State v. Horner , 2020 Ohio 5530 ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. Horner, 2020-Ohio-5530.]
COURT OF APPEALS
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO JUDGES:
Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P. J.
Plaintiff-Appellee Hon. John W. Wise, J.
Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.
-vs-
Case No. 20CA000012
WILLIAM E. HORNER
Defendant-Appellant OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common
Pleas, Case No. 20CR03-0059
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: December 2, 2020
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
CHARLES T. McCONVILLE JAMES S. SWEENEY
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY JAMES SWEENEY LAW, LLC
SARAH FELDCAMP 285 South Liberty Street
ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR Powell, Ohio 43065
117 East High Street, Suite 234
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
Knox County, Case No. 20CA000012 2
Wise, John, J.
{¶1} Appellant William E. Horner appeals his sentence from the Knox County
Court of Common Pleas after entering a plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated
Possession of Drugs, a felony in the second degree, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶2} Appellant Horner’s appellate counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967). We informed Appellant
that his attorney had filed an Anders brief on his behalf and granted him until October
30, 2020, to file a pro se brief. Appellant has not filed a pro se brief.
{¶3} In Anders, the United States Supreme Court held if, after a conscientious
examination of the record, a defendant’s counsel concludes the case is wholly frivolous,
then he should so advise the court and request permission to withdraw. Anders at 744.
Counsel must accompany his request with a brief identifying anything in the record that
could arguably support his client’s appeal. Id. Counsel also must: (1) furnish his client
with a copy of the brief and request to withdraw; and, (2) allow his client sufficient time
to raise any matters that the client chooses. Id. Once the defendant’s counsel satisfies
these requirements, the appellate court must fully examine the proceedings below to
determine if any arguably meritorious issues exist. If the appellate court also determines
that the appeal is wholly frivolous, it may grant the counsel’s request to withdraw and
dismiss the appeal without violating constitutional requirements, or may proceed to a
decision on the merits if state law so requires. Id.
{¶4} The relevant facts leading to this appeal are as follows.
Knox County, Case No. 20CA000012 3
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶5} On April 22, 2020, Appellant pled guilty to one count of Aggravated
Possession of Drugs, a felony of the second degree, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A).
Appellant waived a presentence investigation report, and the trial court proceeded
immediately to sentence Appellant. During the hearing, the trial court stated, “[i]t is
therefore the sentence of the Court that the defendant serve a mandatory indefinite term
of imprisonment of a minimum of two years to a maximum of 3.5 years.” T. at 20. In the
Sentencing Entry, the trial court stated, “[i]t is the sentence of the Court that the
Defendant serve an indefinite term prison term of a mandatory minimum term of
imprisonment of two (2) years and a maximum term of imprisonment of three (3) years
on Count One, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 2929.144.” Sentencing Entry, P.
2.
POTENTIAL ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶6} Counsel’s brief suggests one assignment of error as follows:
{¶7} “I. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN SENTENCING THE
APPELLANT AS THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE SENTENCE STATED
BY THE TRIAL COURT DURING THE SENTENCING HEARING AND THE SENTENCE
IN THE SENTENCING ENTRY.”
I.
{¶8} In his only potential Assignment of Error, Appellant suggests the trial court
may have erred as there is a discrepancy between the sentence stated at the sentencing
hearing and the sentence in the Sentencing Entry. We disagree.
Knox County, Case No. 20CA000012 4
{¶9} “A court of record speaks only through its journal, and not by oral
pronouncement. Pettit v. Glenmoor Country Club, Inc., 5th Dist. Stark No. 2012-CA-
00088, 2012-Ohio-5622, ¶17, citing Schenley v. Kauth, 160 Ohio St. 109, 113 N.E.2d
625 (1953), paragraph one of the syllabus. “A trial court’s oral statements have no legal
force and effect unless and until incorporated into a journalized entry. Schenley at ¶17.
If a journalized order contradicts the trial court’s comments from the bench, the
journalized order controls. Id.
{¶10} In State v. Young, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 2019 CA 00037, 2020-Ohio-3194,
¶35-38, the trial court, during a sentencing hearing, sentenced the defendant on a
falsification charge and on an obstructing official business charge after stating the
sentences would be merged. However, the Final Judgment Entry only sentenced
defendant on the falsification charge for the correct number of days. Id at ¶39. This Court
held that the trial court’s Judgment Entry controls as defendant was only sentenced on
the falsification charge.
{¶11} In the case sub judice, the trial court noted at the sentencing hearing the
defendant will serve a mandatory minimum term of two years to a maximum of 3.5 years
in prison. However, the Sentencing Entry corrected the maximum amount. It said, “[i]t is
the sentence of the Court that the Defendant serve an indefinite term prison term of a
mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two (2) years and a maximum term of
imprisonment of three (3) years…”. Sentencing Entry, P. 2.
{¶12} We find no merit in the proposed Assignment of Error, and it is hereby
overruled. Furthermore, after independently reviewing the record, we agree with
appellate counsel’s conclusion that no arguably meritorious claims exist upon which to
Knox County, Case No. 20CA000012 5
base an appeal. We therefore find the appeal to be wholly frivolous under Anders, grant
counsel’s request to withdraw, and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
{¶13} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of
Knox County, Ohio, is hereby affirmed.
By: Wise, John, J.
Gwin, P. J., and
Wise, Earle, J., concur.
JWW/br 1201