State v. Duckett ( 2021 )

[Cite as State v. Duckett, 2021-Ohio-3110.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
SCIOTO COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
: Case No. 20CA3924
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
:
v. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
JOSEPH W. DUCKETT, :
: RELEASED: 09/03/2021
Defendant-Appellant. :
APPEARANCES:
R. Jessica Manungo, Assistant State Public Defender, Office of the Ohio Public
Defender, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant.
Shane A. Tieman, Scioto County Prosecuting Attorney, and Jay S. Willis,
Assistant Scioto County Prosecutor, Portsmouth, Ohio, for Appellee.
Wilkin, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Joseph W. Duckett, appeals the Scioto County Court of
Common Pleas judgment entry revoking his community-control sanction. The
trial court imposed the agreed prison term of 24 months. Duckett appeals
challenging the recommended joint sentence and the special project fees
included as court costs in his case.
{¶2} In the first assignment of error, Duckett maintains his counsel was
ineffective for agreeing to the unauthorized sentence because his community-
control violations were technical in nature. According to Duckett, since the
violations were technical in nature, the maximum prison term that could be
imposed for the violations was 180 days. We disagree and find that Duckett’s
three violations were nontechnical and the 180-day cap does not apply.
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 2
Duckett’s jointly recommended sentence was authorized by law and pursuant to
R.C. 2953.08(D)(1) is not reviewable on appeal.
{¶3} In the second assignment of error, Duckett disputes 14 special
project fees that were charged and included in the itemized bill statement
generated by the Scioto County Clerk of Courts. Each fee was for $5. Duckett
claims the clerk could only assess a one-time special project fee of $25 based on
Scioto County Court of Common Pleas Local Rule 13. We sustain Duckett’s
assignment of error but on the basis that the clerk of courts could not assess any
special project fee pursuant to the unambiguous language in R.C. 2303.20.
Moreover, Local Rule 13 does not create a new charge for a special project fund.
Rather, it indicates that $25 of the fees deposited in a civil action “shall be
deposited in the Special Project Fund.” Loc.R. 13, of the Court of Common
Pleas of Scioto County, General Division. Therefore, the trial court committed
plain error by charging Duckett an additional $70 in court costs.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
{¶4} In April 2016, Duckett pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated
trafficking in drugs and one count of trafficking in heroin. The trial court imposed
a five-year community-control sanction and included conditions tailored to
address Duckett’s substance abuse issues. Among those conditions was the
requirement to enroll and successfully complete the Star Program, complete a
drug/alcohol assessment by the Adult Probation Department, and not consume
any alcohol and non-prescribed drugs. Duckett at that time was advised that a
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 3
violation of his community-control conditions could lead to more restrictive terms,
a longer sanction or a stated prison term of 48 months.
{¶5} Less than three years into his community-control sentence, Duckett
tested positive for methamphetamine. Duckett admitted to the violation in April
2019. The trial court continued Duckett’s community-control sanction but added
further conditions, including but not limited to: successfully completing the Scioto
County Court of Common Pleas Treatment Program with the Adult Probation
Department, completing another drug/alcohol assessment, and abiding by all the
rules and regulations of the probation department.
{¶6} In January and February 2020, Duckett was again accused of
violating his community-control conditions by failing to report to the probation
department from December 9, 2019 to February 16, 2021, failing to call the I-
Samson drug testing center, and for failing to report to the department for I-
Samson drug testing. At the revocation hearing, Duckett admitted to all three
violations. Duckett informed the trial court that he understood it was to proceed
directly to sentencing.
{¶7} The trial court then carried on by first clarifying that: “I understand the
parties will be jointly recommending disposition in this matter of 24 months, with
credit for the time that he’s served both in jail and at Star[.]” Duckett, his counsel
and the state verified the trial court’s understanding of the recommended
sentence. Secondly, the trial court advised Duckett that if it adopted the jointly
recommended sentence, he waives the right to appeal it. Duckett indicated that
he understood.
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 4
{¶8} Duckett explained to the trial court that he violated his community-
control sanction because his significant other had a medical emergency and was
transported to Columbus. After a few days, Duckett realized he failed to report to
the probation department, and panicked for fear of being sent to prison. Duckett
apologized for his behavior.
