State v. Jones , 2020 Ohio 149 ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. Jones, 2020-Ohio-149.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
BUTLER COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
Appellee, : CASE NO. CA2019-05-087
: OPINION
- vs - 1/21/2020
:
NOAH JONES, :
Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. CR2018-11-2080
Michael T. Gmoser, Butler County Prosecuting Attorney, John C. Heinkel, Government
Services Center, 315 High Street, 11th Floor, Hamilton, Ohio 45011, for appellee
Rodriguez & Porter, Ltd., Paul W. Shonk, 5103 Pleasant Avenue, Fairfield, Ohio 45014, for
appellant
PIPER, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, Noah Jones, appeals his sentence in the Butler County Court of
Common Pleas after pleading guilty to two counts of felonious assault and their
accompanying firearm specifications.
{¶ 2} Jones, who was upset about a possible drug-related theft of $900, spent the
day watching the home of the man he believed stole from him. After the occupants returned
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to the home, Jones drove by and fired a shot into the house. He then drove around again,
firing another shot into the home. This second bullet struck a two-year-old child in the face
and another child in her leg. Both children survived, but suffered ongoing physical and
psychological repercussions from being shot.
{¶ 3} Jones was indicted on multiple counts of felonious assault, improperly
discharging a firearm into a habitation, and several accompanying firearm specifications.
Jones agreed to plead guilty to two counts of felonious assault with one-year and five-year
firearm specifications, and the remaining charges and specifications were dismissed. During
the plea hearing, the trial court informed Jones of his possible maximum sentence.
{¶ 4} The trial court later sentenced Jones to seven years on the first count of
felonious assault and five years on the second count. The trial court ordered the sentences
to run consecutively and also imposed the two firearm specifications for an aggregate
sentence of 18 years. Jones now appeals his sentence, raising the following assignments of
error, which we will address together.
{¶ 5} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 6} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY IMPOSING A CONSECUTIVE SENTENCE
UNDER R.C. § 2914(C)(4)(b) BECAUSE IT WAS BASED IN CENTRAL PART ON
CONDUCT UNDERLYING A DISMISSED CHARGE.
{¶ 7} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 8} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY IMPOSING A CONSECUTIVE SENTENCE
UNDER R.C. § 2914(C)(4)(c) BECAUSE THE FINDING WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE
RECORD.
{¶ 9} Jones challenges his sentence within his two assignments of error.
{¶ 10} An appellate court reviews the imposed sentence according to R.C.
2953.08(G)(2), which governs all felony sentences. State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St. 3d 516,
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2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 1. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) provides that an appellate court can modify or
vacate a sentence only if the appellate court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the
record does not support the trial court's findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence
is otherwise contrary to law.
{¶ 11} A sentence is not clearly and convincingly contrary to law where the trial court
"considers the principles and purposes of R.C. 2929.11, as well as the factors listed in R.C.
2929.12, properly imposes postrelease control, and sentences the defendant within the
permissible statutory range." State v. Ahlers, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2015-06-100, 2016-
Ohio-2890, ¶ 8. Thus, this court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence only
when it clearly and convincingly finds that the sentence is either contrary to law or
unsupported by the record. Marcum at ¶ 7.
{¶ 12} A consecutive sentence is contrary to law where the trial court fails to make the
consecutive sentencing findings required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). State v. Marshall, 12th Dist.
Warren No. CA2013-05-042, 2013-Ohio-5092, ¶ 8. Pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), a trial
court must engage in a three-step analysis and make certain findings before imposing
consecutive sentences. State v. Smith, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2014-07-054, 2015-Ohio-
1093, ¶ 7. Specifically, the trial court must find that (1) the consecutive sentence is
necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender, (2) consecutive
sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and to the
danger the offender poses to the public, and (3) one of the following applies:
(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses
while the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a
sanction imposed pursuant to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or
2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was under post-release control
for a prior offense.
(b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part
of one or more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two
or more of the multiple offenses so committed was so great or
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unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses
committed as part of any of the courses of conduct adequately
reflects the seriousness of the offender's conduct.
(c) The offender's history of criminal conduct demonstrates that
consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from
future crime by the offender.
