State v. Lowe , 2017 Ohio 27 ( 2017 )

[Cite as State v. Lowe, 2017-Ohio-27.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
CLARK COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
: Appellate Case No. 2016-CA-18
Plaintiff-Appellee :
: Trial Court Case No. 15-CR-572
v. :
: (Criminal Appeal from
DALE LOWE : Common Pleas Court)
:
Defendant-Appellant :
:
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OPINION
Rendered on the 6th day of January, 2017
...........
MEGAN M. FARLEY, Clark County Prosecutor’s Office, 50 East Columbia Street,
Suite 449, Springfield, Ohio 45502
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
J. ALLEN WILMES, 7821 N. Dixie Drive, Dayton, OH 45414
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
HALL, J.
{¶ 1} Dale Lowe appeals his sentence for receiving stolen property. Finding no
error, we affirm.
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{¶ 2} Lowe was indicted in November 2015 on one count of receiving stolen
property, a fifth-degree felony. He eventually pleaded guilty to the charge, admitting that
he received a diamond brooch valued at $2,640 that he knew was stolen and sold it to a
jeweler. The brooch and several other items were stolen from a home where Lowe worked
for a year and a half on a remodeling project. According to the presentence investigation
report (PSI), Lowe admitted that he stole items from the home and sold them to jewelers
and pawn shops.
{¶ 3} At the sentencing hearing, defense counsel told the court that Lowe has an
admitted addiction to cocaine. Lowe apologized to the court and to the homeowners, and
he told the court that he intended to make restitution. One of the homeowners also spoke.
She told the court that during the year and a half that Lowe worked in her home she grew
to care for and trust him. The homeowner mentioned that one of the stolen items was a
pen that was given to her by her deceased father and that she cannot get the pen back.
The trial court noted that Lowe has served five previous prison terms for arson, burglary,
complicity to burglary, tampering with evidence, and complicity to illegal conveyance of
drugs. The PSI shows that Lowe also received one year of probation for unauthorized
use of a motor vehicle and that he has six prior juvenile convictions.
{¶ 4} The trial court sentenced Lowe to the maximum sentence of 12 months in
prison and ordered that he pay restitution of $6,319.
{¶ 5} Lowe timely appealed.
{¶ 6} The sole assignment of error challenges the length of the sentence. Lowe
argues that the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings. Under R.C.
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2953.08(G), “an appellate court may vacate or modify a felony sentence on appeal 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, 146 Ohio St. 3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 1.
{¶ 7} Lowe says that at the sentencing hearing the trial court did not refer to any
sentencing statutes and did not make any statutory findings. He does not cite any
particular statute, but Lowe appears to be referring to R.C. 2929.11, concerning the
principles and purposes of felony sentencing, and R.C. 2929.12, concerning seriousness
and recidivism factors to be considered in felony sentencing. Although the court did not
specifically cite either statute during the sentencing hearing, the judgment entry states
that “[t]he Court considered the record, oral statements of counsel, the defendant’s
statement, and the principles and purposes of sentencing under Ohio Revised Code
Section 2929.11, and then balanced the seriousness and recidivism factors under Ohio
Revised Code Section 2929.12.” As we have said, “[a] trial court speaks through its
journal entries, and [the defendant]’s sentence is not contrary to law merely because the
trial court failed to cite either statute during the sentencing hearing.” (Citation omitted.)
State v. Leopard, 194 Ohio App. 3d 500, 2011-Ohio-3864, 957 N.E.2d 55, ¶ 44 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 8} Lowe notes that an appellate court must ensure that a prison sentence is
consistent with the policy expressed in R.C. 2929.13(B) for low-level felons. As the trial
court said in its judgment entry, because Lowe has previously served several prison
terms, this statute gives the court discretion to impose a prison sentence. See R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(b)(x).
{¶ 9} Lowe points out that the trial court did not advise him of his right to appeal.
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Crim.R. 32(B)(2) states that after imposing sentence in a serious offense the court must
advise the defendant of his right, where applicable, to appeal or seek leave to appeal the
sentence. We note that “[w]here a defendant has been convicted following a guilty or no
contest plea, the court is not constitutionally required to advise the defendant of his appeal
rights.” State v. Houston, 6th Dist. Erie No. E-03-059, 2004-Ohio-6462, ¶ 8, citing State
v. Borchers, 101 Ohio App. 3d 157, 164-165, 655 N.E.2d 225 (2d Dist.1995). Regardless,
this issue is moot because Lowe timely filed his notice of appeal.
{¶ 10} Lowe says that the trial court gave no reasons for imposing the maximum
sentence. The only apparent reason for the sentence given by the court is Lowe’s criminal
history. But other evidence in the record provides support too. The balance of seriousness
factors under R.C. 2929.12 tips towards the more serious side. The victims suffered
economic harm of over $6,000 and some psychological harm from having heirloom items
taken. See R.C. 2929.12(B)(2). And Lowe’s relationship of trust could have facilitated the
offense. See R.C. 2929.12(B)(6). The court could have found that none of the less-
serious-conduct factors were relevant. Also, the balance of the recidivism factors weighs
in favor of finding that Lowe is “more likely to commit future crimes,” R.C. 2929.12(D). He
has a long history of criminal convictions, both juvenile and adult. See R.C. 2929.12(D)(2).
And the trial court could have found that Lowe has not responded favorably to the prison
terms imposed for many of those prior convictions. See R.C. 2929.12(D)(3). As for the
not-likely-to-commit-future-crimes factors, the court could have found that the only one
applicable is that Lowe showed genuine remorse for the offense. See R.C. 2929.12(E)(5).
{¶ 11} Lowe admits in his brief that none of the issues is enough to reverse. He
argues that the trial judge’s handling of the sentencing in a summary manner warrants
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reversal. Lowe accuses the trial judge of treating his sentencing “in a cavalier fashion.”
He also alleges that the judge has a history of failing to fully consider the principles and
purposes of sentencing and a history of imposing maximum sentences in a summary
manner. The Ohio Supreme Court recently held that R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) gives the only
two grounds—contrary to law and unsupported by the record—on which an appellate
court may vacate or modify a felony sentence on appeal. See Marcum, 2016-Ohio-1002,
at ¶ 1. Because we conclude that Lowe’s sentence is not contrary to law and is supported
by the record, we must affirm.
{¶ 12} The sole assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 13} The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
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DONOVAN, P.J., and WELBAUM, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Megan M. Farley
J. Allen Wilmes
Hon. Douglas M. Rastatter