{¶9} The trial court revoked Duckett’s community-control sanction and
imposed the jointly recommended sentence. Specifically, the trial court as to
Count One, sentenced Duckett “to a 12 month term in the custody Ohio
Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, as to Count 2, to a 12 month term,
and as to Count 3, a 12 month term.” Counts One and Two were ordered to be
served consecutively while Count Three concurrently. Duckett was granted jail-
time credit of 199 days as stipulated by the parties.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
I. JOSEPH DUCKETT WAS DENIED HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT
RIGHT TO THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
WHEN DEFENSE COUNSEL JOINTLY RECOMMENDED A
SENTENCE THAT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
II. THE TRIAL COURT PLAINLY ERRED BY ASSESSING
UNAUTHORIZED COURT COSTS IN THE FORM OF SPECIAL
PROJECT FEES.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
{¶10} Under this assignment of error, Duckett is appealing his jointly
recommended sentence, which he acknowledges is not reviewable on appeal if it
is authorized by law. Thus, Duckett agrees that the threshold issue is whether
his community-control violations were technical and thus capped pursuant to
R.C. 2929.15(B)(1)(c)(ii) to 180 days in prison, or whether they were
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 5
nontechnical in nature permitting the trial court to impose the 24-month prison
term.
{¶11} Duckett avers his violations were technical in nature because his
failure to report and call-in were conditions aimed to facilitate his supervision by
the probation department. Duckett completed all the treatment programs and
conditions specifically tailored to address his substance abuse issues, and the
remaining conditions were routine and administrative. In addition, his failure to
report was not for an unreasonable amount of time. Therefore, Duckett
maintains that his counsel’s performance to jointly recommend the 24-month
prison sentence was not a strategic judgment. To the contrary, it demonstrates
counsel’s lack of familiarity with the law that resulted in a prison term not
authorized by law.
{¶12} The state in response asserts that Duckett’s sentence is authorized
by law and Duckett’s counsel’s recommendation of the joint sentence did not fall
below an objective standard of reasonable representation; thus, the sentence is
not reviewable by this court. In line with its argument that the sentence is
authorized by law, the state claims Duckett’s violations are nontechnical. Duckett
abandoned the objectives of his community-control sentence by failing to report
to the probation department as required by their rules, failing to call the drug
testing system, and failing to report for drug testing. All these conditions were
tailored to address matters related to Duckett’s drug offenses and “substantive
rehabilitative requirements.”
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 6
Law and Analysis
{¶13} R.C. 2953.08(D)(1) specifies that a “sentence imposed upon a
defendant is not subject to review under this section if the sentence is authorized
by law, has been recommended jointly by the defendant and the prosecution in
the case, and is imposed by a sentencing judge.” Duckett maintains that this
court may review his jointly recommended sentence because his counsel was
ineffective for recommending the joint sentence given that it is not authorized by
law.
{¶14} To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, Duckett “must
show (1) deficient performance by counsel, i.e., performance falling below an
objective standard of reasonable representation, and (2) prejudice, i.e., a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the proceeding’s result would
have been different.” State v. Short, 129 Ohio St.3d 360, 2011-Ohio-3641, 952
N.E.2d 1121, ¶ 113, citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-688, 694,
104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538
N.E.2d 373 (1988), paragraph two of the syllabus. Failure to demonstrate either
prong of this test “is fatal to the claim.” State v. Jones, 4th Dist. Scioto No.
06CA3116, 2008-Ohio-968, ¶ 14, citing Strickland.
{¶15} Duckett “has the burden of proof because in Ohio, a properly
licensed attorney is presumed competent.” State v. Gondor, 112 Ohio St.3d 377,
2006-Ohio-6679, 860 N.E.2d 77, ¶ 62, citing State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St.3d
279, 1999-Ohio-102, 714 N.E.2d 905, ¶ 62, citing Vaughn v. Maxwell, 2 Ohio
St.2d 299, 209 N.E.2d 164 (1965). “In order to overcome this presumption, the
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 7
petitioner must submit sufficient operative facts or evidentiary documents that
demonstrate that the petitioner was prejudiced by the ineffective assistance.” Id.,citing State v. Davis, 133 Ohio App.3d 511, 516, 728 N.E.2d 1111 (8th
Dist.1999). To demonstrate prejudice, Duckett “must show that there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of
the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a
probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Strickland at 694.
