State v. Armstrong , 2023 Ohio 3527 ( 2023 )

[Cite as State v. Armstrong, 2023-Ohio-3527.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
PORTAGE COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 2022-P-0088
Plaintiff-Appellee,
Criminal Appeal from the
- vs - Court of Common Pleas
JOSHUA J. ARMSTRONG,
Trial Court No. 2022 CR 00906
Defendant-Appellant.
OPINION
Decided: September 29, 2023
Judgment: Affirmed
Victor V. Vigluicci, Portage County Prosecutor, and Pamela J. Holder, Assistant
Prosecutor, 241 South Chestnut Street, Ravenna, OH 44266 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).
Paul M. Grant, 209 South Main Street, Eighth Floor, Akron, OH 44308 (For Defendant-
Appellant).
EUGENE A. LUCCI, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Joshua J. Armstrong, appeals his convictions following his guilty
pleas to abduction and domestic violence. We affirm.
{¶2} In 2022, an indictment was filed charging Armstrong with one count of
abduction, a third-degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2905.02, and one count of domestic
violence, a fourth-degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2919.25. As the language of the
indictment is at issue in this appeal, we reproduce the relevant portions below. First, the
indictment specified the grand jury’s findings with respect to the abduction count as follow:
Joshua J. Armstrong on or about July 21, 2022, in the
County of Portage aforesaid did:
knowingly, without privilege to do so, by force or threat,
remove another from where the other person is found,
and/or restrain the liberty of another, to wit: [victim
name], under circumstances that create a risk of physical
harm to the victim or place [victim name] in fear.
Said act being Abduction, a Felony of the Third Degree.
Contrary to and in violation of Section 2905.02 of the Revised
Code of Ohio, and
Contrary to the form and statute in such case made and
provided and Against the Peace and Dignity of the State of
Ohio.
(Boldface sic.) Next, the indictment provided the grand jury’s findings as to domestic
violence as follow:
Joshua J. Armstrong on or about July 21, 2022, in the
County of Portage, State of Ohio Aforesaid did:
knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to
[second victim name], a family or household member,
and the said Gregory F. Aguier (sic.) previously has
pleaded guilty to or has been convicted of an offense of
domestic violence in violation of Ohio Revised Code
Section 2919.25(A), a violation of an existing former
municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state of
the United States that is substantially similar to domestic
violence, or a violation of section 2903.14, 2909.06,
2909.07, 2911.12, 2911.211 [2911.21.1]. or 2919.22 of the
Revised Code or any offense of violence if the victim of
the offense was a family or household member at the time
of the commission of the offense, to wit: 7/14/2022
Portage County Municipal Court 22CRB1493R
Said act being Domestic Violence, a Felony of the Fourth
Degree,
Contrary to and in violation of Section 2919.25 of the Ohio
Revised Code, and
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Contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and
provided and Against the Peace and Dignity of the State of
Ohio.
(Boldface sic.)
{¶3} Armstrong initially pleaded not guilty but later requested leave to amend his
plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, and he moved for a competency determination.
The court ordered a competency evaluation and scheduled a competency hearing. On
the date assigned for the competency hearing, the case instead proceeded as a change-
of-plea hearing, as the parties had entered into a plea agreement. Armstrong amended
his plea to guilty on both counts. The trial court accepted the pleas, ordered a pre-
sentence investigation report (“PSI”) be prepared, ordered Armstrong be evaluated for
the Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program (“NEOCAP”) and for Community
Assessment & Treatment Services (“CATS”), and set the matter for sentencing.
{¶4} The PSI indicates that CATS offered to accept Armstrong into its residential
program. However, at sentencing, the court declined to order CATS placement at that
time, and it instead imposed terms of imprisonment of 36 months on the abduction count
and 12 months of imprisonment on the domestic violence count, to be served
concurrently.
{¶5} In his first assigned error, Armstrong contends:
{¶6} “The court committed reversible and plain error when it accepted Mr.
