State v. Messenger , 2011 Ohio 2017 ( 2011 )

[Cite as State v. Messenger , 2011-Ohio-2017.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ATHENS COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee, : Case No. 10CA34
:
vs. : Released: April 22, 2011
:
MATTHEW T. MESSENGER, : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
Defendant-Appellant. :
_____________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Matthew T. Messenger, Chillicothe, Ohio, Appellant, pro se.
C. David Warren, Athens County Prosecuting Attorney, and George J.
Reitmeier, Athens County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Athens, Ohio, for
Appellee.
_____________________________________________________________
McFarland, J.:
{¶1} This is an appeal from an Athens County Court of Common
Pleas judgment entry, issued after holding a re-sentencing hearing in order to
properly impose a mandatory five-year term of post release control. On
appeal, Appellant contends in his first through third assignments of error that
his conviction and sentence are void for failure to comply with statutory
requirements, and claims that he was thus deprived of his constitutional
rights to due process. Further, in his fourth and fifth assignments of error
Appellant contends that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to impose
Athens App. No. 10CA34 2
mandated post release control and that his sentence should be reversed
because it was imposed over six years after his guilty plea was entered.
{¶2} In light of our conclusion that Appellant was informed during the
sentencing hearing that the five-year term of post release control was
mandatory, not discretionary, the proper remedy was to add the omitted post
release control language in a nunc pro tunc entry after a hearing. As such,
Appellant’s first, second and third assignments of error are overruled. With
respect to Appellant’s fourth assignment of error, as Appellant had not yet
been released from prison at the time of his re-sentencing hearing, the trial
court did not err in re-sentencing Appellant to properly impose mandatory
post release control. Finally, with respect to Appellant’s fifth assignment of
error, we conclude there was no unnecessary delay in imposing sentence.
Thus, Appellant’s fourth and fifth assignments of error are also overruled.
Accordingly, the decision of the trial court is affirmed.
FACTS
{¶3} On May 24, 2004, a combined plea and sentencing hearing was
held wherein Appellant pled guilty to five counts of rape in violation of R.C.
2907.02(A)(1)(b), all first degree felonies. During both the plea hearing and
the sentencing hearing, Appellant was correctly advised that he would be
subject to a mandatory five-year period of post release control However, the
Athens App. No. 10CA34 3
judgment entry issued on June 3, 2004, incorrectly stated that “post-release
control is optional in this case up to a maximum of five (5) years[.]”
{¶4} On April 14, 2010, Appellant filed a motion to impose a valid
sentence. In response, on June 2, 2010, a re-sentencing hearing was held
wherein the trial court “re-affirmed its findings and sentence from the earlier
hearing except that it modified the order regarding Post-Release Control.”
A judgment entry was filed on June 4, 2010, and it is from this entry that
Appellant brings his timely appeal, assigning the following errors for our
review.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
“I. JUDGEMENT OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCE ARE VOID
FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS AND THUS THE ACCUSED HAS BEEN
DEPRIVED OF HIS RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS IN VIOLATION
OF THE 5TH, 6TH, AND 14TH AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
II. JUDGEMENT OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCE ARE VOID
FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS AND THUS THE ACCUSED HAS BEEN
DEPRIVED OF HIS RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS IN VIOLATION
OF THE 5TH, 6TH, AND 14TH AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
III. JUDGEMENT OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCE ARE VOID
FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS AND THUS THE ACCUSED HAS BEEN
DEPRIVED OF HIS RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS IN VIOLATION
OF THE 5TH, 6TH, AND 14TH AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
Athens App. No. 10CA34 4
IV. THE TRIAL COURT LACKED JURISDICTION TO IMPOSE
MANDATED POST-RELEASE CONTROL UPON THE
APPELLANT.
V. THE SENTENCE SHOULD BE REVERSED AS IT VIOLATES
CRIMINAL RULE 32, AND THE 5TH, 6TH, AND 14TH
AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES, BECAUSE IT WAS IMPOSED OVER 6 YEARS AFTER
THE GUILTY PLEA.”