R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
{¶ 13} "In order to impose consecutive terms of imprisonment, a trial court is required
to make the findings mandated by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at the sentencing hearing and
incorporate its findings into its sentencing entry." State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St. 3d 209,
2014-Ohio-3177, ¶ 37. While the trial court is not required to give reasons explaining these
findings, it must be clear from the record that the court engaged in the required sentencing
analysis and made the requisite findings. Smith at ¶ 8.
{¶ 14} The record clearly indicates that the trial court's sentence was within the
statutory range for the enumerated felony designations, supported by the required
considerations of R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12, and included the proper postrelease control
notifications. Moreover, the trial court made consecutive sentence findings at the sentencing
hearing when it imposed sentence, as well as in its judgment entry of sentence. The trial
court specifically found that consecutive sentences were necessary to protect the public from
future crime, as well as to punish Jones for his crimes. It also found that the consecutive
nature of the sentence was not disproportionate to the seriousness of Jones' conduct and to
the danger he posed to the public.
{¶ 15} The trial court also determined that Jones' crimes were committed as a course
of conduct and that the harm was so great and unusual that a single term could not
adequately reflect the seriousness of Jones' conduct. While not required to do so, the trial
court made an additional finding that Jones' criminal history demonstrated that consecutive
sentences were necessary to protect the public from Jones' future crime. Given the trial
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court's adherence to the statutory requirements, Jones consecutive sentences were not
contrary to law.
{¶ 16} We also find that the trial court's findings in relation to the sentence were
supported by the record. The record indicates that Jones drove by the victims' home and
shot twice into the occupied structure because of a disagreement regarding $900 of drug
money. With his second shot, Jones' bullet struck a two-year-old child in the face, and then
struck another child in the leg. Both children suffered serious physical injury from the bullet.
The younger child, who was placed in a medically-induced coma, required multiple facial
surgeries and ongoing medical care. The child also suffered from withdrawal symptoms
related to her prescription pain medication. The older child continues to have problems with
her knee where she was shot, including her knee popping out of the socket on occasion.
The children and their family continue to live with fear and suffer from physical and emotional
scars of the shooting.
{¶ 17} The court also considered that Jones watched the victims' house on the day of
the shooting and waited until they returned before shooting into the home. Despite having a
day to consider his actions, Jones followed through on his intent to shoot into the home.
Jones was aware of who lived in the home, including that multiple children could be there at
any time.
{¶ 18} The trial court also considered that Jones had a history of drug addiction and
committing crimes while under the influence of narcotics, including weapons and assault
related misdemeanors. Jones asserts the trial court overemphasized his criminal history
given that his convictions were misdemeanors. While the trial court noted the overall minimal
nature of Jones' criminal history, it also noted that the nature of the misdemeanor offenses
was "significant." We agree with the trial court because Jones' crimes, despite their
misdemeanor classifications, were associated with violence and weapons and demonstrated
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a pattern of Jones' violent tendencies and weapons use. As such, we find the trial court's
findings related to sentencing are fully supported by the record.
{¶ 19} Jones asserts that the trial court erred in determining his actions were part of a
course of conduct because he was never convicted of the felonious assault charge
associated with his first shot into the house. However, the statute is specific to the
defendant's conduct when committing his or her crimes and does not limit the sentencing
court to consider only the defendant's convictions.
{¶ 20} The record clearly indicates, and Jones never denied, that he first drove by the
home, shooting once into the house. He then drove by again, shooting once more into the
home, this time, striking two children. While Jones was not convicted of a crime related to
his first shot, the trial court was permitted to consider what Jones did on the night of the
drive-by shooting and all his actions associated with the commission of the crimes for which
he was ultimately convicted.
{¶ 21} The trial court properly considered the entire set of facts that led to Jones'
crimes, and did so within the proper context to understand Jones' intent and state of mind on
the day of the shooting. The fact that the state dismissed charges related to the first shot as
part of its plea negotiations did not negate the fact that Jones shot into the home twice, and
the trial court was not precluded in any manner from considering that fact before sentencing
Jones.
{¶ 22} After reviewing the record, we find the trial court's sentence proper. As such,
Jones' two assignments of error are overruled.
{¶ 23} Judgment affirmed.
RINGLAND, P.J., and M. POWELL, J., concur.
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