State v. Morgan

[Cite as State v. Morgan, 2020-Ohio-3955.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT )
STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 29490
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
TYLER MORGAN COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. CR 2018-03-0697
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: August 5, 2020
CARR, Presiding Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Tyler Morgan appeals from the judgment of the Summit
County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms but remands the matter for the issuance of a
nunc pro tunc entry to correct the sentencing entry.
I.
{¶2} On February 13, 2018, teenagers A.P., B.K., J.P., and S.R. were in a car together
going to meet John Smith. A.P. drove and was going to sell Smith marijuana. When A.P., B.K.,
J.P., and S.R. arrived, they discovered that not only was Smith present, Morgan was also present.
When Smith and Morgan approached the front driver’s side with guns, A.P. stepped on the gas
and tried to drive away. As he was doing so, Smith and Morgan fired shots into the car, hitting
S.R., who was in the backseat. Shortly thereafter, S.R. succumbed to his injuries.
{¶3} An indictment was filed in March 2018, charging Morgan with two counts of
murder, four counts of felonious assault, and one count of aggravated robbery. A firearm
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specification accompanied each count. In May 2018, a supplemental indictment was filed,
charging Morgan with an additional count of murder, along with an accompanying firearm
specification.
{¶4} Morgan filed a motion to suppress seeking to suppress any witness identification
of Morgan and arguing that the identifications were unduly suggestive and unreliable. The State
filed a response in opposition and a hearing was held on the matter. The trial court issued a written
entry denying Morgan’s motion to suppress.
{¶5} In August 2018, Morgan’s case was consolidated with Smith’s for purposes of trial.
On February 4, 2019, Morgan pleaded no contest to one count of murder, count eight. The
remaining charges and all specifications were subsequently dismissed. The case was referred to
the probation department for a pre-sentence investigation (“PSI”) report along with a victim impact
statement. Sentencing was set for March 5, 2019. Sentencing was continued until April 16, 2019,
to allow additional time for the PSI report to be completed. The trial court again continued
sentencing, this time until May 10, 2019.
{¶6} On May 3, 2019, Morgan filed two motions, one arguing that the statutes
implementing the violent offender database, which became effective March 20, 2019, were
unconstitutional in their retroactive application, and a second arguing to rebut the presumption that
Morgan should be classified as a violent offender. On May 7, 2019, Morgan filed a motion to
withdraw his plea, asserting that he felt pressured to plea, was not guilty of the offenses, and that
he was not advised that he would have to register as a violent offender upon his release from prison.
The State opposed Morgan’s motions. Hearings were held on the motions. Following the
hearings, the trial court denied Morgan’s motions to withdraw and the motion to rebut the
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presumption that he should be classified as a violent offender. The trial court did not specifically
rule on his motion challenging the constitutionality of the statutes.
{¶7} Ultimately, Morgan was sentenced July 10, 2019, to 15 years to life. On July 25,
2019, the trial court journalized a nunc pro tunc entry correcting the original entry to reflect that
Morgan pleaded no contest as opposed to guilty. However, the trial court’s entry still appears to
reflect that Morgan pleaded no contest to count one, when the entry journalizing his plea, and the
transcript of the plea hearing, indicate that Morgan pleaded no contest to count eight. The trial
court can correct this clerical error via nunc pro tunc entry on remand. See State v. Ibn-Ford, 9th
Dist. Summit No. 27380, 2015-Ohio-753, ¶ 8.
{¶8} Morgan has appealed, raising six assignments of error for our review. Upon review
of the record in this matter, this Court questioned whether Morgan was a violent offender as
defined in R.C. 2903.41(A). Both sides responded; the State argued that Morgan qualified as a
violent offender under R.C. 2903.41(A)(2) and Morgan argued that he did not satisfy either R.C.
2903.41(A)(1) or 2903.41(A)(2).
II.
R.C. 2903.41(A)
{¶9} Before addressing Morgan’s assignment of error, we address whether he meets the
statutory definition of a violent offender. If he does not, he cannot be required to register for the
violent offender database, see R.C. 2903.42(A)(1), and there would be no need to address whether
R.C. 2903.41 to 2903.44 is constitutional. See Risner v. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Ohio
Div. of Wildlife, 144 Ohio St.3d 278, 2015-Ohio-3731, ¶ 29 (“[A] court should avoid reaching
constitutional issues if a case can be decided on other grounds.”).
