State v. Moreno ( 2024 )


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  • [Cite as State v. Moreno, 
    2024-Ohio-2055
    .]
    COURT OF APPEALS
    MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
    STATE OF OHIO                                    JUDGES:
    Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
    Plaintiff-Appellee                       Hon. John W. Wise, J.
    Hon. Andrew J. King, J.
    -vs-
    Case No. CT2023-0052
    SHARON MORENO
    Defendant-Appellant                      OPINION
    CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                      Criminal Appeal from the County Court,
    Case No. CRB2200487
    JUDGMENT:                                     Affirmed
    DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                       May 29, 2024
    APPEARANCES:
    For Plaintiff-Appellee                        For Defendant-Appellant
    RONALD L. WELCH                               APRIL F. CAMPBELL
    PROSECUTING ATTORNEY                          CAMPBELL LAW, LLC
    JOHN CONNOR DEVER                             545 Metro Place
    ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR                          Suite 100
    27 North Fifth Street, P. O. Box 189          Dublin, Ohio 43017
    Zanesville, Ohio 43702
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                     2
    Wise, J.
    {¶1}    Defendant-Appellant Sharon Moreno appeals her conviction and sentence
    entered in the Muskingum County Court following a no-contest plea on two counts of child
    endangering.
    {¶2}    Plaintiff-Appellee is the State of Ohio.
    STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
    {¶3}    The limited facts and procedural history are as follows:
    {¶4}    Appellant Sharon Moreno was charged in Muskingum County Court with
    three counts of Child Endangering, in violation of R.C. §2919.22, all first-degree
    misdemeanors.
    {¶5}    On June 26, 2023, pursuant to a plea agreement, Appellant entered a plea
    of no contest to two counts of child endangering, Counts 1 and 3. The State of Ohio nolled
    the remaining count. Appellant’s counsel stipulated to the facts to support this plea. (T. at
    6). Appellant agreed to that stipulation. Id. Due to said stipulation to the facts, there are
    no facts on the record as to what constituted the child endangering offenses.
    {¶6}    Prior to Appellant entering her plea on the record, the prosecution informed
    the trial court that the parties had reached a plea agreement and that the parties joint
    recommendation was a thirty-day jail sentence with work release. Id. (T. at 4). The trial
    court informed Appellant it would not be following this joint recommendation. (T. at 4).
    {¶7}    At sentencing, the victim's Aunt spoke as their representative. She had
    previously submitted a letter to the trial court advocating for the maximum sentence. She
    informed the judge that she objected to the recommendation and asked for the trial court
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                       3
    to impose maximum sentences. (T. at 9-10). Appellant contested much of the allegations
    made by the Aunt. (T. at 14.)
    {¶8}     Counsel for Appellant then offered mitigation as to Appellant's rehabilitation,
    stating that she had been actively working her case plan with Child Protective Services
    for the year the case was pending, that she was in therapy, and that she was seeing a
    psychiatrist weekly. (T. at 10-11). Counsel also stated that Appellant was taking
    medication to address the underlying concerns. (T. at 19).
    {¶9}     The trial court then proceeded to sentencing, imposing a ninety-day jail
    sentence on each count, to be served consecutively for an aggregate sentence of 180
    days in jail.
