State v. McBee , 2019 Ohio 2967 ( 2019 )

[Cite as State v. McBee, 2019-Ohio-2967.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
CASE NO. 2017-G-0149
- vs - :
BRANDON D. MCBEE, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal from the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2017 C
000067.
Judgment: Affirmed.
James R. Flaiz, Geauga County Prosecutor, and Christopher J. Joyce, Assistant
Prosecutor, Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, Suite 3A, Chardon, OH 44024 (For
Plaintiff-Appellee).
John Michael Buchenic, 320 North Main Street, Hubbard, OH 44425 (For Defendant-
Appellant).
THOMAS R. WRIGHT, P.J.
{¶1} Appellant, Brandon D. McBee, appeals his sentence after pleading guilty to
involuntary manslaughter. We affirm.
{¶2} McBee’s indictment charges involuntary manslaughter, corrupting another
with drugs, and aggravated trafficking of drugs. Following discovery, McBee pleaded
guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2903.04(A),
and the other charges were dismissed. After securing a presentence investigation report,
the trial court sentenced McBee to the maximum prison term, eleven years.
{¶3} McBee’s first of two assigned errors asserts:
{¶4} “The trial court committed prejudicial error in considering the ‘serious
physical harm’ to the victim as an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes where
Defendant-Appellant Brandon McBee pleaded guilty to the crime of Involuntary
Manslaughter in violation of R.C. 2903.04(A), which has as one of its elements the death
of the victim.”
{¶5} Our standard of review is dictated by R.C. 2953.08(G)(2):
{¶6} “The court hearing an appeal under division (A), (B), or (C) of this section
shall review the record, including the findings underlying the sentence or modification
given by the sentencing court.
{¶7} “The appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence
that is appealed under this section or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to
the sentencing court for resentencing. The appellate court's standard for review is not
whether the sentencing court abused its discretion. The appellate court may take any
action authorized by this division if it clearly and convincingly finds either of the following:
{¶8} “(a) That the record does not support the sentencing court's findings under
division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of section 2929.14,
or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code, whichever, if any, is relevant;
{¶9} “(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.”
{¶10} There is no dispute that McBee’s 11-year sentence is within the statutory
range for this first-degree felony offense. Instead, McBee claims his sentence is contrary
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to law because the trial court erroneously considered as a seriousness factor the fact the
victim suffered “serious bodily harm,” which he claims is an element of the offense that a
sentencing court cannot consider when addressing the seriousness of the offense under
R.C. 2929.12(B).
{¶11} A court imposing a felony sentence is required to consider the seriousness
and recidivism factors found in R.C. 2929.12 to confirm a sentence complies with the
overriding purposes of felony sentencing. R.C. 2929.12(B) sets forth the following factors
the trial court must consider as indicating the offender's conduct is more serious than
conduct normally constituting the offense:
{¶12} “(1) The physical or mental injury suffered by the victim of the offense due
to the conduct of the offender was exacerbated because of the physical or mental
condition or age of the victim.
{¶13} “(2) The victim of the offense suffered serious physical, psychological, or
economic harm as a result of the offense.
{¶14} “(3) The offender held a public office or position of trust in the community,
and the offense related to that office or position.
{¶15} “(4) The offender's occupation, elected office, or profession obliged the
offender to prevent the offense or bring others committing it to justice.
{¶16} “(5) The offender's professional reputation or occupation, elected office, or
profession was used to facilitate the offense or is likely to influence the future conduct of
others.
{¶17} “(6) The offender's relationship with the victim facilitated the offense.
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{¶18} “(7) The offender committed the offense for hire or as a part of an organized
criminal activity.
{¶19} “(8) In committing the offense, the offender was motivated by prejudice
based on race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
{¶20} “(9) If the offense is a violation of section 2919.25 or a violation of section
2903.11, 2903.12, or 2903.13 of the Revised Code involving a person who was a family
or household member at the time of the violation, the offender committed the offense in
the vicinity of one or more children who are not victims of the offense, and the offender
or the victim of the offense is a parent, guardian, custodian, or person in loco parentis of
one or more of those children.”
{¶21} R.C. 2929.12(C) sets forth the following factors the trial court must consider
as indicating the offender's conduct is less serious than conduct normally constituting the
offense:
{¶22} “(1) The victim induced or facilitated the offense.
{¶23} “(2) In committing the offense, the offender acted under strong provocation.
{¶24} “(3) In committing the offense, the offender did not cause or expect to cause
physical harm to any person or property.
{¶25} “(4) There are substantial grounds to mitigate the offender's conduct,
although the grounds are not enough to constitute a defense.”
{¶26} Finally, R.C. 2929.12(D) and (E) set forth factors the trial court must
consider to determine the likelihood of recidivism.
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{¶27} In rendering McBee’s sentence, the trial court considered the “serious
physical harm” caused to the victim, and it did not explain or state the factual basis for
this finding. The prosecutor provided the factual basis at McBee’s plea, stating:
{¶28} “Had this matter proceeded to trial, the State believes that it would have
proven beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the date specified in the Indictment,
the Defendant sold drugs to Thomas Gardner. Those drugs, your honor, turned out to be
fentanyl.
{¶29} “Mr. Gardner used those drugs and died as a result of an overdose of the
fentanyl.”
