such a motion is within the sound discretion of the
trial court. Id.
{¶10} In Peterseim, this court set forth the standard for determining whether the
trial court has abused its discretion in denying a presentence motion to withdraw a plea:
A trial court does not abuse its discretion in overruling a motion to
withdraw: (1) where the accused is represented by highly competent
counsel, (2) where the accused was afforded a full hearing, pursuant to
Crim.R. 11, before he entered the plea, (3) when, after the motion to
withdraw is filed, the accused is given a complete and impartial hearing on
the motion, and (4) where the record reveals that the court gave full and fair
consideration to the plea withdrawal request. Id. at paragraph three of the
syllabus.
A review of the record in this case demonstrates that the trial court fully complied with
the Peterseim criteria.
{¶11} Although appellant does not raise any issues relating to his counsel, the
record on appeal demonstrates that appellant was represented by competent counsel
throughout the proceeding. Appellant informed the trial judge during the plea hearing
that he was satisfied with his counsel. Additionally, it is well-settled that “* * * a properly
licensed attorney practicing in this state is presumed to be competent.” State v. Brandon,
11th Dist. No. 2009-P-0071, 2010-Ohio-6251, at ¶ 19, citing State v. Lytle, 48 Ohio St.2d
391, 397, 358 N.E.2d 623 (1976).
{¶12} Further, the record demonstrates that appellant was afforded a proper
hearing pursuant to Crim.R. 11. Before entering into his plea agreement, the trial court
explained to appellant the nature of the charges as well as the maximum penalties. The
trial court also advised appellant that by entering into the plea agreement, he was
surrendering certain constitutional and statutory rights. Appellant assured the trial court
that he understood the nature of these rights and that he knowingly and voluntarily
waived them. Appellant indicated that he was pleading guilty of his own free will and
that he had not been coerced or forced into entering the plea agreement. Therefore, we
find that the record overwhelmingly demonstrates that the trial court went to great lengths
to ensure that appellant understood the ramifications of his plea and that it was made
knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently.
{¶13} In challenging the sufficiency of his Crim.R. 11 hearing, appellant argues
that his plea was not made knowingly because the trial court failed to notify him that by
pleading guilty he would be unable to live within 1,000 feet of a school, in accordance
with R.C. 2950.034. This argument is without merit. The constitutional advisements a
trial court is required to provide pursuant to Crim.R. 11 do not include the collateral
effects of pleading guilty to a sexual offense, which is governed by R.C. Chapter 2950.
State v. Strong, 6th Dist No. WD-08-009, 2009-Ohio-1528.
{¶14} The measures contained in R.C. Chapter 2950 are “remedial in nature and
cannot be considered ‘punishment’ for purposes of Crim.R. 11.” State v. Rice, 8th Dist.
No. 72685, 1999 WL 125742, at *3 (Feb. 18, 1999). We further reasoned:
To argue the trial court has to inform defendant-appellant of all of the
possible consequences of his plea is untenable. For example, the trial court
does not have to inform defendant-appellant of all the “effects” of his plea
such as the potential for losing his/her job, home, marriage, reputation or
that his/her plea to a felony will deprive him/her the right to vote and/or
possess a firearm. Since R.C. Chapter 2950 is remedial in nature, the failure
to inform defendant-appellant of its effect does not invalidate an otherwise
valid plea. Id.{¶15} Thus the trial court’s failure to inform appellant of one of the collateral
effects of his guilty plea does not constitute a violation of Crim.R. 11.
{¶16} Additionally, appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying his
motion to withdraw where he maintained his claim of innocence. In State v. Abdelhag,
8th Dist. No. 71136, 1997 WL 428647 (July 31, 1997), this court held:
[D]efendant’s protestations of innocence are not sufficient, however
frequently repeated, to warrant grounds for vacating a plea knowingly
entered. By inference, all defendants who request a withdrawal of their
guilty plea do so based upon some claim of innocence. A mere change of
heart regarding a guilty plea and the possible sentence is insufficient
justification for the withdrawal of a guilty plea. (Citations omitted.)
{¶17} Under the circumstances, it is axiomatic that defendant would proclaim his
innocence of the offense. However, this is not sufficient to warrant the withdrawal of a
guilty plea where, as in the case sub judice, the record supports the trial court’s finding
that appellant entered his plea voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently.
{¶18} Finally, we find that the trial court adequately afforded appellant a full and
impartial hearing on his motion to withdraw and gave full and fair consideration to
appellant’s request. Here, the trial court ensured that appellant received a full and
impartial hearing by permitting opening statements, direct examination,
cross-examination, redirect, closing argument, and a review of the psychiatric report
before it rendered a decision. Moreover, the record reflects that the trial court fairly
considered appellant’s motion to withdraw and only denied the motion after conducting a
lengthy hearing and carefully weighing several factors, including the arguments raised in
appellant’s motion to withdraw, information provided in appellant’s psychiatric report,
and appellant’s testimony and demeanor at the hearing.
{¶19} Because all four prongs set forth in Peterseim were satisfied, we cannot say
that the trial court abused its discretion in denying appellant’s motion to withdraw his
guilty pleas under the circumstances of this case. Appellant’s sole assignment of error is
overruled.
{¶20} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common
pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant’s conviction having
been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court
for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., PRESIDING JUDGE
COLLEEN CONWAY COONEY, J., and
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J., CONCUR