Armstrong’s plea when it failed to substantially comply with Crim.R. 11 in violation of Mr.
Armstrong’s due process rights under the Fifth and Fourth (sic.) Amendments to the
United States Constitution and under Art. I, §16 of the Ohio Constitution.”
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{¶7} “‘When a defendant enters a plea in a criminal case, the plea must be made
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. Failure on any of those points renders
enforcement of the plea unconstitutional under both the United States Constitution and
the Ohio Constitution.’” State v. Veney, 120 Ohio St.3d 176, 2008-Ohio-5200, 897 N.E.2d
621, ¶ 7, quoting State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St.3d 525, 527, 660 N.E.2d 450 (1996). “Crim.R.
11 was adopted in 1973, giving detailed instruction to trial courts on the procedure to
follow when accepting pleas.” Veney at ¶ 7. Crim.R. 11 “‘ensures an adequate record
on review by requiring the trial court to personally inform the defendant of his rights and
the consequences of his plea and determine if the plea is understandingly and voluntarily
made.’” State v. Dangler, 162 Ohio St.3d 1, 2020-Ohio-2765, 164 N.E.3d 286, ¶ 11,
quoting State v. Stone, 43 Ohio St.2d 163, 168, 331 N.E.2d 411 (1975); see also State v.
Nero, 56 Ohio St.3d 106, 107, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990).
{¶8} Crim.R. 11(C)(2) provides:
In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty
* * *, and shall not accept a plea of guilty * * * without first
addressing the defendant personally either in-person or by
remote contemporaneous video in conformity with Crim.R.
43(A) and doing all of the following:
(a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea
voluntarily, with understanding of the nature of the charges
and of the maximum penalty involved, and if applicable, that
the defendant is not eligible for probation or for the imposition
of community control sanctions at the sentencing hearing.
(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the
defendant understands the effect of the plea of guilty * * *, and
that the court, upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with
judgment and sentence.
(c) Informing the defendant and determining that the
defendant understands that by the plea the defendant is
waiving the rights to jury trial, to confront witnesses against
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him or her, to have compulsory process for obtaining
witnesses in the defendant’s favor, and to require the state to
prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a
trial at which the defendant cannot be compelled to testify
against himself or herself.
{¶9} “Before accepting a guilty * * * plea, the court must make the determinations
and give the warnings required by Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) and (b) and notify the defendant
of the constitutional rights listed in Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c).” Veney, 2008-Ohio-5200, at ¶ 13.
{¶10} Further, “[w]hen a criminal defendant seeks to have his conviction reversed
on appeal, the traditional rule is that he must establish that an error occurred in the trial-
court proceedings and that he was prejudiced by that error.” (Citations omitted.) Dangler,
2020-Ohio-2765, at ¶ 13. In the context of guilty pleas, the Ohio Supreme Court has
noted two exceptions to the rule that a defendant must establish prejudice. Id. at ¶ 14-
16. First, “[w]hen a trial court fails to explain the constitutional rights that a defendant
waives by pleading guilty * * *, we presume that the plea was entered involuntarily and
unknowingly, and no showing of prejudice is required.” (Citation omitted.) Id. at ¶ 14.
Second, “a trial court’s complete failure to comply with a portion of Crim.R. 11(C)
eliminates the defendant’s burden to show prejudice.” (Citation omitted.) Id. at ¶ 15.
{¶11} Accordingly, “the questions to be answered are simply: (1) has the trial court
complied with the relevant provision of the rule? (2) if the court has not complied fully with
the rule, is the purported failure of a type that excuses a defendant from the burden of
demonstrating prejudice? and (3) if a showing of prejudice is required, has the defendant
met that burden?” Id. at ¶ 17.
{¶12} Here, at the commencement of the change-of-plea hearing, the following
exchange occurred:
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THE COURT: * * * It’s my understanding the Defendant is
going to enter a plea today to Count One, Abduction, a Felony
of the Third Degree and Count Two, Domestic Violence, a
Felony of the Fourth Degree. With that plea, the State of Ohio
will concur with the pre-sentence investigation report at the
time of sentencing, is asking for a NEOCAP evaluation as
well; is that all correct * * *?
