State v. Graley , 2023 Ohio 1535 ( 2023 )

[Cite as State v. Graley, 2023-Ohio-1535.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ASHTABULA COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 2022-A-0088
Plaintiff-Appellee,
Criminal Appeal from the
- vs - Court of Common Pleas
THOMAS JOE GRALEY,
Trial Court No. 2021 CR 00504
Defendant-Appellant.
OPINION
Decided: May 8, 2023
Judgment: Affirmed
Colleen M. O’Toole, Ashtabula County Prosecutor, 25 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson,
OH 44047 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).
Michael J. Ledenko, Assistant Public Defender, 22 East Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH
44047 (For Defendant-Appellant).
MATT LYNCH, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Thomas Joe Graley, appeals from his conviction and
sentence for Aggravated Murder in the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas. For
the following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the lower court.
{¶2} On December 3, 2021, Graley was indicted by the Ashtabula County Grand
Jury for Aggravated Murder, an unclassified felony, in violation of R.C. 2903.01(A) and
R.C. 2929.02(A); and Murder, an unclassified felony, in violation of R.C. 2903.02(B) and
R.C. 2929.02(B).
{¶3} On December 10 and 13, 2021, Graley filed Motions to Determine
Competence to Stand Trial. The court ordered a forensic examination to be completed.
A competency hearing was held on February 28, 2022, at which counsel for both sides
stipulated to the contents of the competency evaluation which found Graley was not
competent to stand trial but there was a substantial probability he could be restored to
competency following treatment. The court issued a Judgment Entry finding Graley
incapable of assisting in his defense and ordering that he undergo treatment at a mental
health facility. On June 9, 2022, a hearing was held following completion of a second
forensic examination. The parties stipulated as to the “admissibility and application of the
competency evaluation,” and the court found that Graley was competent to stand trial.
{¶4} Defense counsel subsequently sought and received appointment of an
investigator to aid in Graley’s defense, as well as moved to inspect evidence relating to
the case.
{¶5} A Written Plea of Guilty and Plea Agreement was filed on October 26, 2022.
Graley entered a plea of guilty to Aggravated Murder as charged in the indictment and
the Murder charge was dismissed. The parties indicated they agreed to a sentence of 25
years to life in prison. The State indicated that Graley killed his girlfriend after the two
had argued and observed that he had a history of domestic abuse. The victim died as a
result of several injuries, including multiple blunt force trauma injuries.
{¶6} At the plea hearing, the court explained to Graley the potential term of
incarceration. The court advised Graley of the rights waived by his entry of a guilty plea.
It determined that Graley knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights and accepted his
guilty plea.
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{¶7} The matter proceeded directly to sentencing and Graley waived a
presentence investigation. Defense counsel requested the court adopt the agreed
sentence. A victim advocate read statements from family members of the victim. The
court stated that it had considered the record and statements of the victim’s family and
accepted the stipulated sentence. It ordered Graley to serve a term of 25 years to life in
prison. This sentence was memorialized in an October 27, 2022 Judgment Entry.
{¶8} On January 3, 2023, counsel filed Graley’s appellate brief, pursuant to
Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Counsel
represented that he had reviewed the record, found “no meritorious issues” upon which
to base an appeal, and moved to withdraw. This court granted Graley 30 days in which
“to file his own submission, if he so chooses, which raises any arguments in support of
the appeal.” Appellate counsel’s request to withdraw was held in abeyance. Graley has
not filed any further brief or memorandum in support of his appeal.
{¶9} In Anders, the United States Supreme Court outlined the proper steps to be
followed in this situation: “if counsel finds his client’s case to be wholly frivolous, counsel
should advise the court and request permission to withdraw; * * * the request to withdraw
must be accompanied by a brief referring to anything in the record that might arguably
support the appeal; * * * counsel should furnish the indigent client with a copy of counsel’s
brief, and time must be allowed for the client to raise any points he chooses.” State v.