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR I, II AND III
{¶5} In his first, second, and third assignments of error, Appellant
contends that his judgment of conviction and sentence are void as a result of
the trial court’s failure to comply with statutory requirements in imposing
post release control. He claims that, as a result, he was deprived of his rights
to due process under the 5th, 6th and 14th Amendments of the United States
Constitution. In raising this argument, Appellant alleges that 1) the sentence
purportedly imposed was void; 2) the trial court lacked jurisdiction to
impose a mandated five-year term of post release control at the re-sentencing
hearing; and 3) that the trial court erred by holding a re-sentencing hearing
instead of vacating the sentence and holding a full de novo sentencing
hearing.
{¶6} By enacting R.C. 2929.191, effective date July 11, 2006, the
legislature promulgated a statutory remedy for trial courts to use to correct
an error in imposing post release control. State v. Singleton, 124 Ohio St.3d
Athens App. No. 10CA34 5
173, 2009-Ohio-6434, 920 N.E.2d 958, at ¶ 1. In Singleton, the Supreme
Court of Ohio reasoned as follows with respect to the retroactive application
of R.C. 2929.191:
“for sentences imposed prior to July 11, 2006, in which a trial court failed to
properly impose postrelease control, trial courts shall conduct a de novo
sentencing hearing in accordance with decisions of the Supreme Court of
Ohio. However, for criminal sentences imposed on and after July 11, 2006,
in which a trial court failed to properly impose postrelease control, trial
courts shall apply the procedures set forth in R.C. 2929.191.” Singleton at ¶
1.
Thus, Singleton holds that R.C. 2929.191 applies only prospectively and
essentially provides that if a trial court fails to properly impose post release
control, after a hearing, it may issue a nunc pro tunc entry correcting the
error.
{¶7} Appellant herein was sentenced prior to the effective date of
R.C. 2929.191. Thus, the reasoning set forth in Singleton would seem to
dictate that the trial court conduct a de novo sentencing hearing. However,
the Supreme Court of Ohio recently modified its position on the type of
hearing that must be conducted to correct an error related to the imposition
of post release control. In State v. Fischer, 128 Ohio St. 3d 92, 2010-Ohio-
6238, 942 N.E.2d 332, at paragraphs one and two of the syllabus, the Court
held that a sentence that does not include the statutorily mandated term of
post release control is void and that the new sentencing hearing to which an
Athens App. No. 10CA34 6
offender is entitled under State v. Bezak, 114 Ohio St. 3d 94, 2007-Ohio-
3250, 868 N.E.2d 961, is limited to the proper imposition of post release
control. In further explaining its holding, the Fischer Court stated that
“when a judge fails to impose statutorily mandated postrelease control as
part of a defendant’s sentence, that part of the sentence that is void and must
be set aside. Neither the Constitution nor common sense commands
anything more.” Fischer at ¶ 26.
{¶8} Further, based on facts identical to the facts sub judice, in State
v. Qualls, Meigs App. No. 10CA8, 2010-Ohio-5316, at ¶ 13, this Court drew
a distinction between failing to properly notify an offender of a mandatory
term of post release control during the sentencing hearing and failing to
properly include that term in the sentencing entry. In Qualls, we reasoned
that because the trial court properly imposed post release control at the
sentencing hearing, but simply failed to properly include it in the sentencing
entry, the proper remedy was to add the omitted post release control
language in a nunc pro tunc entry after a hearing. Id. Thus, we essentially
reasoned that because Appellant received the proper notice at the sentencing
hearing, his sentence was not void. Rather, the failure of the sentencing
entry to accurately reflect the imposition of post release control was a
clerical error capable of correction. As set forth above, our review of the
Athens App. No. 10CA34 7
record clearly demonstrates that although Appellant’s original sentencing
entry did not include a mandatory term of post release control, Appellant
was advised during his original sentencing hearing that he would be subject
to a mandatory five-year term of post release control.
