State v. Riddle , 2017 Ohio 1199 ( 2017 )

[Cite as State v. Riddle, 2017-Ohio-1199.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MIAMI COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 2016-CA-6
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2015-CR-369
:
ROBERT C. RIDDLE : (Criminal Appeal from
: Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the ___31st ___ day of _____March_____, 2017.
...........
JANNA L. PARKER, Atty. Reg. No. 0075261, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Miami
County Prosecutor’s Office, 201 West Main Street, Troy, Ohio 45373
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
SEAN BRINKMAN, Atty. Reg. No. 0088253, 10 West Monument Avenue, Dayton, Ohio
45402
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
FROELICH, J.
{¶ 1} Robert C. Riddle pled guilty in the Miami County Court of Common Pleas to
one count of aggravated robbery and one count of breaking and entering. The trial court
sentenced him to concurrent sentences totaling ten years in prison.
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{¶ 2} On appeal, Riddle claims that his guilty plea was not knowingly, intelligently,
and voluntarily made, because the trial court failed to inform him at his plea hearing of all
of the possible consequences of violating post-release control. Riddle also claims that
his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by advising him to plead guilty to
aggravated robbery. Because Riddle’s trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance, the
conviction for aggravated robbery will be reversed, and the matter will be remanded for
further proceedings on that charge; Riddle’s conviction for breaking and entering will be
affirmed.
I. Facts and Procedural History
{¶ 3} On October 5, 2015, Riddle pled guilty as charged in a bill of information to
one count of aggravated robbery, in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), a felony of the first
degree, and to one count of breaking and entering, in violation of R.C. 2911.13(A), a
felony of the fifth degree. Riddle was promised nothing by the State in exchange for his
guilty plea.
{¶ 4} During the plea hearing, Riddle waived the reading of the bill of information
on the record. The State, however, recited the facts on which Riddle’s charges were
based. As to the aggravated robbery charge, the State presented the following facts:
On August 29th, 2015, the Piqua Police Department was dispatched to the
Walmart * * * in the City of Piqua and Miami County, Ohio, in reference to a
robbery in progress. The victim in that case * * * was in the parking lot of
the Walmart parking lot in her vehicle. The defendant approached her
vehicle, held a gun to her throat and advised her that he was going to get in
the car and she was going to drive him up the highway. The quote that she
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provided the police was “Get in the car and drive me up the highway. I
have a gun bitch and I will kill you.” She reported to the police feeling the
pressure of the gun to her neck. That [defendant] did get the keys from
her, but she managed to push the gun away and -- and fought back and the
defendant then dropped the keys and -- and he ran off. That is the -- the
substance of the -- the incident at Walmart for which the Aggravated
Robbery charge is based. There were also two independent witnesses * *
* who were in the parking lot of Walmart as well who witnessed the events
and reported similar events to the police as well.
{¶ 5} The prosecutor described the Piqua Police Department’s investigation of the
matter, including how Riddle was tracked by a canine to Willowbrook Hunt Club1 and
ultimately located at his residence. The prosecutor further stated that Riddle
“cooperated with [the police], spoke with the officers and did admit to the offenses
described. That he had gone to Walmart, held a gun to a female. He did advise that
the gun he used was not a real gun and that he had thrown it into a ditch. It was later
recovered and found to be, in fact, a fake gun.” (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 6} Following the State’s recitation of facts, the trial court asked Riddle whether
those were the facts to which he wished to enter a guilty plea. Riddle responded, “Yes,
sir.”
{¶ 7} Thereafter, the trial court advised Riddle of the maximum penalties for the
charged offenses and that he would be subject to post-release control following his
release from prison. The trial court also advised that post-release control would be
1
The breaking and entering charge was based on this entrance.
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mandatory for a period of five years on the aggravated robbery charge and discretionary
for a period of three years on the breaking and entering charge. The court told Riddle
that, if he violated post-release control, “the Adult Parole Authority can return you to prison
in increments of nine months at a time, but not more than fifty percent or one-half of your
original sentence.” Riddle’s plea form further stated that, if he committed another felony
while on post-release control, he “may be subject to an additional prison term consisting
of the maximum period of un-served time remaining on post-release control as set out
above or 12 months, whichever is greater. This prison term must be served
consecutively to any term imposed for the new felony I am convicted of committing.”