Spears, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2013-A-0027, 2014-Ohio-2695, ¶ 5, citing Anders at
744. The appellate court must conduct “a full examination of all the proceedings, to
decide whether the case is wholly frivolous.” Anders at 744. “Only after this separate
inquiry, and only after the appellate court finds no nonfrivolous issue for appeal, may the
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court proceed to consider the appeal on the merits without the assistance of
counsel.” Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988).
Accordingly, we will proceed to conduct a review of the record, pursuant to Anders.
{¶10} In his brief, counsel raises one potential area for review which may arguably
support the appeal: “The trial court erred in imposing a prison sentence greater than the
minimum prison sentence on defendant-appellant, Thomas Joe Graley.” Counsel
concludes this error lacks merit, observing that there was a jointly agreed sentence and
Graley has no right to a particular sentence within the statutorily authorized range.
{¶11} Graley and the State recommended to the court a jointly agreed sentence
of 25 years to life for Aggravated Murder. It has been held that a jointly agreed sentence
for Aggravated Murder, as with other offenses, is precluded from appellate review. State
v. Merrick, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2019-CA-29, 2020-Ohio-3744, ¶ 63. “A sentence imposed
upon a defendant is not subject to review under this section if the sentence is authorized
by law, has been recommended jointly by the defendant and the prosecution in the case,
and is imposed by a sentencing judge.” R.C. 2953.08(D)(1); State v. Fortune, 2015-Ohio-
4019, 42 N.E.3d 1224, ¶ 14 (11th Dist.). “[A]ppellant’s sentence is only authorized by law
if it comports with all mandatory sentencing provisions.” State v. McFarland, 11th Dist.
Lake No. 2013-L-061, 2014-Ohio-2883, ¶ 14.
{¶12} All of those factors are met here. Pursuant to R.C. 2929.02(A), the
penalty for “aggravated murder in violation of section 2903.01 of the Revised Code” is
death or life imprisonment. However, “R.C. 2929.03(A)(1) allows a trial court to impose
a life sentence with parole eligibility after 20, 25, or 30 years under certain circumstances,”
i.e., where the indictment charging Aggravated Murder does not contain aggravating
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circumstances specifications under R.C. 2929.04. State v. Bortree, __ Ohio St.3d __,
2022-Ohio-3890, __ N.E.3d __, ¶ 11, fn. 2. Since Graley was charged with Aggravated
Murder without aggravating circumstances, R.C. 2929.03(A)(1)(a) through (d) provide for
penalties of life in prison or life with parole eligibility after 20, 25, or 30 years imprisonment.
Graley’s sentence was authorized under the law. The court complied with the law and
also imposed the sentence that was recommended jointly by the prosecutor and Graley.
Such sentence is not subject to further review.
{¶13} Further, while the Anders brief references review of the sentence under
R.C. 2953.08, which provides for review of felony sentences on various grounds including
that the sentence is “contrary to law,” it does not allow review of a sentence for
Aggravated Murder. R.C. 2953.08(D)(3) (“[a] sentence imposed for aggravated murder
or murder pursuant to sections 2929.02 to 2929.06 of the Revised Code is not subject to
review under this section”); State v. Thomas, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2019-L-085, 2021-Ohio-
3175, ¶ 7-8. Thus, we also need not conduct a sentencing review under R.C. 2953.08.
We observe that this provision does not prohibit an appeal of a sentence for aggravated
murder which is based on constitutional grounds. State v. Patrick, 164 Ohio St. 3d 309,
2020-Ohio-6803, 172 N.E.3d 952, ¶ 22. Graley does not advance any constitutional
issues for review, nor do we find any constitutional errors relating to Graley’s sentence.
{¶14} A further review of the record reveals no other meritorious issues for review.