{¶16} “A sentence is ‘authorized by law’ and is not appealable within the
meaning of R.C. 2953.08(D)(1) only if it comports with all mandatory sentencing
provisions.” State v. Underwood, 124 Ohio St.3d 365, 2010-Ohio-1, 922 N.E.2d
923, paragraph two of the syllabus. Duckett was convicted of two fourth-degree
felonies and one fifth-degree felony offense and sentenced to community control.
Pursuant to R.C. 2929.15(B)(1)(c)(i) and (ii), the trial court may impose a prison
term if Duckett violates his community-control sentence but “[i]f the prison term is
imposed for any technical violation of the conditions of a community control
sanction imposed for a felony of the fifth degree, the prison term shall not exceed
ninety days” or exceed “one hundred eighty days” for fourth-degree felonies. The
trial court sentenced Duckett to the agreed 24-month prison term with the
presumption that his three violations were nontechnical and the 180-day cap for
his most serious felonies did not apply.
{¶17} The term technical is not statutorily defined but the Supreme Court
recently provided guidance in two decisions: State v. Nelson, 162 Ohio St.3d
338, 2020-Ohio-3690, 165 N.E.3d 1110, and State v. Castner, 163 Ohio St.3d
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 8
19, 2020-Ohio-4950,167 N.E.3d 939. In Nelson the Court affirmed his sentence
concluding “Nelson’s violation of the condition that he obey all orders of his
supervising officer was not a ‘technical violation’ and therefore the 180-day cap
on a prison sentence for a ‘technical violation’ in R.C. 2929.15(B)(1)(c)(ii) does
not apply.” Nelson at ¶ 1. In reaching that finding, the Supreme Court held that
the determination whether a violation is a “technical violation” under
R.C. 2929.15(B)(1)(c) does not turn on whether the conduct at
issue is criminal. As Davis indicated, a violation is “nontechnical” if,
considering the totality of the circumstances, the violation concerns
a condition of community control that was “specifically tailored to
address” matters related to the defendant’s misconduct or if it can
be deemed a “substantive rehabilitative requirement which
addressed a significant factor contributing to” the defendant’s
misconduct. Davis, 2018-Ohio-2672, at ¶ 17 * * *. On the other
hand, a violation is “technical” when the condition violated is akin to
“an administrative requirement facilitating community control
supervision.” Davis at ¶ 18[.]
Nelson at ¶ 26.
{¶18} A trial court on a case-by-case basis should consider “the nature of
the community-control condition at issue and the manner in which it was violated,
as well as any other relevant circumstances in the case.” Id. Applying Nelson,
the Supreme Court held Castner’s violations were nontechnical in nature
because the conditions to complete the Alvis House and Re-Entry Court
programs “were specifically tailored to address Castner’s drug use and were
aimed at reducing his likelihood of recidivism.” Castner at ¶ 16.
{¶19} Similarly here, Duckett violated three community-control conditions
that were tailored specifically to address his substance abuse issues. Duckett
was convicted of three drug-related offenses. He previously violated his
community-control sanction in March 2019, by testing positive for
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 9
methamphetamine. The trial court did not revoke his community control at that
time, but imposed more restrictive conditions including abiding by all the rules
and regulations of the probation department. Among these rules, Duckett was to
regularly report to his probation officer, keep contact with the I-Samson drug
testing system, and report to I-Samson for drug testing. But Duckett failed to
abide by these conditions for over two months.
{¶20} Maintaining sobriety from drug and alcohol use has been one of the
corner stone conditions in Duckett’s community-control sanction. Thus, the three
conditions that Duckett violated not only were tailored to address his substance
abuse issues, but were also “a substantive rehabilitative requirement which
addressed a significant factor contributing” to Duckett’s misconduct. See Nelson,
162 Ohio St.3d 338, 2020-Ohio-3690,165 N.E.3d 1110, ¶ 26, citing State v.
Davis, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2017-11-156, 2018-Ohio-2672, ¶ 17. We find
that Duckett’s violations were nontechnical and his prison sentence of 24 months
was authorized by law.