{¶ 8} At the conclusion of the hearing, Riddle entered a plea of guilty to the
aggravated robbery and breaking and entering counts, as charged in the bill of
information. The trial court accepted Riddle’s plea, finding it was knowingly, intelligently,
and voluntarily entered. At a subsequent sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed a
10-year prison term for aggravated robbery and a concurrent 12-month prison term for
breaking and entering.
{¶ 9} Riddle appeals from his conviction, raising two assignments of error for
review.
II. Post-Release Control Notification During Plea Hearing
{¶ 10} Riddle’s first assignment of error states:
MR. RIDDLE’S PLEA WAS NOT MADE KNOWINGLY INTELLIGENTLY
AND VOLUNTARILY.
{¶ 11} In his first assignment of error, Riddle contends that his guilty plea was not
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered, because the trial court failed to inform
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him of the possible consequences of violating post-release control at the plea hearing.
Riddle claims that, as a result, the trial court did not advise him of the maximum possible
penalty as mandated by Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) and that his guilty plea should therefore be
vacated. We disagree.
{¶ 12} “Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) provides that, before accepting a guilty plea, a court
must ‘[d]etermin[e] that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, with understanding
of the nature of the charges and of the maximum penalty involved * * *.’ ” State v. Jones,
2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24772, 2013-Ohio-119, ¶ 6. “The ‘maximum penalty’ includes
any mandatory post-release control sanction[.]” Id. at ¶ 7. “Thus if the defendant will
be subject to a period of post-release control, to comply with Crim.R. 11 the court must
inform the defendant of post-release control.” Id.
{¶ 13} “The Supreme Court of Ohio has urged trial courts to literally comply with
Crim.R. 11.” State v. Jennings, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2013 CA 60, 2014-Ohio-2307, ¶ 6,
citing State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St. 3d 239, 2008-Ohio-3748, 893 N.E.2d 462, ¶ 29.
“However, because Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) and (b) involve non-constitutional rights, the trial
court need only substantially comply with those requirements.” Id., citing State v. Nero,
56 Ohio St. 3d 106, 108, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990). “Substantial compliance means that
under the totality of the circumstances the defendant subjectively understands the
implications of his plea and the rights he is waiving.” (Citations omitted.) Nero at 108.
{¶ 14} “Furthermore, when non-constitutional rights are at issue, a defendant who
challenges his guilty plea on the basis that it was not knowingly, intelligently, and
voluntarily made generally must show a prejudicial effect.” Jennings at ¶ 7, citing State
v. Veney, 120 Ohio St. 3d 176, 2008-Ohio-5200, 897 N.E.2d 621, ¶ 17. “Prejudice in this
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context means that the plea would otherwise not have been entered.” Id.
{¶ 15} Many Ohio appellate courts have reviewed issues concerning the
completeness of a post-release control explanation (aside from the
mandatory/discretionary and three/five year reversible errors) under a substantial
compliance analysis. See, e.g., State v. Allen, 10th Dist. Franklin Nos. 11AP-640, 11AP-
641, 11AP-642, 2012-Ohio-2986, ¶ 23; State v. McDuffie, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96721,
2011-Ohio-6436, ¶ 22, 24 ; State v. Reese, 9th Dist. Wayne Nos. 09CA0020, 09CA0023,
2009-Ohio-6507, ¶ 9; State v. Munyan, 5th Dist. Licking No. 08-CA-88, 2009-Ohio-2348,
¶ 18-20.
{¶ 16} In Jones, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24772, 2013-Ohio-119, this court
discussed whether the trial court had complied with Crim.R. 11 when it advised the
defendant of the correct term of post-release control and notified the defendant that the
prison term for violation of post-release control could be “up to one half of the Court’s
stated prison term,” but failed to notify the defendant about the nine-month-per-violation
limitation for a violation of post-release control in R.C. 2943.032.2 We held that the trial
court’s notice substantially complied with Crim.R. 11. Id. at ¶ 8. We further concluded
that the trial court’s failure to mention the nine-month limitation did not render the
defendant’s plea other than knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. We reached this
conclusion based on the following reasoning:
Jones does not assert, let alone demonstrate, that he was prejudiced -- that
2Pursuant to R.C. 2943.032, prior to accepting a guilty plea “the court shall inform the
defendant personally that, * * * if the offender violates the conditions of a post-release
control sanction imposed by the parole board upon the completion of the stated prison
term, the parole board may impose upon the offender a residential sanction that includes
a new prison term of up to nine months.”