{¶15} As to further issues that could be raised in relation to sentencing, the court
complied with all relevant requirements for sentencing under Crim.R. 32, including
allowing allocution and presentation of victim statements and notifying Graley of any
pertinent rights relating to an appeal. There was also no error in relation to a presentence
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investigation report, as “a PSI is not required where community control is not ordered or
where it is waived by the defendant and prosecutor.” State v. Tillis, 2023-Ohio-673, __
N.E. 3d __, ¶ 34 (11th Dist.).
{¶16} We also find no errors relating to the entry and acceptance of Graley’s plea.
Prior to the entry of Graley’s guilty plea, he moved for a determination of his competency
and was found incompetent to stand trial. He was provided treatment and it was
subsequently found that he was restored to competence. We do not find any meritorious
issues for review in relation to his competence to enter his guilty plea.
{¶17} As to the issue of competency, “a trial court does not abuse its discretion in
finding a defendant competent where its findings of competency are supported by some
reliable, credible evidence.” State v. Spurrier, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2020-L-069, 2021-
Ohio-1061, ¶ 42. “The constitutional standard for assessing a defendant’s competency
to enter a guilty plea is the same as that for determining his competency to stand trial.”
State v. Montgomery, 148 Ohio St.3d 347, 2016-Ohio-5487, 71 N.E.3d 180, ¶ 56. A
defendant must have “‘sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a
reasonable degree of rational understanding’” and “‘a rational as well as factual
understanding of the proceedings against him.’” Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 396,
113 S.Ct. 2680, 125 L.Ed.2d 321 (1993), quoting Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402,
80 S.Ct. 788, 4 L.Ed.2d 824 (1960).
{¶18} The parties stipulated as to the “admissibility and application of the
competency evaluation.” The court relied on the evaluation in determining that Graley
was competent to stand trial. The evaluation supports this finding and demonstrates that
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he was able to understand the proceedings and consult with his attorney. Thus, he was
competent to enter a plea of guilty.
{¶19} Further, a review of the plea hearing proceedings support this conclusion
and reveal that his plea was entered knowingly and voluntarily. See State v. Zachery, 5th
Dist. Stark No. 2004CA00091, 2004-Ohio-6282, ¶ 21 (defendant’s competence to enter
a guilty plea was supported by his actions in executing a change of plea form and
expression that he understood his rights during the plea hearing). The court complied
with the requirements of Crim.R. 11 in accepting the plea. State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d
239, 2008-Ohio-3748, 893 N.E.2d 462, ¶ 29 (“[t]he best way to ensure that pleas are
entered knowingly and voluntarily is to simply follow the requirements of Crim.R.11 when
deciding whether to accept a plea agreement”).
{¶20} Pursuant to Crim.R. 11(C)(2), when a defendant pleads guilty to a felony
offense, the trial court must address the defendant personally and inform him of his
constitutional and non-constitutional rights prior to accepting his plea. The court was
required to inform Graley of the effect of a guilty plea and that the court may proceed to
judgment and sentencing, which it did in compliance with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b). Further,
the court was required to inform him of the waiver of the right to a jury trial, to confront
witnesses, to summon witnesses, not to be compelled to testify, and to have the state
prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c). The transcript indicates
the court advised Graley of each of these rights and he indicated his understanding of
such rights. The court explained the charges and potential sentences faced by Graley,
as required by Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a). There is nothing in the record to indicate that the plea
was not entered knowingly and voluntarily or without proper advisement of Graley’s rights.
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{¶21} Finally, we note that “an appellant’s plea of guilty waives his or her right to
assert an ineffective assistance claim unless counsel’s errors affected the knowing and
voluntary character of the plea.” State v. Green, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2017-T-0073,
2018-Ohio-3536, ¶ 19. We discern nothing in the record showing counsel made any
errors impacting the voluntary entry of Graley’s guilty plea.
{¶22} Having thus duly conducted an independent review of the record, we
conclude that the present appeal is wholly frivolous and there are no arguable issues
necessitating the appointment of new counsel. Counsel’s Motion to Withdraw is granted
and the judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
JOHN J. EKLUND, P.J.,
EUGENE A. LUCCI, J.,
concur.
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