{¶30} Nevertheless, McBee is not challenging the finding of fact that the victim
suffered serious physical harm, but instead claims the trial court was precluded from
considering this as a seriousness factor because it is an element of the offense. In
support, McBee relies on State v. Stroud, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 91, 2008-Ohio-
3187, which vacated Stroud’s sentence and remanded for resentencing, explaining:
“[T]he only factor the trial court relied upon when sentencing Stroud to the
maximum possible prison term was the fact that a person died when the offense was
committed. However, this was an element of the offense and the trial court did not explain
why that fact was more than simply an element of the offense. Accordingly, the trial court
acted contrary to law when it sentenced Stroud.” Id. at ¶2; Accord State v. Polizzi, 11th
Dist. Lake No. 2018-L-063, 2019-Ohio-2505, ¶ 28 and State v. Martin, 11th Dist. Lake
No. 2018-L-060, 2019-Ohio-2504, ¶ 26 (holding in part that a court is precluded from
elevating the seriousness of an offense by relying on a factor that is also an element of
the charged offense.).
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{¶31} Contrary to McBee’s argument, however, involuntary manslaughter does
not require proof of serious physical harm. R.C. 2903.04(A), Involuntary Manslaughter,
states: “No person shall cause the death of another * * * as a proximate result of the
offender's committing or attempting to commit a felony.”
{¶32} Although death typically entails “serious physical harm” as that term is
defined, the terms are not synonymous. “[D]eath” is “[t]he ending of life; the cessation of
all vital functions and signs.” Black's Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014).
{¶33} Whereas, “serious physical harm to persons” means any of the following:
{¶34} “Any mental illness or condition of such gravity as would normally require
hospitalization or prolonged psychiatric treatment;
{¶35} “Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;
{¶36} “Any physical harm that involves some permanent incapacity, whether
partial or total, or that involves some temporary, substantial incapacity;
{¶37} “Any physical harm that involves some permanent disfigurement or that
involves some temporary, serious disfigurement;
{¶38} “Any physical harm that involves acute pain of such duration as to result in
substantial suffering or that involves any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.” R.C.
2901.01(A)(5)(a)-(e).
{¶39} Thus, there could be cases in which a trial court may rely on the “serious
physical harm” endured by the victim as indicating the offender's conduct is more serious
than conduct normally constituting the offense when sentencing for involuntary
manslaughter. However, the record here does not detail or reference any “serious
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physical harm” preceding death that would render McBee’s conduct more serious than
conduct normally constituting the offense. Thus, reliance on this factor was improper.
{¶40} Notwithstanding, Stroud is distinguishable from this case because the
sentencing court in Stroud gave only one reason for imposing the maximum sentence.
State v. Stroud, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 91, 2008-Ohio-3187, ¶48. Unlike Stroud,
the trial court here made several other findings supporting its decision to impose the
maximum term, stating:
{¶41} “I find one of the factors which would indicate that Mr. McBee’s conduct is
more serious is that the victim suffered serious physical harm.
{¶42} “I do also find the factor which also makes the offender’s conduct less
serious, I do find that the victim induced or facilitated the offense.
{¶43} “In reviewing the factors which would make Mr. McBee’s recidivism more
likely, I find that almost all of those factors apply in this case.
{¶44} “I find that the offense was committed while Mr. McBee was on post release
control, and that Mr. McBee was released from prison on February 6th, 2016, and on or
about August 3rd, 2016, this offense was committed.
{¶45} “So that was a little under six months from when, that this crime was
committed from when Mr. McBee was released from prison.
{¶46} “I also find that he has a history of criminal convictions, as well as juvenile
delinquency adjudications, and those criminal convictions include two trafficking offenses,
and the second one was the one he just was released from prison on * * * as well as the
other offenses of violence.
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{¶47} “I also find that Mr. McBee has not responded favorably to sanctions
previously imposed in * * * both adult and juvenile court.
{¶48} “I also, while I did hear Mr. McBee apologize, I do find that he shows no
genuine remorse.
{¶49} “As far as the factors which would indicate that recidivism is less likely, I
don’t find that any of those factors are met, based upon the information that is before me.
{¶50} “I have reviewed the entire pre-sentence investigation, and I have read the
letters that were written, numerous letters that were written from the victim’s family.”
{¶51} Thus, the court’s imposition of the maximum sentence is supported by the
fact that McBee committed this offense while on post-release control; had a history of
trafficking convictions; and had not responded favorably to past criminal sanctions. The
court also notes that while McBee did apologize, it does not believe his remorse is
genuine.
{¶52} Accordingly, the court’s “serious physical harm” finding is harmless here
because imposition of the maximum allowable prison term is otherwise supported by the
record and is not clearly and convincingly contrary to law. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) and
Crim.R. 52(A). McBee’s first assigned error lacks merit.
{¶53} His second assigned error asserts:
{¶54} “The Trial Court committed prejudicial error by imposing a sentence that
was not supported by the record, where the Court found McBee’s conduct to be more
serious for showing no genuine remorse.”
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{¶55} Here, McBee claims the court’s finding that he lacked genuine remorse is
not supported by the record and reversal is warranted because he apologized at the
sentencing hearing. We disagree.
{¶56} As he claims, McBee apologized to the victim’s family members at the
sentencing hearing. However, courts are not required to believe that a defendant
is remorseful simply because he apologizes. State v. Benore, 6th Dist. Ottawa No. OT-
04-021, 2005-Ohio-2944, ¶35. The trial court, as trier of fact, is in the best position to
determine the credibility and genuineness of a defendant’s stated remorse. State v.
Davis, 11th Dist. Lake Nos. 2003-L-027, 2003-L-028, and 2003-L-029, 2004-Ohio-2076,
at ¶29.
{¶57} As stated previously, the trial court simply did not find McBee’s apology was
sincere. It concludes, “while I did hear Mr. McBee apologize, I do find that he shows no
genuine remorse.” Thus, we find no error, and McBee’s second assigned error lacks
merit.
{¶58} The trial court’s decision is affirmed.
CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.,
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J.,
concur.
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