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he would not have pleaded guilty had the trial court told him that the
maximum possible prison term for a single violation of a post-release control
condition is 9 months. We fail to see how this defendant, facing a potential
of many years of re-incarceration for post release control violations, would
have failed to enter his pleas if he knew those many years could only be
imposed in nine month increments.
Id. at ¶ 11.
{¶ 17} More recently, we held in State v. Redavide, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
26070, 2015-Ohio-3056, that a plea is not rendered invalid based on the trial court’s
failure to fully explain the sanctions that could be imposed for a post-release control
violation. Id. at ¶ 19. We noted that “when the trial court substantially complies with the
notice requirement of informing a defendant about post-release control sanctions, no error
occurs without demonstrating that a fuller disclosure would have changed his decision to
plead.” Id., citing Jones; Jennings, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2013 CA 60, 2014-Ohio-2307.
{¶ 18} In the instant case, the trial court advised Riddle at the plea hearing that he
would be required to serve a mandatory five-year period of post-release control for
aggravated robbery and a discretionary three-year period of post-release control for
breaking and entering. The trial court also informed Riddle that he would be required to
meet certain conditions while on post-release control, and that should he violate any of
those conditions, he could be returned to prison in increments of nine months at a time,
but not more than half of his original prison sentence.
{¶ 19} Despite these advisements, Riddle claims his guilty pleas were not
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered because the trial court failed to advise him
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of the consequences of committing a new felony while on post-release control. In
support of this claim, Riddle generally cites to R.C. 2967.28 for the proposition that if a
person violates post-release control by committing a new felony, the offender may be
sentenced to a prison term, the maximum term being 12 months or the time remaining on
post-release control, whichever is greater, to be served consecutively to any sentence
imposed for the new felony. We note that in July 2002, the legislature deleted that
language from R.C. 2967.28, but replaced it with substantially similar language in R.C.
2929.141(A)(1). See H.B. No. 327, 2002 Ohio Laws File 121.
{¶ 20} The record establishes, and the State concedes, that the trial court did not
inform Riddle at the plea hearing of the consequences of committing a new felony while
on post-release control. Significantly, Riddle was not on post-release control at the time
of his plea. When a defendant is not under post-release control, we have not required a
trial court to advise a defendant at the time of a guilty plea of the potential consequences
under R.C. 2929.141 for committing a new felony while on post-release control.
Contrast State v. Landgraf, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2014 CA 12, 2014-Ohio-5448 (when
defendant was on post-release control, trial court erred in failing to inform defendant at
the plea hearing for a new felony that it could revoke post-release control and that, if it
did, a consecutive sentence would be imposed). And, the plea form signed by Riddle,
which Riddle indicated he read and understood, did advise him of these consequences.
See State v. Welch, 2017-Ohio-314, __ N.E.3d __, ¶ 12 (2d Dist.), distinguishing Landgraf
and State v. Branham, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2013 CA 49, 2014-Ohio-5067.
{¶ 21} The trial court’s failure to orally advise Riddle of the consequences of
committing a new felony while on post-release control at the plea hearing does not
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warrant vacating Riddle’s plea in this case, because the record establishes that the court’s
overall advisement regarding post-release control substantially complied with Crim.R.
11(C)(2)(a) and Riddle has not demonstrated that the court’s omission had a prejudicial
effect. See Jones, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24772, 2013-Ohio-119; Jennings, 2d Dist.
Clark No. 2013 CA 60, 2014-Ohio-2307. Specifically, Riddle does not assert that he
would not have entered his guilty plea had he known the consequences of committing a
new felony while on post-release control.
{¶ 22} Riddle’s first assignment of error is overruled.
III. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
{¶ 23} Riddle’s second assignment of error states:
MR. RIDDLE WAS DENIED HIS SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENT RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
{¶ 24} Under his second assignment of error, Riddle contends that his trial counsel
provided ineffective assistance by advising him to plead guilty to aggravated robbery
when there was insufficient evidence that he had a “deadly weapon” on his person or
under his control at the time of the offense. Specifically, Riddle claims that he pled guilty
based on the facts presented by the State at his plea hearing, which indicated that he
used a fake gun during the course of the offense. According to Riddle, the fake gun did
not satisfy the “deadly weapon” element of aggravated robbery, given that there was
nothing in the record indicating that he used or threatened to use the gun as a bludgeon.
{¶ 25} We evaluate ineffective-assistance-of-counsel arguments in light of the two-
pronged analysis set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80
L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). Under that analysis, to reverse a conviction based on ineffective
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assistance of counsel, a defendant must demonstrate that counsel’s performance was
deficient and fell below an objective standard of reasonable representation, and that the
defendant was prejudiced by counsel’s performance. Id. at 668; State v. Bradley, 42
Ohio St. 3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). To succeed on such a claim, there must be a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
defendant’s trial would have been different. Id.
{¶ 26} A plea of guilty is a complete admission of guilt. E.g., State v. Faulkner, 2d
Dist. Champaign No. 2013-CA-43, 2015-Ohio-2059, ¶ 9. Consequently, a guilty plea
waives all appealable errors, including claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, except
to the extent that the errors precluded the defendant from knowingly, intelligently, and
voluntarily entering his or her guilty plea. E.g., State v. Frazier, 2016-Ohio-727, 60
N.E.3d 633, ¶ 81 (2d Dist.). If a defendant pleads guilty on the advice of counsel, he
must demonstrate that the advice was not “within the range of competence demanded of
attorneys in criminal cases.” (Citations omitted.) Frazier at ¶ 81. Furthermore, “[o]nly
if there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the defendant would not
have pleaded guilty but would have insisted on going to trial will the judgment be
reversed.” State v. Huddleson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 20653, 2005-Ohio-4029, ¶ 9,
citing Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 52-53, 106 S. Ct. 366, 88 L. Ed. 2d 203 (1985). (Other
citations omitted.)
{¶ 27} “For counsel to render effective assistance to a criminal defendant, [he or]
she should, at the least, understand the basis of the criminal charges and possible
defenses of those charges.” (Citation omitted.) State v. Dalton, 153 Ohio App. 3d 286,
2003-Ohio-3813, 793 N.E.2d 509, ¶ 29 (10th Dist.). “ ‘[I]f an attorney does not grasp the
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basics of the charges and the potential defenses to them, an accused may well be
stripped of the very means that are essential to subject the prosecution’s case to
adversarial testing.’ ” Id., quoting Scarpa v. Dubois, 38 F.3d 1, 10 (1st Cir.1994).
{¶ 28} A plea may be involuntary if the accused “ ‘has such an incomplete
understanding of the charge that his plea cannot stand as an intelligent admission of
guilt.’ ” State v. Montgomery, Ohio Sup.Ct. Slip Opinion No. 2016-Ohio-5487, ¶ 42,
quoting Henderson v. Morgan, 426 U.S. 637, 645, 96 S. Ct. 2253, 49 L. Ed. 2d 108 (1976),
fn. 13. “Thus, ‘a plea does not qualify as intelligent unless a criminal defendant first
receives “real notice of the true nature of the charge against him, the first and most
universally recognized requirement of due process.” ’ ” Id., quoting Bousley v. United
States, 523 U.S. 614, 618, 118 S. Ct. 1604, 140 L. Ed. 2d 828 (1998), quoting Smith v.
O’Grady, 312 U.S. 329, 334, 61 S. Ct. 572, 85 L. Ed. 859 (1941). “In determining whether
a defendant understood the charge, a court should examine the totality of the
circumstances.” (Citations omitted.) State v. Fitzpatrick, 102 Ohio St. 3d 321, 2004-
Ohio-3167, 810 N.E.2d 927, ¶ 56.