    {¶10} Appellant now appeals, raising the following assignments of error for review:
    ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
    {¶11} “I. MORENO'S PLEA AND SENTENCED [SIC] SHOULD BE REVERSED
    BECAUSE MORENO WAS PROMISED WORK RELEASE, BUT SHE DID NOT GET IT.
    {¶12} “II. MORENO'S SENTENCES SHOULD BE REVERSED BECAUSE THE
    TRIAL COURT'S DECISION TO IMPOSE CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES SHOULD BE
    VACATED.
    {¶13} “III. MORENO'S SENTENCES SHOULD BE REVERSED: THE TRIAL
    COURT'S DECISION TO IMPOSE A JAIL TERM FAILED TO COMPLY WITH
    MISDEMEANOR SENTENCING STATUTES. THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO
    CONSIDER MORENO'S REHABILITATION.”
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                   4
    I.
    {¶14} In her first assignment of error, Appellant argues that her plea and sentence
    should be reversed because the trial court erred in not granting her work release. We
    disagree.
    {¶15} As conceded by Appellant in her brief, the record in this matter contains no
    promises made by the trial court to Appellant promising her that it will grant her work-
    release.
    {¶16} Our appellate review is limited to the record before us and the record in this
    case is devoid of any promises by the trial court concerning work release. Appellate
    review is strictly limited to the record. State v. Brown, 5th Dist. Richland No. 2022 CA
    0042, 
    2023-Ohio-3906
    , ¶ 68, citing The Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Co. v. Jacobs, 
    58 Ohio St. 77
    , 
    50 N.E. 97
     (1898). “The duty to insure that the record on appeal is complete
    falls upon the appellant.” Heinrichs v. 356 Registry, Inc., 10th Dist. No. 15AP-532, 2016-
    Ohio-4646, 
    70 N.E.3d 91
    , 
    2016 WL 3522293
    , ¶ 68 quoting Greff v. Meeks & Co., 10th
    Dist. No. 96APE05–692, 
    1997 WL 15134
     (Jan. 16, 1997). See also App.R. 9(B)(1). “The
    duty of submitting the record falls upon an appellant because it is he who bears the burden
    of showing error by reference to matters in the record.” 
    Id.
     quoting Watley v. Dept. of
    Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. No. 06AP–1128, 
    2007-Ohio-1841
    , 
    2007 WL 1153050
    , ¶ 16.
    Thus, when portions of the record “necessary for resolution of assigned errors are omitted
    from the record, the reviewing court has nothing to pass upon and thus, as to those
    assigned errors, the court has no choice but to presume the validity of the lower court's
    proceedings, and affirm.” Knapp v. Edwards Laboratories, 
    61 Ohio St.2d 197
    , 199, 
    400 N.E.2d 384
     (1980).
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                     5
    {¶17} An appellate court addressing a direct appeal is not permitted to add matter
    to the record which was not part of the trial court proceedings. See, e.g., State v. Hill, 
    90 Ohio St.3d 571
    , 573, 
    740 N.E.2d 282
    , 
    2001-Ohio-20
    , citing State v. Ishmail (1978), 
    54 Ohio St.2d 402
    , 
    377 N.E.2d 500
    .
    {¶18} Based on the foregoing, we find Appellant’s first assignment of error not
    well-taken and overrule same.
    II., III.
    {¶19} In her second and third assignments of error, Appellant argues the trial court
    erred in imposing consecutive sentences and further failed to comply with misdemeanor
    sentencing statutes. We disagree.
    Misdemeanor Sentencing
    {¶20} Generally, misdemeanor sentencing is within the sound discretion of the
    trial court and will not be disturbed upon review if the sentence is within the limits of the
    applicable statute. State v. Thadur, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 
    15 COA 018
    , 
    2016-Ohio-417
    ,
    
