State v. Fields , 2022 Ohio 2499 ( 2022 )

[Cite as State v. Fields, 2022-Ohio-2499.]
COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
STATE OF OHIO, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
No. 111066
v. :
WILLIAM FIELDS, JR., :
Defendant-Appellant. :
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: July 21, 2022
Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-21-660859-A
Appearances:
Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting
Attorney, and Warren W. Griffin, Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, for appellee.
John P. Parker, for appellant.
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, A.J.:
Defendant-appellant William Fields, Jr., appeals his sentence in this
case. He raises constitutional challenges to the Reagan Tokes Law and otherwise
challenges his sentence. Upon review, we uphold the sentence and affirm the
judgment of the trial court.
On July 2, 2021, Fields was charged under a two-count indictment.
In accordance with a plea agreement, Fields entered a plea of guilty to Count 1,
felonious assault, a felony of the second degree in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1),
and Count 2 was nolled. The trial court informed Fields of the maximum sentence
that could be imposed and provided an advisement on the Reagan Tokes Law.
Defense counsel raised an objection to the constitutionality of the Reagan Tokes
Law. The trial court ordered a presentence investigation report (“PSI report”).
The sentencing hearing was held on November 17, 2021. The record
reflects that on the date of the incident, Fields was working at St. Augustine’s driving
for the Meals on Wheels program. Fields was upset about some confusion over his
pay, and he “snapped” and attacked his coworker. According to the PSI report,
Fields “‘flung’ [the victim] across the office and punched and kicked her repeatedly
while she was down on the ground. The victim lost consciousness and suffered a
concussion, broken jaw and multiple bruises.”
Defense counsel acknowledged that the felonious assault in this case
“was a brutal attack” and presented mitigating factors, including Fields’s low IQ
score, his diagnosis with a depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder, the stress he
was under because his girlfriend recently passed away, his remorse, his work at
St. Augustine’s, his last brush with the law being in 2011 on a drug case for which he
received a community-control sanction, the current offense being “out of character,”
and other mitigating factors. Fields apologized to the victim and her family. The
state agreed that the offense was out of character for Fields, but it argued that there
needed to be consequences for Fields’s actions. A video of the incident was played
for the court. As argued by the state, “Mr. Fields got angry. He took it out on [the
victim]. As a result, she had a concussion, broken jaw, bruises.” Fields had a prior
record, including prior felony offenses, though his last offense was in 2011 for drug
possession. The pastor at St. Augustine addressed the court and indicated that the
incident had affected the entire office and that the nine-year-old granddaughter of
the receptionist was also present and witnessed the incident. The victim’s husband
also addressed the court.
Prior to sentencing Fields, the trial court stated the following:
So I’ve had an opportunity to hear from you, Mr. Fields, hear
from your lawyer, hear from the State, hear from the witnesses. I’ve
had an opportunity to review the presentence investigation report, the
mitigation of penalty report, a letter that your sister prepared as well.
And also I have had an opportunity to view the video of the crime
in this case. And I do have to say that, watching that video is very
difficult. And the violence that you displayed against the victim in this
case is clearly reprehensible. And the injury that the victim sustained
is insurmountable. And not only did she sustain physical injury, but
the mental injury is also just as devastating.
And the facts of this case are difficult as well, because this is a
situation where the victim here was simply doing her job, and out of
nowhere, you attacked her, so violently, and for no reason. And so that
is what’s so disturbing here.
***
* * * And you do have criminal history. Your last case was in
2011. And you had a drug possession case. Prior to that in 2005 you
had a drug possession case. 2002, it appears you had unauthorized use
of property. Disorderly conduct, open container, possession of drugs
in 1998. 1996, breaking and entering.
And I don’t see anywhere in your history any other crimes of
violence. This crime of violence was so significant because it was an
ambush on someone who did nothing to you. And so while I appreciate
the fact that you appear remorseful and apologizing for your action, but
as I said, the damage is long lasting, and again, for no reason.
***
And considering all the relevant and seriousness and recidivism
factors, in assuring that the public is protected from future crime and
that you are punished, I find you not amenable to a Community Control
sanction. I am going to impose a prison sentence.
The trial court proceeded to sentence Fields on the felonious assault
count to which he pleaded guilty, in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1), a felony of the
second degree. The trial court imposed an indefinite sentence with a minimum
prison term of 7 years and a maximum term of 10.5 years. The trial court noted
defense counsel’s objection to the Reagan Tokes Law. The trial court also advised
Fields of postrelease control, ordered Fields to pay restitution in the amount of $352,
and imposed costs. Fields timely filed this appeal.