{¶ 29} In short, due to his guilty plea, Riddle may raise a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel based on his counsel’s advice to plead guilty to aggravated robbery
only if his counsel’s alleged error rendered his plea other than knowing, intelligent, and
voluntary.
{¶ 30} Riddle pled guilty to aggravated robbery, in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1).
That statute provides:
No person, in attempting or committing a theft offense, * * * or in fleeing
immediately after the attempt or offense, shall do any of the following * * *
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Have a deadly weapon on or about the offender’s person or under the
offender’s control and either display the weapon, brandish it, indicate that
the offender possesses it, or use it.
(Emphasis added.) The term “ ‘[d]eadly weapon’ means any instrument, device, or thing
capable of inflicting death, and designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon, or
possessed, carried, or used as a weapon.” R.C. 2923.11(A).
{¶ 31} The Supreme Court of Ohio has recognized that “convictions for aggravated
robbery have been upheld even where a toy gun or an inoperable gun was used in the
commission of the theft offense since such devices could be used as bludgeons and were
therefore ‘capable of inflicting death’ pursuant to R.C. 2911.01(A)(1) and R.C.
2923.11(A).” State v. Gaines, 46 Ohio St. 3d 65, 68, 545 N.E.2d 68 (1989). More
recently, and prior to the date of Riddle’s plea hearing, the Supreme Court clarified that
“an inoperable pistol that is not used as a bludgeon is not a ‘deadly weapon’ for purposes
of R.C. 2923.12, which prohibits carrying a concealed weapon.” In re J.T., 143 Ohio
St.3d 516, 2015-Ohio-3654, 39 N.E.3d 1240, ¶ 9. The court explained that an inoperable
pistol is “no longer a deadly weapon unless there was some evidence presented that it
was used as a bludgeon or otherwise used, possessed, or carried as a weapon.” Id. at
¶ 6.
{¶ 32} We have also acknowledged that an inoperable gun may be a “deadly
weapon” if there is “evidence that the defendant actually used or threatened to use it as
a bludgeon.” State v. Macias, 2d Dist. Darke No. 1562, 2003-Ohio-1565, ¶ 37, citing
State v. Nelson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 14775, 1995 WL 491084, *3 (Aug. 18, 1995).
(Other citation omitted.) We explained in Nelson that:
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Almost any hard object is capable of being used as a bludgeon. The
question is whether the object is not only capable of inflicting death, but also
designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon or possessed, carried
or used as a weapon. R.C. 2923.11(A). Thus, a blank-firing starting
pistol, while capable of inflicting death if used as a bludgeon, is not a deadly
weapon unless it is possessed, carried, or used as a bludgeon, and if there
is no evidence that it was intended to be used or threatened to be used as
a bludgeon, then it is not a deadly weapon. State v. Luckey, [322 N.E.2d
354 (1st Dist.1974)], which involved a previous version of R.C. 2911.01, but
in which the court indicated that the result would be the same under the
present statute.
Nelson at *3.
{¶ 33} Here, the record of the plea hearing indicates that the gun Riddle used
during the robbery was a “fake gun.” At the plea hearing, Riddle admitted to approaching
the victim’s parked vehicle, pressing the fake gun to her throat, and saying “get in the car
and drive me up the highway. I have a gun bitch and I will kill you.” After Riddle got the
keys from the victim, the victim pushed the gun away, fought back, and Riddle dropped
the keys and ran away. Nothing in the record indicates that Riddle attempted to or
actually used the fake gun as a bludgeon. In other words, there is nothing indicating that
the fake gun was used in a manner in which it could have been capable of inflicting death.
Accordingly, the facts recited by the State at the plea hearing do not support the “deadly
weapon” element required for aggravated robbery.
{¶ 34} We note that “[a] guilty plea admits the facts set forth in the indictment, not
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the facts set forth at the plea hearing.” (Citation omitted.) State v. Greathouse, 158
Ohio App. 3d 135, 2004-Ohio-3402, 814 N.E.2d 502, ¶ 8 (2d Dist.). Pleading guilty is “an
admission of every material fact well pleaded in the indictment, dispensing with the
necessity of proving them, and authorizing the court to proceed to judgment.” (Citations
omitted.) Id. at ¶ 7. We have rejected the notion that “when * * * a defendant has been
informed of the charge in the indictment and has had a full opportunity to discuss that
charge with his attorney, slight variations in the description of the offense at the plea
hearing will create a presumption that the defendant did not understand the nature of the
charges against him.” Id. at ¶ 8.