{¶9} Here, Appellant was conveyed from prison to attend a re-
sentencing hearing, and was accompanied by his attorney during that
hearing. The trial court’s sentencing entry issued after the hearing properly
included language indicating that the five-year term of post release control
was mandatory. The entry also stated that “[t]he Court re-affirmed its
findings and sentence from the earlier hearing except that it modified the
order regarding Post-Release control.” As such, we conclude that the trial
court’s actions in conducting a hearing and issuing a corrected journal entry
properly remedied the omission in the original sentencing entry and were in
accordance with State v. Qualls, supra, as well as State v. Fischer, supra.
See also, State ex rel. Carnail v. McCormick, 126 Ohio St. 3d 124, 2010-
Ohio-2671, 931 N.E.2d 110 (granting writ of mandamus compelling trial
court judge to issue a sentencing entry that complies with post release
control provisions of R.C. 2967.28); State v. Harrison, Butler App. No.
CA2009-10-272 and CA2010-01-019, 2010-Ohio-2709 at ¶22-23 (reasoning
that where defendant was properly advised of post release control term at
Athens App. No. 10CA34 8
sentencing hearing, error in original entry was clerical and nunc pro tunc
entry may be used to correct clerical mistake).
{¶10} We do note, however, that we recently certified a conflict to the
Supreme Court of Ohio between our decisions in State v. Qualls and State v.
Lee, Lucas App. No. L-09-1279, 2010-Ohio-1704, where, based on the same
facts, the court concluded that an omission in the sentencing entry could not
be remedied with a nunc pro tunc entry and instead required a de novo
sentencing hearing.1 Nonetheless, in an effort to adhere to precedent, our
decision today is consistent with our prior reasoning in State v. Qualls,
supra. Accordingly, Appellant’s first, second and third assignments of error
are overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV
{¶11} In his fourth assignment of error, Appellant contends that as he
already completed the first two of five consecutive three year prison terms,
the trial court was without jurisdiction to impose a mandatory five year term
of post release control as to those two convictions and sentences. In support
of his contention, Appellant argues that a trial court may not correct an
erroneous sentence once an offender’s sentence has been completed. He
also argues that the error in the sentencing entry rendered his sentences void.
1
In light of the recent holding in State v. Fischer, supra, however, State v. Lee would now be incorrect to
the extent that it demands a de novo sentencing hearing.
Athens App. No. 10CA34 9
{¶12} The record before us reveals that Appellant pled guilty to five
counts of rape and was sentenced to three year prison terms on each count,
to be served consecutively, for an aggregate term of fifteen years. In
addition, Appellant was notified twice at his combined plea and sentencing
hearing that he would be subject to a mandatory five-year term of post
release control. However, the original sentencing entry mistakenly stated
that post release control was “optional in this case up to a maximum of five
(5) years[.]”
{¶13} In light of our reasoning with respect to Appellant’s first three
assignments of error that where Appellant was properly advised of
mandatory post release control in the sentencing hearing, that such a mistake
was essentially clerical and could be corrected by the trial court, we disagree
with Appellant’s contention that his sentences are void.2 Thus, the trial
court did not lack jurisdiction to correct its original sentencing entry.
{¶14} Further, in State ex rel. Cruzado v. Zaleski, 111 Ohio St. 3d 353,
358, 2006-Ohio-5795, 856 N.E.2d 263, the Supreme Court of Ohio reasoned
that as Cruzado’s sentence had not been completed at the time he was re-
sentenced, the judge “was authorized to correct the invalid sentence to
2
In reaching this conclusion we are mindful of the Supreme Court of Ohio’s recent statement contained in
State v. Fischer that “[t]he failure to impose a statutorily mandated period of postrelease control is more
than administrative or clerical error. It is an act that lacks both statutory and constitutional authority.”
Fischer at ¶ 22. Again, based upon our prior reasoning in Qualls, supra, we believe that the fact that
Appellant was properly advised of mandatory post release control during his original sentencing hearing
factually distinguishes the present case from Fischer.