[THE STATE]: Yes, Your Honor, that is correct.
THE DEFENDANT: That is not correct.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Wait a minute please.
THE COURT: [Defense counsel], is that your understanding?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, it is my understanding.
I did go over the plea agreement with my client. I did explain
to him that the State is asking for a NEOCAP assessment.
We would agree with that. He would concur with the
assessment.
However, we would also ask the Court to order a CATS
assessment. I think, as the Court is made aware by the
competency evaluation, Mr. Armstrong has struggled with his
mental health for a considerable amount of time. Really, his
entire life. I think CATS would be a better fit because of that.
We don’t disagree with the State’s plea agreement and he did
sign that, but we would ask for that additional assessment.
{¶13} Thereafter, the court engaged in the Crim.R. 11 colloquy with Armstrong,
which included the following exchange:
THE COURT: Sir, have you been fully advised by [defense
counsel] of the Criminal Rule 11(F) Plea Negotiations?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: Do you accept these negotiations as your own?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.
{¶14} On appeal, Armstrong first maintains that the court was required to ask him
directly what his understanding of the plea agreement entailed due to Armstrong’s initial
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dispute with the state’s recitation of the agreement. However, as set forth above,
Armstrong’s attorney clarified that the plea agreement recitation was accurate, but
defense counsel added that Armstrong also sought a CATS screening. After defense
counsel’s statement, Armstrong did not further indicate any issue with the plea agreement
as described by defense counsel and affirmatively indicated that he accepted the plea
negotiations as his own. Armstrong does not indicate what portion of Crim.R. 11(C)
required the court to further inquire as to Armstrong’s understanding of the plea
agreement.
{¶15} Next, Armstrong maintains that the court created confusion by leading him
to believe that he would receive the CATS placement if accepted into the program. In
support of his position that the court created “confusion” by its statement, Armstrong relies
on statements made by the court at the change of plea hearing:
THE COURT: * * * I’m going to send you for a pre-sentence
investigation through the adult probation department. I will
have a NEOCAP evaluation, but a CATS evaluation
performed as well. And I know that they have beds
immediately. I’ll do an expedited pre-sentence investigation
report.
***
THE COURT: I will do an updated pre-sentence investigation
report and we’ll try to get this going because if he’s accepted
into CATS we can get him in there right away.
{¶16} The PSI indicates that CATS offered to accept Armstrong. However, at
sentencing, the court imposed the above referenced prison terms and stated that it would
entertain a request for judicial release after six months to possibly place Armstrong in the
CATS program.
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{¶17} Although Armstrong argues that the court’s statements at the change of
plea hearing created “confusion” by indicating that the court would send him to CATS if
accepted, these statements occurred after Armstrong entered, and the trial court
accepted, the pleas. Armstrong has not demonstrated how the court’s statements and
actions occurring after he entered, and the court accepted, his pleas would negate the
knowing, intelligent, and voluntary nature of the pleas.
{¶18} Next, Armstrong maintains that it was impossible for him to fully understand
the nature of his plea because the indictment failed to set forth the division of the statutes
that he was alleged to have violated and because the indictment incorrectly identified the
victim and the accused in the body of the second count.
{¶19} However, the two counts tracked the language of the relevant divisions of
the statutory sections defining abduction and domestic violence. See R.C. 2905.02(A)(1)
and (A)(2), and R.C. 2919.25(A) and (D)(3).1 Armstrong has not identified how the failure
of the indictment to specify the specific divisions of these statutes undermined his
understanding of the charges or the pleas.