{¶21} Our holding is consistent with the three cases from the Second, Fifth
and Twelfth District Courts of Appeals cited by Duckett in his notice of
supplemental authority. All three appellate district courts affirmed the violation(s)
as being nontechnical after applying the Supreme Court’s decisions in Nelson
and Castner. In State v. Eastman, the Second District held that “the trial court
reasonably concluded that Eastman’s failure to report to the probation
department and failure to complete a drug and alcohol assessment constituted
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 10
nontechnical violations of his community control sanctions.” State v. Eastman,
2d Dist. Clark No. 2020-CA-5, 2021-Ohio-392, ¶ 22.
{¶22} In State v. Miller, the Fifth District held that Miller’s failure to report
to probation, maintain sobriety, obey the law and pay monthly restitution were
nontechnical violations. State v. Miller, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 2020 CA 00024,
2021-Ohio-286, ¶ 20. Miller “during a thirteen-month period of time, * * * failed to
report to her probation officer for a period of over twelve months.” Id. at ¶ 22.
The Fifth District noted that:
The purpose of reporting to probation was to supervise
appellant to monitor her sobriety, ensure she would repay her
victim, and guard against future financial crimes. No substantive
rehabilitative requirements can be met when the probationer fails to
report for an extended period of time.
Id. Finally, in State v. Smith, the Twelfth District held:
Appellant’s pattern of conduct demonstrates a voluntary
refusal to comply with the conditions of community control and thus
a failure to comply with the community control sanctions as a
whole. As a result, appellant’s Basic Sanction No. 6 violation for
failing to report to his probation officer for close to two months was
not a “technical violation” under R.C. 2929.15(B)(1)(c)(i).
State v. Smith, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2020-08-044, 2021-Ohio-630, ¶ 24.
{¶23} As the three cases demonstrate, neglecting to report to the
supervising probation officer coupled with a lack of validating sobriety can
establish a defendant’s failure to adhere to the substantive rehabilitative
requirements. More recently, the Eighth District held that the requirement for
Reese to “contact his probation officer once each week was more than an
administrative requirement; it was a substantive rehabilitative requirement.”
State v. Reese, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109911, 2021-Ohio-1407, ¶ 15. It thus
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 11
found that Reese’s failure “to place a phone call for five consecutive weeks is
more than a technical violation.” Id.{¶24} Duckett did not report to his probation officer for over two months
and failed to report for drug testing. During that time, his probation officer was
unable to verify Duckett’s sobriety, a key factor in his substantive rehabilitative
requirement. Therefore, Duckett’s violations are nontechnical.
{¶25} Accordingly, the trial court was not capped by the 180-day prison
term limitation in R.C. 2929.15(B)(1)(c)(ii) for Duckett’s most serious felony
offenses. Duckett was advised at his initial sentencing hearing that if he violated
the conditions of his community-control sanction, the trial court would impose an
aggregate prison term of 48 months. By notifying Duckett of the specific prison
term he faced, the trial court could have imposed the 48-month prison term at
Duckett’s second revocation hearing. See State v. Howard, 162 Ohio St.3d 314,
2020-Ohio-3195, 165 N.E.3d 1088, ¶ 22 (the notification requirement in R.C.
2929.19(B)(4) is met when the trial court at the initial sentencing hearing notifies
a defendant of the exact prison term it will impose if he violated community
control and is not required to repeat the notification at each revocation hearing.)
{¶26} Duckett’s counsel, however, was able to negotiate a prison term of
24 months, which the trial court accepted. Duckett thus cannot demonstrate his
counsel was ineffective for jointly recommending a sentence that is authorized by
law and half of what he faced. Wherefore, Duckett’s jointly recommended
sentence that is authorized by law and imposed by the trial court is not
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 12
reviewable on appeal pursuant to R.C. 2953.08(D)(1). Accordingly, Duckett’s
first assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
{¶27} Duckett maintains that the trial court committed plain error by
randomly charging him numerous times a fee of $5 for a special project fund
when Local Rule 13 specifies that the fee is a one-time assessment of $25 for
each criminal cause. Duckett argues that his three convictions are one cause of
action, but alternatively, even if considered as three criminal causes, the fee
would be three assessments of $25, not the random multiple $5 fees.1
{¶28} The state disagrees with Duckett’s interpretation of the definition of
criminal cause and his claim that the special project fee is limited to one
assessment of $25. According to the state, each count in the indictment is a
separate criminal cause and further, that each probation violation is a separate
action. Thus, Duckett should be assessed five separate fees totaling $125 and
he cannot demonstrate prejudice since the charges in his case are a total of $70.
