State v. Branham , 2014 Ohio 5067 ( 2014 )

[Cite as State v. Branham, 2014-Ohio-5067.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR CLARK COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO :
Plaintiff-Appellee : C.A. CASE NO. 2013 CA 49
v. : T.C. NO. 13CR109
ROGER BRANHAM, JR. : (Criminal appeal from
Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
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OPINION
Rendered on the 14th day of November , 2014.
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RYAN A. SAUNDERS, Atty. Reg. No. 0091678, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 50 E.
Columbia Street, Suite 449, Springfield, Ohio 45502
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
GARY C. SCHAENGOLD, Atty. Reg. No. 0007144, 4 East Schantz Avenue, Dayton, Ohio
45409
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
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DONOVAN, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Roger Branham, Jr., appeals his conviction and
sentence for one count of gross sexual imposition (GSI), in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(1),
a felony of the fourth degree. Branham filed a timely notice of appeal with this Court on
June 4, 2013.
{¶ 2} On February 19, 2013, Branham was indicted for one count of GSI (victim
less than thirteen years of age), in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4), a felony of the third
degree. At his arraignment on February 25, 2013, Branham pled not guilty.
{¶ 3} On May 29, 2013, Branham pled guilty to a reduced charge of GSI, in
violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(1), a felony of the fourth degree. Branham was subsequently
sentenced to a maximum term of eighteen months in prison. At the time of his plea and
sentencing in the instant case, Branham was on post-release control (PRC) from a previous
felony conviction for rape1 of a child under thirteen. As a result of the PRC violation, the
trial court sentenced Branham to an additional year in prison, to be served consecutively to
his sentence for GSI. This resulted in an aggregate sentence of two years and six months in
prison.
{¶ 4} Branham’s appeal was originally filed on June 4, 2013. Pursuant to Anders
v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.E.2d 493 (1967), original appellate counsel
for Branham asserted that there were no meritorious issues for review. By magistrate’s
order of November 12, 2013, we informed Branham that his counsel had filed an Anders
1
Case No. 2003 CR 494.
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brief and invited him to file a pro se brief assigning any error for our review within sixty
days of our order. Branham did not file anything with this Court. In a decision and entry
filed on February 27, 2014, we found that a potentially meritorious issue existed for appeal
regarding whether the trial court erred when it failed to advise Branham that any additional
sentence the court decided to impose for his PRC violation would have to run consecutively
to his sentence for GSI. Accordingly, we appointed new appellate counsel to represent
Branham, and his merit brief was filed on April 2, 2014.
{¶ 5} Branham’s appeal is now properly before this Court.
{¶ 6} Branham’s sole assignment of error is as follows:
{¶ 7} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN IMPOSING CONSECUTIVE
SENTENCES UPON APPELLANT FOR THE OFFENSE IN THIS CASE AND FOR
VIOLATING POST-RELEASE CONTROL.”
{¶ 8} In his sole assignment, Branham contends that the trial court erred when it
sentenced him to consecutive prison terms for the offense in the instant case and for
violating the terms of his PRC.
{¶ 9} R.C. 2929.141 addresses the commission of an offense by a person under
post-release control. It provides:
(A) Upon the conviction of or plea of guilty to a felony by a person on
post-release control at the time of the commission of the felony, the court
may terminate the term of post-release control, and the court may do either of
the following regardless of whether the sentencing court or another court of
this state imposed the original prison term for which the person is on
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post-release control:
(1) In addition to any prison term for the new felony, impose a prison
term for the post-release control violation. The maximum prison term for
the violation shall be the greater of twelve months or the period of
post-release control for the earlier felony minus any time the person has spent
under post-release control for the earlier felony. In all cases, any prison term
imposed for the violation shall be reduced by any prison term that is
administratively imposed by the parole board as a post-release control
sanction. A prison term imposed for the violation shall be served
consecutively to any prison term imposed for the new felony. The imposition
of a prison term for the post-release control violation shall terminate the
period of post-release control for the earlier felony.
(2) Impose a sanction under sections 2929.15 to 2929.18 of the
Revised Code for the violation that shall be served concurrently or
consecutively, as specified by the court, with any community control
sanctions for the new felony.
(Emphasis added.) R.C. 2929.141(A).