{¶20} Further, as set forth above, we recognize that the indictment specified
different victims in the first and second counts. However, save for the indictment, there
1. In his brief, Armstrong contends that the online docket in this case reflects that he pleaded guilty to
Division (C) of R.C. 2929.25. That division provides “No person, by threat of force, shall knowingly cause
a family or household member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family
or household member.” However, the language of the indictment tracks Division (A), which provides “No
person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member,” and
Division (D) which pertains to a prior offense. We have located nothing in the record certified on appeal
indicating that Armstrong pleaded guilty to Division (C), and our review on appeal is limited to the record.
Accordingly, we review the domestic violence conviction pursuant to language used in the indictment, which
reflects a charge under R.C. 2919.25(A) and (D).
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exists no mention of the victim named in the second count in the record. Further, it is
apparent from the face of the indictment that it incorrectly identified a different individual
as the offender in the body of the second count.2
{¶21} The record contains limited information regarding the factual predicates of
the offenses. From the information contained in the PSI, it appears that the victim
identified in the first count was Armstrong’s girlfriend. On the date at issue, the girlfriend
entered her apartment and found Armstrong there, armed with knives, searching for
drugs. Armstrong forced the girlfriend to remain in the apartment, and he took her phone.
The girlfriend reported that Armstrong threatened her, called her derogatory names, and
struck her in the face with an open hand.
{¶22} Due to the absence in the record of any mention of the second victim and
due to the internally inconsistent reference to “Gregory F. Aguier” as the accused in the
second count, it is reasonable to assume that the substance of the second count of the
indictment was copied from a different case and not updated with the correct names of
the victim and the accused in the present case.3 A review of the online records of the trial
court confirms as much, as the grand jury returned an indictment against Aguier in 2022,
in Portage County Common Pleas Case No. 2022CR00792, charging him with fourth-
2. At oral argument, the state acknowledged the mistakes in the indictment and indicated that it will move
to amend the indictment after resolution of this appeal.
3. Similar nonfatal clerical errors appear in Armstrong’s third assigned error, wherein he references himself
as “Mr. Huber,” (see infra at ¶ 32 and Appt. Brief at pp. iv and 12), as well as in Armstrong’s issue for review
following his second assigned error in the law and argument portion of his brief, wherein he again references
himself as “Mr. Huber.” See Appt. Brief at p. 7 (“Did the trial court abuse its discretion when it imposed a
prison sentence on Mr. Huber instead of a community control sanction?”).
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degree domestic violence against the victim named in the second count of the indictment
in the present case.4
{¶23} Although both parties recognize the inaccuracies in the second count on
appeal, there is no discussion in the record as to the mistakes in the indictment. We
agree that the indictment inaccurately named the victim and the accused in the second
count; however, such inaccuracies do not alter the nature of the domestic violence
offense, and Armstrong confirmed that he understood the nature of the offenses at the
change-of-plea hearing. Further, such inaccuracies do not relieve Armstrong of
demonstrating prejudice. Armstrong does not indicate any portion of the record that
demonstrates that he would not have entered his plea if he was made aware of the errors
in the indictment. See Dangler, 2020-Ohio-2765, at ¶ 24, quoting Hayward v. Summa
Health Sys./Akron City Hosp., 139 Ohio St.3d 238, 2014-Ohio-1913, 11 N.E.3d 243, ¶ 26,
quoting Wagner v. Roche Laboratories, 85 Ohio St.3d 457, 462, 709 N.E.2d 162 (1999)
(“Prejudice must be established ‘“on the face of the record.”’”).
{¶24} For the foregoing reasons, Armstrong’s first assigned error lacks merit.
{¶25} In his second assigned error, Armstrong maintains:
{¶26} “Trial court imposing a prison sentence on Mr. Armstrong was contrary to
law and in violation of the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution and Article 1, Section 2 of the Ohio Constitution.”
{¶27} Pursuant to R.C. 2929.11(A) and 2929.12(A), “[a] court that sentences an
offender for a felony shall be guided by the overriding purposes of felony sentencing,”
4. Judicial notice may be taken of public records that are accessible through the internet. State ex rel.
Harris v. Capizzi, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 29278, 2022-Ohio-3661, 199 N.E.3d 31, ¶ 18, aff'd sub nom.