{¶10} R.C. 2903.41(A) provides:
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“Violent offender” means any of the following:
(1) A person who on or after the effective date of this section is convicted of or
pleads guilty to any of the following:
(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2905.01 of the Revised Code
or a violation of section 2905.02 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the second
degree;
(b) Any attempt to commit, conspiracy to commit, or complicity in committing any
offense listed in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.
(2) A person who on the effective date of this section has been convicted of or
pleaded guilty to an offense listed in division (A)(1) of this section and is confined
in a jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution, serving a
prison term, term of imprisonment, or other term of confinement for the offense.
{¶11} While the trial court concluded that Morgan qualified as a violent offender under
R.C. 2903.41(A)(1), we disagree. At the time of Morgan’s plea, the statute was not yet in effect.
Thus, it becomes important to determine the meaning of the words “convicted of or pleads guilty
to” in the statute. In State v. Mullins, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 14AP-480, 2015-Ohio-3250, ¶ 6-11,
the Tenth District determined that similar language in Ohio’s arson-offender registration scheme
meant that “convicted” “mean[s] the determination of guilt and not the imposition of sentence.”
Id. at ¶ 11. The Tenth District reasoned that, because the word “convicted” appears in the same
phrase as “pleads guilty to[,]” the word “convicted” must mean “only the determination of guilt-
not the imposition of sentence.” Id. at ¶ 10-11. We agree with the analysis of the Tenth District,
and, thus, conclude that R.C. 2903.41(A)(1) is inapplicable to Morgan given that he pleaded no
contest and was found guilty prior to the effective date of the statute.
{¶12} Nonetheless, we disagree with Morgan that R.C. 2903.41(A)(2) is inapplicable to
him. On the effective date of the statute, Morgan had been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an
applicable offense as he had pleaded no contest to murder. See R.C. 2903.41(A)(1)-(2). From the
record, it is also clear that Morgan was in jail at the time of sentencing because he had pleaded no
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contest to the charge of murder. See R.C. 2903.41(A)(2); see also State v. Hubbard, 12th Dist.
Butler No. CA2019-05-086, 2020-Ohio-856, ¶ 39. Accordingly, we determine that Morgan
qualifies as a violent offender pursuant to R.C. 2903.41(A)(2).
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT FINDING THE VIOLENT OFFENDER
REGISTRY UNCONSTITUTIONAL[.]
{¶13} Morgan argues in his first assignment of error that the trial court erred in failing to
determine that the statutes implementing the violent offender database, R.C. 2903.41 through
2903.44, are unconstitutional in their retrospective application. Morgan additionally asserts that
the statutes violate the separation of powers doctrine.
{¶14} Here, the trial court did not expressly rule on Morgan’s motion challenging the
constitutionality of the statutes. Nonetheless, generally, when a trial court fails to rule on a motion
prior to the entry of the final judgment, the motion will be considered denied. See State v. Olah,
146 Ohio App.3d 586, 592 (9th Dist.2001), fn. 2. Thus, we will review Morgan’s assignment of
error under that premise.
{¶15} We begin by noting that Morgan did not raise his separation of powers argument
below. “The failure to raise a constitutional issue at the trial level forfeits the right to make a
constitutional argument on appeal. While a defendant who forfeits such an argument still may
argue plain error on appeal, this court will not sua sponte undertake a plain-error analysis if a
defendant fails to do so.” (Internal citation omitted.) State v. McCraw, 9th Dist. Medina No.
14CA0009-M, 2015-Ohio-3809, ¶ 5. As Morgan has not developed a plain error argument on
appeal, we overrule this argument on that basis. See id.{¶16} “S.B. 231 ‘provides for the establishment and operation by the Bureau of Criminal
Identification and Investigation (BCII) of a Violent Offender Database (VOD), [and] requires
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persons convicted of specified violent offenses in Ohio (violent offenders) or those convicted of a
comparable offense in another state (out-of-state violent offenders) who become aware of the
Database to enroll in the Database.’ Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Bill Analysis of S.B.