{¶ 35} In Greathouse, the defendant pled guilty to grand theft auto. The
prosecutor’s statement of facts for that offense established that on May 30, 2003,
Greathouse had borrowed a car from someone in Xenia, with that person’s permission.
The owner of the car understood that Greathouse would go to Dayton to get some clothing
and then would return. The prosecutor specifically stated that “the car was not returned,
thus constituting a taking and with purpose to deprive the owner of property.” Id. at ¶ 10.
On appeal, Greathouse argued that the State’s facts described unauthorized use of a
vehicle, but not grand theft auto. He also claimed that there was “at least an ambiguity
that [he] did not understand one element of the charge of grand theft auto.”
{¶ 36} We rejected Greathouse’s claim that the prosecutor’s statement of facts did
not support the indicted offense. At the outset, we rejected the suggestion that “slight
variations in the description of the offense at the plea hearing will create a presumption
that the defendant did not understand the nature of the charges against him” when the
defendant has been informed of the indicted charge and has had an opportunity to discuss
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the charge with his attorney. Id. at ¶ 8. Moreover, we held that the prosecutor’s
statement of facts adequately described the charged offense. We commented that the
prosecutor’s statement of facts “permit[ted] inferences of deception and of purpose to
deprive the owner of the property, and it is inconsistent with the offense of which
Greathouse claims he should have been convicted – unauthorized use of a vehicle, R.C.
2913.03.” Id. at ¶ 11.
{¶ 37} We nevertheless reversed Greathouse’s conviction, because the colloquy
between Greathouse and the trial court indicated that Greathouse might not have
understood the deception and purpose-to-deprive elements of grand theft auto. During
the plea hearing, Greathouse indicated that he had understood the prosecutor’s
statement of facts and that those were the facts to which he wished to enter a plea of
guilty. However, when the court next asked Greathouse if he was entering a guilty plea
because “that is what you did, you are guilty,” Greathouse responded, “I mean, the car
got stolen from me. * * * But I guess I’m wrong for not coming right back, so yes, sir.” We
noted that the prosecutor’s statement, while sufficient to support grand theft auto, “was
not so thorough as to foreclose any reasonable possibility that Greathouse believed he
was guilty merely for failing to timely return the car, whatever the reason for his failure to
do so.” Id. at ¶ 26. We stated that Greathouse’s oral responses “were a red flag to the
trial court that further inquiry was necessary to ensure that he understood the deception
and purpose-to-deprive elements of the offense and that he was admitting these elements
of the offense.” Id. at ¶ 28.
{¶ 38} Here, the bill of information charging Riddle contained all elements of
aggravated robbery, including the “deadly weapon” element. In addition, the plea form
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signed by Riddle stated that he had “received a true copy of the indictment/information at
least 24 hours before being called upon to plead” and that Riddle had “read or had read
to [him] the indictment/information.” The plea form also stated that Riddle “underst[ood]
all the facts and circumstances about the charge(s) made against [him] in the
indictment/information.” Furthermore, at the plea hearing, Riddle advised the trial court
that he had read and understood the plea form, received a copy of the bill of information,
and that his trial counsel had answered all of his questions regarding the bill of
information.
{¶ 39} Nevertheless, while the State was not required to establish the factual basis
for a felony guilty plea, the State provided a statement of facts; those facts not only failed
to establish the “deadly weapon” element of aggravated robbery, but affirmatively
disproved that element as a matter of law. The negation of an element of the offense in
the prosecutor’s statement of facts amounts to more than a “slight variation” from the
description of the charge as set forth in the bill of information (which was not read on the
record at the plea hearing). All the required elements of aggravated robbery were never
actually established at the plea hearing. Although Riddle generally stated at the plea
hearing that he was pleading guilty to the charges in the bill of information, Riddle
specifically indicated that his guilty plea was based on the facts presented by the State.