State ex rel. Harris v. Bruns, Ohio Supreme Court Slip Opinion No. 2023-Ohio-2344, ¶ 18 (July 12, 2023).
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and it “shall consider the factors * * * relating to the seriousness of the conduct” and “to
the likelihood of the offender’s recidivism.”
{¶28} R.C. 2953.08(G) governs our review of felony sentences, and provides, in
relevant part, that after an appellate court’s review of the record, it “may increase, reduce,
or otherwise modify a sentence that is appealed under this section or may vacate the
sentence and remand * * * if it clearly and convincingly finds * * * [t]hat the sentence is *
* * contrary to law.” R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(b); State v. Meeks, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No.
2022-A-0060, 2023-Ohio-988, ¶ 11.
{¶29} “A sentence is contrary to law when it is ‘in violation of statute or legal
regulations’ * * *.” Meeks at ¶ 11, quoting State v. Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-
6729, 169 N.E.3d 649, ¶ 34. Thus, “‘[a] sentence is contrary to law when it does not fall
within the statutory range for the offense or if the trial court fails to consider the purposes
and principles of felony sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the sentencing factors
set forth in R.C. 2929.12.’” State v. Shannon, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2020-T-0020, 2021-
Ohio-789, ¶ 11, quoting State v. Brown, 2d Dist. Montgomery Nos. 24520, 24705, 2012-
Ohio-199, ¶ 74; see also State v. Wilson, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2017-L-028, 2017-Ohio-
7127, ¶ 18. The Supreme Court has further held that a sentence is contrary to law if “it is
imposed ‘based on factors or considerations that are extraneous to those [seriousness
and recidivism factors] that are permitted by R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.’” Meeks at ¶ 11,
quoting State v. Bryant, 168 Ohio St.3d 250, 2022-Ohio-1878, 198 N.E.3d 68, ¶ 22. “But
an appellate court’s determination that the record does not support a sentence does not
equate to a determination that the sentence is ‘otherwise contrary to law’ as that term is
used in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(b).” Jones at ¶ 32.
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{¶30} Here, Armstrong points to the record to essentially argue that the trial court
should have granted him community control and ordered him into the CATS program due
to his established mental health conditions and substance abuse issues, which
contributed to his offenses. Further, Armstrong maintains that he was “left with the
misrepresentation that he would be placed on community control and into the CATS
program,” based upon the trial court’s statements following its acceptance of his pleas,
as previously discussed in relation to Armstrong’s first assigned error. However, we
cannot discern in what way these factors render the sentences contrary to law. Instead,
these considerations appear to pertain to the trial court’s crafting of sentences within
statutory guidelines, and “[n]othing in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) permits an appellate court to
independently weigh the evidence in the record and substitute its judgment for that of the
trial court concerning the sentence that best reflects compliance with R.C. 2929.11 and
2929.12.” Jones, 2020-Ohio-6729, at ¶ 42.
{¶31} Accordingly, Armstrong’s second assigned error lacks merit.
{¶32} In his third assigned error, Armstrong argues:
Mr. Armstrong was denied his right to effective assistance of
counsel guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution and Article I, Sections 1, 10 & 16 of the Ohio
Constitution. The trial court erred as a matter of law in
sentencing Mr. Huber (sic.) in violation of the Double Jeopardy
Clause of the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and
Article I, Sections (sic.) 10 of the Ohio Constitution.
{¶33} In Armstrong’s third assigned error, he argues ineffective assistance of
counsel for failing to object to defects in the indictment, and ineffective assistance of
counsel and plain error with respect to the trial court’s failure to merge the two counts for
sentencing. He further argues that the second count in the indictment was void, “as it
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did not properly identify the victim nor the defendant.” We address these arguments out
of order to facilitate our discussion.
{¶34} As set forth in relation to Armstrong’s first assigned error, the body of the
second count of the indictment incorrectly named a victim and an accused from a
separate case. However, “issues relating to the validity of the indictment * * * are waived
when a defendant enters a plea of guilty to the indictment.” State v. Feathers, 11th Dist.