    59 N.E.3d 602
    , ¶ 11, citing State v. Smith, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 05CA0006, 2006-Ohio-
    1558, ¶ 21, internal citation omitted. See also State v. Chadwick, 5th Dist. Knox No.
    08CA15, 
    2009-Ohio-2472
    , ¶ 30; State v. Lewis, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 2006-CA-00066,
    
    2007 WL 270448
     (Sept. 12, 2007), ¶19. To find an abuse of discretion, the reviewing
    court must determine that the trial court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or
    unconscionable and not merely an error of law or judgment. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 
    5 Ohio St.3d 217
    , 219, 
    450 N.E.2d 1140
     (1983). An abuse of discretion can be found where
    the reasons given by the court for its action are clearly untenable, legally incorrect, or
    amount to a denial of justice, or where the judgment reaches an end or purpose not
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                   6
    justified by reason and the evidence. Tennant v. Gallick, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26827,
    
    2014-Ohio-477
    , ¶35; In re Guardianship of S.H., 9th Dist. Medina No. 13CA0066-M,
    
    2013-Ohio-4380
    , ¶ 9; State v. Firouzmandi, 5th Dist. Licking No. 2006-CA-41, 2006-Ohio-
    5823, ¶54.
    {¶21} R.C. §2929.22 lists factors that a sentencing court must consider when it
    imposes a sentence,
    (B)(1) In determining the appropriate sentence for a misdemeanor,
    the court shall consider all of the following factors:
    (a) The nature and circumstances of the offense or offenses;
    (b) Whether the circumstances regarding the offender and the
    offense or offenses indicate that the offender has a history of persistent
    criminal activity and that the offender's character and condition reveal a
    substantial risk that the offender will commit another offense;
    (c) Whether the circumstances regarding the offender and the
    offense or offenses indicate that the offender's history, character, and
    condition reveal a substantial risk that the offender will be a danger to others
    and that the offender's conduct has been characterized by a pattern of
    repetitive, compulsive, or aggressive behavior with heedless indifference to
    the consequences;
    (d) Whether the victim's youth, age, disability, or other factor made
    the victim particularly vulnerable to the offense or made the impact of the
    offense more serious;
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                  7
    (e) Whether the offender is likely to commit future crimes in general,
    in addition to the circumstances described in divisions (B)(1)(b) and (c) of
    this section;
    (f) Whether the offender has an emotional, mental, or physical
    condition that is traceable to the offender's service in the armed forces of
    the United States and that was a contributing factor in the offender's
    commission of the offense or offenses;
    (g) The offender's military service record.
    (2) In determining the appropriate sentence for a misdemeanor, in
    addition to complying with division (B)(1) of this section, the court may
    consider any other factors that are relevant to achieving the purposes and
    principles of sentencing set forth in section 2929.21 of the Revised Code.
    {¶22} R.C. §2929.21 sets forth the criteria to be considered in imposing a jail term
    for a misdemeanor:
    (A) A court that sentences an offender for a misdemeanor or minor
    misdemeanor violation of any provision of the Revised Code, or of any
    municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to a misdemeanor or minor
    misdemeanor violation of a provision of the Revised Code, shall be guided
    by the overriding purposes of misdemeanor sentencing. The overriding
    purposes of misdemeanor sentencing are to protect the public from future
    crime by the offender and others and to punish the offender. To achieve
    those purposes, the sentencing court shall consider the impact of the
    offense upon the victim and the need for changing the offender's behavior,
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                  8
    rehabilitating the offender, and making restitution to the victim of the
    offense, the public, or the victim and the public.
    (B) A sentence imposed for a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor
    violation of a Revised Code provision or for a violation of a municipal
    ordinance that is subject to division (A) of this section shall be reasonably
    calculated to achieve the two overriding purposes of misdemeanor
    sentencing set forth in division (A) of this section, commensurate with and
    not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and its impact
    upon the victim, and consistent with sentences imposed for similar offenses
    committed by similar offenders.
    {¶23} Under R.C. §2929.21(A) and (B), to achieve the purposes of protecting the
    public from future crime and punishing the offender, the sentencing court is to inter alia
    consider the offender's conduct, the impact of the offender's conduct on the victims, and
    the consistency of the sentence with sentences for similar offenses. State v. Frank, 5th
    Dist. Muskingum No. CT2017-0102, 
    2018-Ohio-5148
    , 
    127 N.E.3d 363
    , ¶ 55 citing Thadur,
    
    2016-Ohio-417
    , 
    59 N.E.3d 602
    , ¶ 15.
    {¶24} A trial court must consider the criteria of R.C. §2929.22 and the principles
    of R.C. §2929.21 before imposing a misdemeanor sentence. State v. Crable, 7th Dist.
    No. 04 BE 17, 
    2004-Ohio-6812
    , 
    2004 WL 2913280
    , ¶ 24. However, in misdemeanor
    sentencing, there is no requirement that a trial court specifically state its reasons for
    imposing the sentence that it does on the record. State v. Harpster, 5th Dist. Ashland No.
    
    04COA061
    , 
    2005-Ohio-1046
    .”; State v. Wallace, 7th Dist. No. 12 MA 180, 2013-Ohio-
    2871, 
    2013 WL 3368417
    , ¶ 16, 18. “When determining a misdemeanor sentence, R.C.
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                  9
    2929.22 does not mandate that the record reveal the trial court's consideration of the
    statutory sentencing factors.” State v. Nelson, 
    172 Ohio App.3d 419
    , 
    2007-Ohio-3459
    ,
    