Under the first three assignments of error, Fields challenges the
constitutionality of the Reagan Tokes Law and expresses his disagreement with this
court’s en banc decision in State v. Delvallie, 2022-Ohio-470, 185 N.E.3d 536 (8th
Dist.). Nevertheless, Delvallie remains controlling in this district. Because this
court’s en banc decision in Delvallie rejected the challenges to the Reagan Tokes
Law raised in this appeal, we find Fields’s sentence was not a violation of his
constitutional rights, and we overrule these assignments of error.
Under his fourth assignment of error, Fields claims that the prison
sentence imposed is not supported by the record and is contrary to law. The trial
court imposed a minimum term of 7 years and a maximum term of 10.5 years in
accordance with the Reagan Tokes Law.
Fields argues that the imposition of a near maximum sentence was a
foregone conclusion once the trial judge was selected in this case. He claims that the
trial court gave a rote recitation of the statutory numbers, that the court did not
discuss sentences imposed for other felonious assault cases, and that the trial court
should have considered the mitigating factors that were presented. He asserts that
the record does not support a sentence of 7 to 10.5 years.
An appellate court’s review of a felony sentence is governed by R.C.
2953.08(G)(2). See State v. Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729, 169
N.E.3d 649, ¶ 27, citing State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59
N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 21. Under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), an appellate court “may increase,
reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence * * * or may vacate the sentence and remand
the matter * * * for resentencing” if it “clearly and convincingly finds either of the
following”:
(a) That the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings
under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4)
of section 2929.14, or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised
Code, whichever, if any, is relevant;
(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.
The statutory findings referenced in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(a) are not at
issue here. “R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(b) permits an appellate court to modify or vacate a
sentence if it clearly and convincingly finds that the sentence is ‘otherwise contrary
to law.’” Jones at ¶ 32. “A sentence is contrary to law if it falls outside the statutory
range for the offense or if the sentencing court fails to consider the purposes and
principles of sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the sentencing factors in R.C.
2929.12.” State v. Angel, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 110456, 2022-Ohio-72, ¶ 8, citing
State v. Pawlak, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103444, 2016-Ohio-5926, ¶ 58.
R.C. 2929.11 addresses the overriding purposes of felony sentencing,
while R.C. 2929.12 addresses factors that are to be taken in account when imposing
a sentence. Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729, 169 N.E.3d 649, at ¶ 18-
19. “[N]either R.C. 2929.11 nor 2929.12 requires a trial court to make any specific
factual findings on the record.” Jones at ¶ 20, citing State v. Wilson, 129 Ohio St.3d
214, 2011-Ohio-2669, 951 N.E.2d 381, ¶ 31; State v. Arnett, 88 Ohio St.3d 208, 215,
724 N.E.2d 793 (2000). Further, “[n]othing in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) permits an
appellate court to independently weigh the evidence in the record and substitute its
judgment for that of the trial court concerning the sentence that best reflects
compliance with R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.” Jones at ¶ 42.
The record in the present case plainly shows that the prison term
imposed by the trial court was within the statutory range and that the court
considered the purposes of felony sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the
sentencing factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12. The trial court heard from Fields,
defense counsel, the assistant prosecutor, and representatives of the victim. The
trial court stated it had considered the PSI report and the mitigation of penalty
report. The court was informed of Fields’s criminal history and the mitigating
factors involved. It could not ignore that “[t]his crime of violence was so significant
because it was an ambush on someone who did nothing to you.” The victim suffered
physical injuries, including a concussion, a broken jaw, and multiple bruises, and
she also suffered psychological harm. The trial court’s journal entry states that it
had considered all required factors of the law and that it determined that prison is
consistent with the purposes of R.C. 2929.11. This statement alone is sufficient to
fulfill its obligations under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. State v. Rice, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 110674, 2022-Ohio-1068, ¶ 11, citing State v. Levison, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 110281, 2021-Ohio-3601, ¶ 17. As such, the sentence imposed is not
contrary to law and the fourth assignment of error is overruled.
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.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
____________________________________
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., and
EMANUELLA D. GROVES, J., CONCUR
N.B. Judge Emanuella D. Groves concurred with the opinions of Judge Lisa B.
Forbes (dissenting) and Judge Anita Laster Mays (concurring in part and dissenting
in part) in Delvallie, 2022-Ohio-470, 185 N.E.3d 536 (8th Dist.), and would have
found the Reagan Tokes Law unconstitutional.