Portage No. 2021-P-0004, 2021-Ohio-4137, ¶ 13, citing State v. Patterson, 5th Dist. Stark
No. 2003CA00135, 2004-Ohio-1569, ¶ 13; see also State v. Heise, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
Nos. 108286 and 108776, 2020-Ohio-662, ¶ 13 (“by failing to timely object to the
indictment and by pleading guilty to aggravated burglary pursuant to a negotiated plea
agreement, we find [the defendant] has waived his right to challenge any alleged defect
in the indictment”). Although challenges to a void indictment may be raised at any time,
an indictment is void where it sets “‘forth facts which in no conceivable form constitute a
criminal offense; or if they might constitute an offense, the court issuing the process had
no jurisdiction over such offense or the person charged with the offense.’” Feathers at ¶
14, quoting State v. Snowden, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2021-T-0008, 2021-Ohio-2885, ¶
14, citing Brinkman v. Drolesbaugh, 97 Ohio St. 171, 119 N.E. 451 (1918), syllabus. Such
is not the case here. Accordingly, to the extent that Armstrong argues the second count
in the indictment was void, his third assigned error lacks merit.
{¶35} With respect to defense counsel’s failure to object to the errors in the
indictment, we review this issue under the ineffective assistance of counsel analysis
established in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d
674 (1984). To prevail on such a claim, “a defendant must prove that counsel’s
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performance was deficient and that the defendant was prejudiced by counsel’s deficient
performance.” State v. Davis, 159 Ohio St.3d 31, 2020-Ohio-309, 146 N.E.3d 560, ¶ 10,
citing State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989); and
Strickland at 687. “Thus, the defendant must demonstrate that counsel’s performance
fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that there exists a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.” Davis at ¶ 10, citing Bradley at paragraphs two and three of the syllabus.
{¶36} Here, Armstrong does not indicate how the result of the proceeding would
have been different had counsel raised a challenge to the second count of the indictment.
As Armstrong recognizes, Crim.R. 7(D) provides that “[t]he court may at any time before,
during, or after a trial amend the indictment * * * in respect to any defect, imperfection, or
omission in form or substance, or of any variance with the evidence, provided no change
is made in the name or identity of the crime charged.” Here, the mistaken identification
of the victim, and the internal inconsistency of the name of the accused, did not alter the
name or identity of the domestic violence offense. Armstrong himself could have readily
noticed the discrepancy upon being served with the indictment and could have raised the
issue with his attorney. Armstrong has not established a reasonable probability that, but
for defense counsel’s failure to challenge these mistakes in the indictment, the result of
the proceeding would have been different. Instead, such a challenge would likely have
resulted in amendment of the indictment.
{¶37} Armstrong further argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to
argue that the offenses should have merged for sentencing purposes. Moreover, he
maintains that the trial court committed plain error by failing to merge the offenses.
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{¶38} “‘The failure to raise the allied offense issue at the time of sentencing forfeits
all but plain error.’” State v. Bailey, --- Ohio St.3d ----, 2022-Ohio-4407, --- N.E.3d ----, ¶
7, quoting State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-Ohio-2459, 38 N.E.3d 860, ¶ 28.
“Under the plain-error doctrine, intervention by a reviewing court is warranted only under
exceptional circumstances to prevent injustice.” Bailey at ¶ 8, citing State v. Long, 53
Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978), paragraph three of the syllabus (“Notice of plain
error * * * is to be taken with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and
only to prevent a miscarriage of justice”). To establish plain error, Armstrong must
demonstrate that “‘an error occurred, that the error was obvious, and that there is “a
reasonable probability that the error resulted in prejudice,” meaning that the error affected
the outcome of the trial.’” (Emphasis added in Rogers.) Bailey at ¶ 8, quoting State v.