{¶ 10} Branham argues that at the plea hearing, the trial court did not inquire as to
whether he was on PRC when he committed the instant offense, and the State presented no
evidence in that regard. Branham further asserts that the language in the “plea entry” does
not satisfy the requirements of R.C. 2929.141.
{¶ 11} The record of the plea hearing reveals the following discussion regarding
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Branham’s PRC status:
The Court: The Court has been handed a written plea of guilty to an
amended charge of gross sexual imposition under [R.C.] 2907.05(A)(1),
which is a felony of the fourth degree. The document further indicates that
the State will take no action on any PRC violations, and the parties
understand that a presentence investigation will be conducted prior to
disposition on June the 2nd. (Emphasis added)
(Trans. 3, Lns. 14-21)
The Court: Are you on probation, parole, community control, or
post-release control?
Branham: Parole.
Defense Counsel: PRC, I think, is what it is.
The Court: Post-release control?
Branham: Yeah, PRC.
The Court: And what offense were you in prison for that you were
released on PRC?
Branham: Rape.
The Court: Have you discussed your case and possible defenses with
your attorney?
A: Yes.
Q: Are you satisfied with the advice and representation that your
attorney’s given you?
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A: Yes, sir.
Q: Is this your signature on the plea form?
A: Yes.
Q: Before you signed the document, did you read it, go over it with
your attorney?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Did you understand everything in the document?
A: Yes, sir, I did.
(Trans. 5-6).
***
Q: In your plea agreement, it says the State will not – how is that
worded – take action on [the] PRC violation.
You understand the Prosecutor, first of all, does not represent the
Parole Authority and cannot speak for the Parole Authority. Second, the
prosecutor’s office does not speak for the Court. So their agreement not to
proceed with [the] PRC violation does not mean that I will not sentence you
for a PRC violation.
Do you understand that?
A: Yes, sir, I understand.
(Trans. 7-8).
6 We also note that the plea form signed and acknowledged by Branham states
in pertinent part:
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I understand that if I am now on felony probation, parole, under a
community control sanction, or under post-release control from prison, this
plea may result in revocation proceedings and any new sentence could be
imposed consecutively. *** (Emphasis added).
(Branham Plea Form, June 3, 2013).
{¶ 12} Contrary to Branham’s assertions, the record establishes that the trial court
inquired whether Branham was on PRC. Additionally, the record establishes that Branham
and his counsel admitted during the plea hearing that he was on PRC for his prior rape
conviction. Nevertheless, the trial court failed to inform Branham during the plea colloquy
that, pursuant to the explicit language in R.C. 2929.141(A)(1), if it revoked his PRC,
imposition of consecutive sentences for the violation was, in fact, mandatory upon
imposition of a prison term for GSI.
{¶ 13} Significantly, although the plea form signed by Branham included a
provision which informed him of the effect that his PRC violation could have on sentencing,
it did not contain any language putting him on notice that consecutive sentences were
mandatory upon a prison sentence on the GSI. Rather, the general provision in the plea
form merely states that the trial court “could” impose consecutive sentences in the event of a
violation of felony probation, parole, community control sanction, or post-release control
from prison. The use of the word “could” in this context is misleading.
{¶ 14} The trial court not only should have told Branham that it was not bound by
the State’s recommendation, but also if a new prison term was imposed and the court elected
to revoke his PRC, the time must be served consecutively. The trial court did not have the
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discretion to use the word “could” as the language in the plea form suggests.
{¶ 15} Branham’s sole assignment of error is sustained.
{¶ 16} Branham’s sole assignment of error having been sustained, the judgment of
the trial court is reversed, the plea is vacated, and this matter is remanded for proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
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FAIN, J., concurs.
FROELICH, P.J., concurring:
{¶ 17} As a matter of law, the State, at most, could argue to the court at the
sentencing hearing that a defendant should or should not be sentenced for a post-release
control violation; but, pursuant to R.C. 2929.141(A), it is only the court that can “take
action.” This was an illusory representation that, together with the statement that any
sentence on any post-release control violation “could” be consecutive, resulted in a plea that
was not made with the knowledge of its possible consequences, despite the judge’s attempts
to clarify the distinct responsibilities of the court and the prosecutor.
{¶ 18} I concur.
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Copies mailed to:
Ryan A. Saunders
Gary C. Schaengold
Hon. Richard J. O’Neill