Riddle’s comment, therefore, indicates a lack of understanding of the “deadly weapon”
element of the offense. Moreover, there is nothing in the plea hearing transcript to
suggest that Riddle’s counsel was aware that a fake gun failed to satisfy the “deadly
weapon” requirement and that counsel had discussed this possible defense with Riddle
prior to the plea.
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{¶ 40} Based on the totality of the circumstances, we find that Riddle’s plea was
rendered less than knowing, intelligent, and voluntary as a result of his trial counsel’s
failure to recognize that the “deadly weapon” element of aggravated robbery was not
satisfied, and in advising Riddle to plead guilty despite this deficiency. Specifically, the
“deadly weapon” element of aggravated robbery was affirmatively negated in the State’s
presentation of facts at the plea hearing, and Riddle expressly stated that his plea was
based on those facts. This sufficiently demonstrates that Riddle did not fully understand
the nature of the “deadly weapon” element of aggravated robbery at the time he entered
his guilty plea. Thus, trial counsel’s advice to plead guilty to aggravated robbery
necessarily resulted in Riddle entering a guilty plea that was less than knowing, intelligent,
and voluntary.
{¶ 41} As for prejudice, it is theoretically possible that the advice to plead guilty to
the aggravated robbery, despite the State’s inability to prove the deadly weapon element,
resulted in a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary plea. For example, it is possible that a
defendant would elect to enter such a plea in exchange for an agreement by the State
not to file charges for other offenses, not to file more serious charges, and/or to
recommend a favorable sentence.
{¶ 42} However, in this case, these hypothetical possibilities are belied by the
record. The record reflects that there was no “underlying agreement” between Riddle
and the State; Riddle pled to the charged offenses and there was no agreement as to
sentencing. It appears that no presentence investigation was conducted (the plea
agreement indicated that Riddle wished to waive a PSI), and Riddle stated at the plea
hearing that he was not on probation, parole, post-release control, or community control.
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There is no indication that any additional charges were pending or could be affected by
Riddle’s plea. Accordingly, based on the record before us, there is a reasonable
likelihood that Riddle would not have entered his guilty plea to aggravated robbery had
he understood from counsel that a fake gun (used in the manner that he used it) would
not satisfy the deadly weapon element of aggravated robbery.
{¶ 43} Riddle’s second assignment of error is sustained.
IV. Conclusion
{¶ 44} Although Riddle’s use of a “fake gun” affects the charge of which Riddle can
be convicted, we are not unsympathetic to the impact of Riddle’s actions on the victim in
this case. The victim’s letter to the trial court for Riddle’s sentencing reflected that
Riddle’s words and actions continue to affect her and that various circumstances now
make her fearful. At sentencing, the trial court noted that, from the victim’s perspective,
whether Riddle had a real gun or not “doesn’t really matter.” Our legal conclusion as to
the aggravated robbery charge in no way diminishes the seriousness of Riddle’s actions
or the trauma suffered by the victim.
{¶ 45} The judgment of conviction for aggravated robbery will be reversed, and the
matter will remanded for further proceedings on that charge. Given that Riddle and the
State had no underlying agreement regarding his guilty pleas, we find no basis to
conclude that Riddle’s decision to plead guilty to breaking and entering was affected by
his plea to aggravated robbery. Accordingly, the trial court’s judgment as to the breaking
and entering charge will be affirmed.
.............
DONOVAN, J., concurs.
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HALL, P.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part:
{¶ 46} I agree that the trial court substantially complied with advising appellant
Riddle at his plea of the consequences of committing a new felony while on post-release
control and, because he was not currently on post-release control, there was no
prejudicial effect. However, on this record, I disagree that his plea demonstrates
ineffective assistance of counsel, and I therefore dissent from the reversal of his
aggravated-robbery conviction.