231, as introduced in the Senate on November 14, 2017, at 1.” Hubbard at ¶ 13. “The statutory
provisions set forth in R.C. 2903.41 through 2903.44 identify the enrollment requirements and
persons subject to those requirements for the violent offender database, provide notice of the
manner in which the presumption of enrollment may be rebutted, set forth guidelines for notifying
violent offenders of the duty to enroll in the database and for maintaining enrollment, and impose
penalties for violent offenders’ failure to enroll in the database.” Id.{¶17} “A regularly enacted statute of Ohio is presumed to be constitutional and is
therefore entitled to the benefit of every presumption in favor of its constitutionality. That
presumption of validity of such legislative enactment cannot be overcome unless it appear[s] that
there is a clear conflict between the legislation in question and some particular provision or
provisions of the Constitution.” (Internal citations and quotations omitted.) State v. Cook, 83 Ohio
St.3d 404, 409 (1998).
{¶18} Section 28, Article II of the Ohio Constitution provides that “[t]he general assembly
shall have no power to pass retroactive laws.” However, “[t]he issue of whether [these statutes]
may be constitutionally applied retrospectively does not arise unless there has been a prior
determination that the General Assembly specified that the statute so apply.” Cook at 410.
{¶19} Here, an examination of the statutory language makes it clear that the General
Assembly intended the statutes to apply retrospectively. R.C. 2903.42 provides that, “[f]or each
person who is classified a violent offender, it is presumed that the violent offender shall be required
to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to the offense that so classifies the person
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and shall have all violent offender database duties with respect to that offense for ten years after
the offender initially enrolls in the database.”
{¶20} R.C. 2903.41(A) defines a “violent offender” as:
“Violent offender” means any of the following:
(1) A person who on or after the effective date of this section is convicted of or
pleads guilty to any of the following:
(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2905.01 of the Revised Code
or a violation of section 2905.02 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the second
degree;
(b) Any attempt to commit, conspiracy to commit, or complicity in committing any
offense listed in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.
(2) A person who on the effective date of this section has been convicted of or
pleaded guilty to an offense listed in division (A)(1) of this section and is confined
in a jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution, serving a
prison term, term of imprisonment, or other term of confinement for the offense.
{¶21} Because R.C. 2903.41(A) necessarily labels as violent offenders some individuals
whose specified criminal conduct occurred prior to the effective date of the statutes and
presumptively subjects them to enrollment in the database, see R.C. 2903.42(A), it is clear that the
General Assembly intended the enrollment requirements of the statutes to apply retrospectively.
See also Hubbard, 2020-Ohio-856, at ¶ 23-24; State v. Jarvis, 5th Dist. Muskingum No. CT 2019-
0029, 2020-Ohio-1127, ¶ 19-20; State v. Caldwell, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-130812, 2014-Ohio-
3566, ¶ 20 (discussing similar language in the arson-offender registration statutes).
{¶22} Accordingly, we must proceed to the second step of the analysis: we must
determine whether the statutes are substantive or remedial. See Cook at 411. “A purely remedial
statute does not violate Section 28, Article II of the Ohio Constitution, even if applied
retroactively.” Id. “A statute is ‘substantive’ if it impairs or takes away vested rights, affects an
accrued substantive right, imposes new or additional burdens, duties, obligation, or liabilities as to
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a past transaction, or creates a new right. Conversely, remedial laws are those affecting only the
remedy provided, and include laws that merely substitute a new or more appropriate remedy for
the enforcement of an existing right.” (Internal citation omitted.) Id. “Repeatedly, the [Supreme
C]ourt has held that the commission of a felony is not a past transaction creating a reasonable
expectation of finality: Except with regard to constitutional protections against ex post facto laws
* * *, felons have no reasonable right to expect that their conduct will never thereafter. be made
the subject of legislation.” (Internal quotations and citations omitted.) Caldwell at ¶ 22; see also
State v. White, 132 Ohio St.3d 344, 2012-Ohio-2583, ¶ 43-44.
{¶23} While the Fifth District in Jarvis concluded that these statutory provisions are
unconstitutional as they violate Section 28, Article II of the Ohio Constitution, see Jarvis at ¶ 37,
the Twelfth District in Hubbard found the provisions to be constitutional. See Hubbard at ¶ 37.
Much of the debate between the districts centered on the Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in
State v. Williams, 129 Ohio St.3d 344, 2011-Ohio-3374, and what that decision meant for how
courts should determine whether a law violates the Ohio Constitution’s retroactivity clause. See
Hubbard at ¶ 26-31 and Jarvis at ¶ 24-36.