The state, however, has no legal argument for the 14 separate $5 special project
fees other than conjecture that “it appears these $5 fees were assessed upon the
filing of Entries by the court.”
1
Duckett also claims that there is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause by allowing numerous special project
assessments for those defendants charged with multiple criminal offenses when only one fee can be assessed against
defendants in multiple civil actions. Duckett, however, failed to raise this issue in the lower court proceedings. Therefore,
we decline to address it for the first time on appeal. “Failure to raise at the trial court level the issue of the constitutionality
of a statute or its application, which issue is apparent at the time of trial, constitutes a waiver of such issue and a deviation
from this state’s orderly procedure, and therefore need not be heard for the first time on appeal.” State v. Awan, 22 Ohio
St.3d 120, 489 N.E.2d 277 (1986), syllabus. The Awan waiver directive has been applied to the constitutionality of
procedural and local rules. See In re McDaniel, 11th Dist. Lake Nos. 2002-L-158 & 159, 2004-Ohio-2595, ¶ 35
(“Although Awan speaks of waiver in terms of a statute’s constitutionality, it stands to reason that the same rule applies
when attacking the constitutionality of a procedural rule. To wit, as a matter of appellate practice, a trial court must pass
upon an issue in order for that issue to be properly before this court.”). See also State v. Cole, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2004-
L-92, 2005-Ohio-1794, ¶ 8 (“We first note Cole failed to raise the issue of the constitutionality of Loc.R. III(D)(4) at the trial
court level; therefore, he has waived this argument.”).
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 13
Law and Analysis
{¶29} “Plain errors or defects affecting substantial rights may be noticed
although they were not brought to the attention of the court.” Crim.R. 52(B). In
order to establish plain error, Duckett “must show that (1) there was an error or
deviation from a legal rule, (2) the error was plain and obvious, and (3) the error
affected the outcome of the trial.” State v. Mohamed, 151 Ohio St.3d 320, 2017-
Ohio-7468, 88 N.E.3d 935, ¶ 26, citing State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27,
2002-Ohio-68, 759 N.E.2d 1240. “Notice of plain error under Crim.R. 52(B) is to
be taken with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to
prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.” State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 97,
372 N.E.2d 804 (1978). A “substantial right” is a “right that the United States
Constitution, the Ohio Constitution, a statute, the common law, or a rule of
procedure entitles a person to enforce or protect.” R.C. 2505.02(A)(1).
{¶30} Pursuant to R.C. 2947.23(A)(1)(a) “[i]n all criminal cases, including
violations of ordinances, the judge or magistrate shall include in the sentence the
costs of prosecution, including any costs under section 2947.231 of the Revised
Code, and render a judgment against the defendant for such costs.” Case is
defined as “a prosecution of all of the charges that result from the same act,
transaction, or series of acts or transactions and that are given the same case
type designator and case number under Rule 43 of the Rules of Superintendence
for the Courts of Ohio or any successor to that rule.” R.C.2947.23(D). Cost is
not statutorily defined but has been interpreted by the Supreme Court as:
Costs, in the sense the word is generally used in this state,
may be defined as being the statutory fees to which officers,
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 14
witnesses, jurors, and others are entitled for their services in an
action or prosecution, and which the statutes authorize to be taxed
and included in the judgment or sentence. (State ex rel. Franklin
Cty. Commrs. v. Guilbert (1970), 77 Ohio St. 333, 338, 83 N.E. 80,
approved and followed.)