McAlpin, 169 Ohio St.3d 279, 2022-Ohio-1567, 204 N.E.3d 459, ¶ 66, quoting Rogers at
¶ 22; see also State v. Wilks, 154 Ohio St.3d 359, 2018-Ohio-1562, 114 N.E.3d 1092, ¶
52. “The elements of the plain-error doctrine are conjunctive: all three must apply to justify
an appellate court’s intervention.” Bailey at ¶ 9, citing State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21,
27, 759 N.E.2d 1240 (2002) (“By its very terms, the rule places three limitations on a
reviewing court’s decision to correct an error despite the absence of a timely objection at
trial[.]”).
{¶39} R.C. 2941.25 governs the imposition of punishment for multiple offenses:
(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed
to constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the
indictment or information may contain counts for all such
offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of only one.
(B) Where the defendant’s conduct constitutes two or more
offenses of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in
two or more offenses of the same or similar kind committed
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separately or with a separate animus as to each, the
indictment or information may contain counts for all such
offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.
{¶40} Accordingly, “[u]nder R.C. 2941.25(B), a defendant whose conduct
supports multiple offenses may be convicted of all the offenses if any of the following is
true: (1) the conduct constitutes offenses of dissimilar import, (2) the conduct shows that
the offenses were committed separately, or (3) the conduct shows that the offenses were
committed with separate animus.” State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, 34
N.E.3d 892, paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶41} “When a defendant’s conduct victimizes more than one person, the harm
for each person is separate and distinct, and therefore, the defendant can be convicted
of multiple counts.” Ruff at ¶ 26. Here, as previously discussed, the indictment mistakenly
identified different victims in the two counts, but the record indicates, and the parties
agree, that Armstrong’s conduct pertained to only one victim.
{¶42} Although the state concedes to the extent that this matter should be
remanded for the trial court to assess the issue of allied offenses of similar import, we
disagree. The failure of a trial court to conduct a merger analysis on the record does not
in itself establish plain error. To the contrary, in Rogers, 2015-Ohio-2459, at ¶ 1, the Ohio
Supreme Court addressed a certified question of “[w]hether a trial court commits plain
error where multiple offenses present a facial question of allied offenses of similar import,
yet the trial court fails to determine whether those offenses should merge under R.C.
2941.25 at sentencing[.]” The court answered in the negative and reversed “the judgment
of the court of appeals that is based on its holding that a trial court has a duty to inquire
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about allied offenses if the defense fails to raise it at sentencing,” and “reinstate[d] the
sentences imposed by the trial court.” Id. at ¶ 3, 6.
{¶43} Accordingly, here, despite the state’s concession that the matter should be
remanded for a merger analysis by the trial court, such a position is inconsistent with
Rogers.
{¶44} Instead, as set forth above, the Ohio Supreme Court has held in the context
of plain error with respect to merger, it is incumbent on the defendant to demonstrate that:
(1) there was error in failing to merge the counts, (2) the error was obvious, and (3) there
is a reasonable probability that, but for the error, the result would have been different.
Bailey, 2022-Ohio-4407, at ¶ 8.
{¶45} Armstrong has failed to demonstrate plain error. As previously set forth,
Armstrong forced his girlfriend to remain in the apartment, threatening her with knives,
and he also struck her across her face with an open hand. The conduct of restraining the
girlfriend’s liberty through threats of violence and the separate conduct of striking the
victim can support sentences for each offense. Accordingly, Armstrong has not
established an obvious error by the trial court in failing to merge the offenses.
{¶46} Lastly, because the facts in the PSI indicate that separate sentences could
be imposed for these offenses, Armstrong has failed to establish a reasonable probability
that the outcome would have been different, and thus has failed to establish the prejudice
required under either a plain error or ineffective assistance of counsel claim regarding
merger.
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Case No. 2022-P-0088
{¶47} Accordingly, to this extent, Armstrong’s third assigned error lacks merit.
{¶48} The judgment is affirmed.
JOHN J. EKLUND, P.J.,
ROBERT J. PATTON, J.,
concur.
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Case No. 2022-P-0088