Athens App. No. 10CA34 10
include the appropriate, mandatory postrelease-control term.” See, also
State v. Fischer, supra, (permitting re-sentencing after appellant served more
than five years of an aggregate fourteen year prison sentence for multiple
offenses including firearms specifications on each); State v. Jenkins,
Montgomery App. No. 24117, 2011-Ohio-634 at ¶4 (permitting re-
sentencing of appellant just two weeks before expiration of prison term
consisting of ten year term for rape and eight year term for felonious assault
being served concurrently).
{¶15} Thus, we conclude that as Appellant had not yet completed his
aggregate prison term of fifteen years, the trial court had jurisdiction to re-
sentence him. As such, Appellant’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR V
{¶16} In his fifth assignment of error, Appellant contends that his
sentence should be reversed as it violates Crim.R. 32, as well as the 5th, 6th,
and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution. Appellant argues
that his original sentence was invalid, therefore resulting in a six year delay
from the time he was found guilty to the time he was re-sentenced.
{¶17} Crim.R. 32(A) provides that “[s]entence shall be imposed
without unnecessary delay.” In the present case, Appellant pled guilty and
was sentenced in one combined hearing held on May 24, 2004. The trial
Athens App. No. 10CA34 11
court issued its judgment entry on June 3, 2004. Appellant did not make the
trial court aware of the sentencing error until he filed his motion to impose a
valid sentence on April 14, 2010. A re-sentencing hearing was scheduled
for June 2, 2010. On that same day, Appellant also filed a motion to
dismiss, claiming a delay in sentencing in violation of Crim.R. 32.
{¶18} On June 4, 2010, the trial court issued its judgment entry
imposing a mandatory five-year period of post release control, reaffirming
Appellant’s original sentence in all other respects, and denying Appellant’s
motion to dismiss. Based upon this timeline, we can discern no
unreasonable or unnecessary delay between Appellant’s original plea and
sentence, or Appellant’s motion for imposition of valid sentence and his re-
sentencing.
{¶19} As we have already noted, Appellant was properly advised
during his original sentencing hearing that he would be subject to a
mandatory five-year term of post release control. Thus, we have concluded
that his original sentence was not void and the trial court had jurisdiction to
correct its prior error in its sentencing entry. Further, assuming arguendo
there is no distinction between failing to properly advise of post release
control at the sentencing hearing and failing to properly include that notice
in the sentencing entry, based upon the reasoning of Fischer, “when a judge
Athens App. No. 10CA34 12
fails to impose statutorily mandated postrelease control as part of a
defendant’s sentence, that part of the sentence that is void and must be set
aside[]” and “only the offending portion of the sentence is subject to review
and correction.” Fischer at ¶ 26-27. Moreover, res judicata “applies to
other aspects of the merits of a conviction, including the determination of
guilt and the lawful elements of the ensuing sentence.” Id. at ¶ 40.
{¶20} Thus, in light of the foregoing, the error in Appellant’s original
sentence was, at best, under Qualls, supra, a clerical error capable of
correction at any time by the trial court. At worst, under Fischer, supra, the
error rendered only the post release control aspect of Appellant’s sentence
void, and left all other aspects of Appellant’s conviction and sentence,
including his aggregate fifteen year prison term, in tact. As such, we reject
Appellant’s argument that there was an unnecessary delay in imposing
sentence upon him. Accordingly, Appellant’s fifth and final assignment of
error is overruled.
{¶21} Having overruled all of Appellant’s assignments of error, the
judgment and sentence of the trial court as set forth in its June 4, 2010,
judgment entry is affirmed.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Athens App. No. 10CA34 13
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and that the
Appellee recover of 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 Athens County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into
execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE
UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL
COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to
exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a
continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio
an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If
a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the
expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a
notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal
period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme
Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the
appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date
of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Exceptions.
Abele, J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion.
Harsha, P.J.: Concurs in Judgment Only.
For the Court,
BY: _________________________
Matthew W. McFarland, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from
the date of filing with the clerk.