City of Middleburg Heights v. Quinones, 120 Ohio St.3d 534, 2008-Ohio-6811,
900 N.E.2d 1005, paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶31} The clerk of the common pleas court pursuant to R.C. 2303.20 has
the mandatory duty to charge fees. The statute provides that “the clerk shall
charge the following fees and no more” and then specifies the fee amount for
each listed item. The list in R.C. 2303.20 is all-inclusive since the words “no
more” are unambiguous and must be given their ordinary meaning. “An
unambiguous statute must be applied in a manner consistent with the plain
meaning of the statutory language, and a court cannot simply ignore or add
words.” Portage Cty. Bd. of Commrs. v. Akron, 109 Ohio St. 3d 106, 2006-Ohio-
954, 116, 846 N.E.2d 478, ¶ 52, citing State ex rel. Burrows v. Indus. Comm., 78
Ohio St.3d 78, 81, 676 N.E.2d 519 (1997). R.C. 1.42 also directs that “[w]ords
and phrases shall be read in context and construed according to the rules of
grammar and common usage.”
{¶32} The comprehensive list in R.C. 2303.20 does not include an item for
a special project fee. And the 14 specific $5 charges in Duckett’s itemized bill
statement are not ones associated with any of the provisions in the statute.
Duckett and the state seem to both acknowledge that and instead rely on Local
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 15
Rule 13 to explain the 14 separate $5 special project fees.2 In September 2009,
Scioto County Court of Common Pleas Local Rule 13 was amended in order “to
provide for a $25.00 fee in all civil and criminal filings for a special projects fund.”
In the Matter of the Adoption of Rule 13 of the Rules of Practice of the General
Division, Journal Entry. The rule is titled “deposits in civil actions” and specifies
that “$25.00 of all costs deposited pursuant to this rule shall be deposited in the
Special Project Funds.” Loc.R. 13(F), of the Court of Common Pleas of Scioto
County, General Division. Reading the language of the rule as written, we
interpret it to mean that of the monies deposited in each civil action, $25 is
earmarked and added to the special project fund. It does not, as the parties
claim, authorize an additional $25 special project fee to be assessed separately
to a criminal cause of action as court costs.
{¶33} Duckett’s itemized bill statement includes 14 separate $5 charges of
“special projects” fees beginning in February 24, 2016, when he was appointed
counsel on the initial indictment, and ending on November 3, 2020. These fees
are not associated with any of the mandatory charges listed in R.C. 2303.20, and
even the state’s conjecture that the fees correspond with the filing of an entry is
belied by the record in which separate fees were assessed for each filed entry. It
was plain error to assess the special project amounts to Duckett when no
statutory provision or local rule permits such fees. The additional $70 charges
2
Duckett also cites and is requesting that we apply the definition of criminal cause in R.C. 2303.201(E)(2)(a) in support of
his claim that his three convictions are one criminal cause of action. (Duckett’s brief page 15) But that definition only
applies to R.C. 2303.201(E) in which it provides: “As used in division (E) of this section[.]” See R.C. 2303.201(E)(2).
Further, R.C. 2303.201 pertains to special fees associated with computerizing the court and/or paying for computerized
legal research. Those charges are permitted up to $6 but after the court of common pleas makes the determination that
the funds are required for that purpose. See R.C. 2303.201(A)(1) (“Upon making a determination that additional funds are
required for either or both of those purposes, the court shall authorize and direct the clerk of the court of common pleas to
charge one additional fee, not to exceed six dollars[.]”) Neither party here asserts there has been a determination for the
computerized funding by the Scioto County Court of Common Pleas and we cannot find a local rule with that
determination.
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 16
were thus improperly assessed as court costs. Therefore, Duckett’s second
assignment of error is sustained and this matter is remanded to the trial court for
a correction of the court costs charged.
CONCLUSION
{¶34} We affirm Duckett’s 24-month prison sentence, but having sustained
his second assignment of error, we remand the matter for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART AND REMANDED.
Scioto App. No. 20CA3924 17
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED IN PART AND
REVERSED IN PART and that the CAUSE IS REMANDED. Appellant and
appellee shall split the costs.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the
Scioto County Court of Common Pleas 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 60 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 60-day period, or the failure of the Appellant to
file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the 45-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 60 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.
Smith, P.J. & Abele, J: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court,
BY: ____________________________
Kristy S. Wilkin, 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.