    875 N.E.2d 137
    , ¶ 14 (2d Dist.). See also State v. Williams, 4th Dist. No. 15CA3, 2016-
    Ohio-733, ¶ 23.
    {¶25} The reviewing court is to presume the trial judge made the required
    considerations absent an affirmative showing to the contrary. State v. Best, 7th Dist. No.
    08 MA 260, 
    2009-Ohio-6806
    , 
    2009 WL 4985170
    , ¶ 14; See also State v. Jones, 1st Dist.
    No. C-140241, 
    2015-Ohio-490
    , 
    2015 WL 627217
    , ¶ 20; Nelson, 
    172 Ohio App.3d 419
    ,
    2007 -Ohio- 3459, 
    875 N.E.2d 137
     at ¶ 14; State v. Ramirez, 3d Dist. No. 13-04-30, 2005-
    Ohio-1430, 
    2005 WL 696868
    , ¶ 30. A silent record creates a rebuttable presumption that
    the sentencing court considered the statutory misdemeanor sentencing criteria. Wallace,
    7th Dist. No. 12 MA 180 at ¶ 16; Best, 7th Dist. No. 08 MA 260 at ¶ 14.
    {¶26} “The burden of demonstrating this error falls to the appellant.” State v.
    Endress, 9th Dist. No. 08CA0011-M, 
    2008-Ohio-4498
    , 
    2008 WL 4115838
    , ¶ 4.
    {¶27} Here, the sentencing entry does not affirmatively show the trial court failed
    to consider the statutory factors. “[T]he mere failure to evince consideration of the
    misdemeanor sentencing factors in the sentencing entry is not a legal error.” State v.
    Nuby, 7th Dist. No. 16 MA 0036 at ¶ 17.
    Consecutive Sentences
    {¶28} R.C. §2929.41(B)(1) provides, in relevant part,
    (B)(1) A jail term or sentence of imprisonment for a misdemeanor
    shall be served consecutively to any other prison term, jail term, or sentence
    of imprisonment when the trial court specifies that it is to be served
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                  10
    consecutively or when it is imposed for a misdemeanor violation of section
    2907.322, 2921.34, or 2923.131 of the Revised Code.
    When consecutive sentences are imposed for misdemeanor under
    this division, the term to be served is the aggregate of the consecutive terms
    imposed, except that the aggregate term to be served shall not exceed
    eighteen months.
    {¶29} R.C. §2929.41(B)(1) does not require the trial court use particular language
    when ordering sentences to be served consecutively. State v. Alexander, 8th Dist.
    Cuyahoga No. 102708, 
    2016-Ohio-204
    , 
    2016 WL 299272
    , ¶ 2.
    {¶30} Appellant argues the trial court failed to make the statutory findings for
    consecutive sentences pursuant to R.C. §2929.14(C)(4). Appellant herein was not
    convicted of any felonies, only misdemeanors. “R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) does not apply to a
    conviction that includes consecutive service of misdemeanor jail terms.” State v.
    Cunningham, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 2022 CA 00008, 
    2022-Ohio-3982
    , ¶ 58, citing State
    v. Alexander, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102708, 
    2016-Ohio-204
    , 
    2016 WL 299272
    , ¶ 2.
    {¶31} Further, as explained by the Eighth District Court of Appeals, R.C.
    2929.14(C)(4) is limited to the imposition of consecutive “prison terms” and not “jail
    terms.” State v. Alexander, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102708, 
    2016-Ohio-204
    , 
    2016 WL 299272
    , ¶ 6 citing State v. Peterson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102428, 
    2015-Ohio-4581
    , ¶
    7; State v. Maloney, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA99-01-006, 
    1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 4600
    ,
    *7,
    1999 WL 760923
    , *–––– (Sept. 27, 1999); State v. Kroger, 12th Dist. Clermont No.
    CA99-05-050, 
    2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 1393
    , 
    2000 WL 342130
     (Apr. 3, 2000). The court
    of appeals clarified:
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                                 11
    “Prison” is defined as a residential facility used for the confinement of
    convicted felony offenders under the control of the Department of Rehabilitation
    and Correction. R.C. 2929.01(AA). On the other hand, “jail term” is defined as a
    jail sentence imposed pursuant to the misdemeanor sentencing statute, R.C.
    2929.24. Prison and jail are two separate types of imprisonment.
    
    Id.
    {¶32} We therefore find no error in the trial court ordering the misdemeanor
    sentences to be served consecutively without making statutory findings pursuant to R.C.
    §2929.14(C)(4).
    Conclusion
    {¶33} Appellant pled to and was convicted of two misdemeanors of the first
    degree. The two 90-day jail terms are within the statutory range for a misdemeanor of the
    first degree. R.C. §2929.24(A)(1). The aggregate 180-day sentence does not exceed the
    permissible sentence for multiple offenses as set forth in R.C. §2929.41(B)(1).
    Accordingly, an aggregate sentence of 180 days in this case is not contrary to law.
    {¶34} Upon a review of the record in this case, we find no abuse of discretion by
    the trial court in sentencing Appellant to two consecutive 90-day terms for an aggregate
    sentence of 180 days in jail. The sentence is within the statutory range for a misdemeanor
    of the first degree. The 180-day sentence does not exceed the permissible sentence for
    multiple offenses as set forth in R.C. §2929.41(B)(1).
    {¶35} The trial court's sentence is not legally incorrect or untenable. Further, the
    sentence does not amount to a denial of justice, or reach an end or purpose not justified
    by reason and the evidence.
    Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0052                                          12
    {¶36} Accordingly, the judgment of the County Court, Muskingum County, Ohio,
    is affirmed.
    By: Wise, J.
    Gwin, P. J., and
    King, J., concur.
    JWW/kw 0523
    

Document Info

Docket Number: CT2023-0052

Judges: Wise

Filed Date: 5/29/2024

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 5/29/2024