{¶ 47} I agree that the record does not indicate that Riddle attempted to use or
actually used the “fake gun” as a bludgeon, but the record does not reveal the weapon’s
composition, weight, size, or whether it has sharp edges, any of which could assist in
determining whether it could be used as a deadly weapon. More importantly, we have no
evidence regarding counsel’s advice to Riddle, and we have no statement from Riddle
himself contending that he was misinformed. It may be that Riddle received accurate legal
advice and made a free and voluntary choice to enter his plea. Furthermore, we must
evaluate the ineffective-assistance claim in the context of the plea itself, which was by
way of a bill of information. We know not whether there was a potential for different or
additional charges or whether there was a negotiated resolution. Because the record is
deficient in these aspects, Riddle’s assertion of ineffective assistance of counsel should
have been addressed in a motion to withdraw his plea or a post-conviction relief petition
where a record could be made about what advice he received and whether his plea was
voluntarily and intelligently made.
{¶ 48} In the similar case, State v. Goodner, 195 Ohio App. 3d 636, 2011-Ohio-
5018, 961 N.E.2d 254 (2d Dist.), the defendant pled no contest to multiple counts of
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aggravated robbery and contended on appeal that his trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to advise him regarding the evidence necessary to prove whether a BB gun is a
deadly weapon, i.e., that there must be evidence adduced concerning the gun’s capability
of inflicting death. Id. at ¶ 11, 16, 22. Like Riddle, the defendant in Goodner asserted
on appeal that had he been made aware of this information by his attorney, he would
have elected to go to trial as opposed to entering a plea. Id. at ¶ 16. Goodner also
argued that his trial counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness rendered his plea less than knowing
and voluntary. Id. at ¶ 24.
{¶ 49} We overruled Goodner’s ineffective-assistance claim because he pled no
contest to an indictment that contained the deadly-weapon element in R.C. 2911.01(A)(1).
Specifically, we held that by entering a plea of no contest to the indictment, Goodner
admitted that he used a deadly weapon and the record contained no facts to support his
assertion that his trial counsel was ineffective. Id. at ¶ 22-23. We also held that
Goodner’s no-contest plea was knowingly and voluntarily entered because our review of
the plea hearing indicated that the trial court complied with all of the mandates of Crim.R.
11(C)(2). We further found that Goodner indicated that he understood the matters
explained to him by the trial court. Id. at ¶ 30.
{¶ 50} I see little difference between the case at hand and Goodner. Under the
specific facts in the record of this case, Riddle cannot prevail on a claim that his trial
counsel’s alleged deficient performance rendered his plea less than knowing and
voluntary. The bill of information charging Riddle contained all elements of aggravated
robbery, including the “deadly weapon” element. In addition, the plea form signed by
Riddle stated that he had “received a true copy of the indictment/information at least 24
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hours before being called upon to plead” and that Riddle had “read or had read to [him]
the indictment/information.” (Petition to Enter Plea of Guilty, Doc. #5). The plea form
further stated that Riddle “underst[ood] all the facts and circumstances about the
charge(s) made against [him] in the indictment/information.” (Id.). At the plea hearing,
Riddle did not indicate a lack of understanding of the nature of the aggravated robbery
charge contained in the bill of information.
{¶ 51} In State v. Cooperrider, 4 Ohio St. 3d 226, 228, 448 N.E.2d 452 (1983), the
Ohio Supreme Court observed: “[I]t is impossible to determine whether the attorney was
ineffective in his representation of appellant where the allegations of ineffectiveness are
based on facts not appearing in the record.” Riddle’s appellate claim that his trial counsel
misadvised or failed to advise him that a “fake gun” is not necessarily a deadly weapon
for purposes of R.C. 2923.11(A) involves facts that do not appear in the record. Because
the record indicates that Riddle was made aware of all of the elements of the aggravated
robbery offense to which he pled guilty via the bill of information, and the trial court
complied with the mandates of Crim.R. 11(C) at the plea hearing, and the record does
not indicate whether defense counsel’s advice was deficient, I believe we are unable to
determine that Riddle’s guilty plea was less than knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. As
a result, Riddle’s ineffective-assistance claim must fail.
{¶ 52} Accordingly, I dissent from the reversal of Riddle’s aggravated-robbery
conviction. In all other respects, I concur in the majority opinion.
..........
Copies mailed to:
Janna L. Parker
Sean Brinkman
Hon. Timothy Campbell (sitting by assignment)
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