{¶24} In Hubbard, the Twelfth District opined that it appeared the Supreme Court in
Williams “depart[ed] from the principle that the commission of a felony does not create an
expectation of finality[.]” Hubbard at ¶ 27.
In Williams, the supreme court was presented with the question of whether Senate
Bill 10’s sex-offender registration requirements, stemming from Ohio’s
implementation of the federal Adam Walsh Act, were unconstitutionally
retroactive. Prior supreme court opinions had upheld the retroactive application of
earlier versions of the sex-offender registration scheme. However, in Williams,
[w]ithout considering whether the offenders affected by the changes had a vested
right or a reasonable expectation of finality in their registration status, the [supreme]
court concluded that the changes rendered the statutory scheme so punitive that
they constituted new burdens, duties, obligations, or liabilities as to a past
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transaction. The supreme court, therefore, held that Senate Bill 10’s sex-offender
registration provisions were unconstitutional if applied retroactively.
(Internal quotations and citations omitted.) Hubbard at ¶ 27.
{¶25} Following Williams, however, the Twelfth District determined that the Supreme
Court “returned to analyzing retroactive legislation under the familiar framework of whether the
retroactive application of a new law burdened a vested right or a reasonable expectation of
finality.” Hubbard at ¶ 29, quoting Caldwell, 2014-Ohio-3566, at ¶ 25.
{¶26} The Fifth District considered the Twelfth District’s position and instead found that
“Williams is not hard to reconcile with the court’s previous pronouncements that the commission
of a felony does not create a reasonable expectation of finality.” (Emphasis sic.) See Jarvis, 2020-
Ohio-1127, at ¶ 34. The Fifth District concluded that the Supreme Court’s analysis in Williams
and in cases decided subsequently centered on whether the statute imposed new or additional
burdens, duties, obligations, or liabilities as to a past transaction. Id. Nonetheless, the Fifth
District, in reviewing the provisions of the violent offender statutes, concluded that the scheme
was unconstitutional as applied retroactively. Id. at ¶ 37.
{¶27} After carefully considering both positions, as well as the related law, we agree with
the Twelfth District’s conclusion and determine that the statutory provisions, in their retroactive
application, are constitutional. The provisions are “not so punitive that they impose a new burden
in the constitutional sense, as contemplated by Williams[,]” and, instead, are remedial in nature.
Hubbard at ¶ 37.
{¶28} Notwithstanding the foregoing, we cannot say that Williams is an outlier or
necessarily a departure from precedent. In our view, Williams stands for the proposition that every
new enactment of a statutory scheme must be evaluated to determine whether it satisfies the
constitutional standard. In Williams, the Supreme Court simply determined that, while previous
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enactments contained portions that “suggested” the scheme was punitive, the new enactment
removed all doubt and was clearly punitive. See Williams, 129 Ohio St.3d 344, 2011-Ohio-3374,
at ¶ 11, 16. In so doing, the Supreme Court opined that “[n]o one change compel[led] [its]
conclusion that S.B. 10 is punitive. It is a matter of degree whether a statute is so punitive that its
retroactive application is unconstitutional.” Id. at ¶ 21.
{¶29} Thus, in order to evaluate whether the statutory provisions are constitutional in their
retroactive application, it is important to examine the particulars of the statutory scheme. “For
each person who is classified a violent offender, it is presumed that the violent offender shall be
required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to the offense that so classifies the
person and shall have all violent offender database duties with respect to that offense for ten years
after the offender initially enrolls in the database.” R.C. 2903.42(A)(1). That presumption may
be rebutted by the offender. R.C. 2903.42(A)(1). In order to rebut the presumption, the offender
has the burden to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence “that the offender was not the
principal offender in the commission of the offense that classifies the person a violent offender.”
R.C. 2903.42(A)(4). If the trial court determines that the offender has rebutted the presumption,
the trial court, after considering certain factors, could still conclude the offender is required to
enroll in the database. R.C. 2903.42(A)(4)(a).
{¶30} These foregoing provisions differentiate this scheme from S.B. 10. S.B. 10
included automatic registration requirements based upon the offense committed that could not be
challenged. See Williams at 18; Hubbard, 2020-Ohio-856, at ¶ 34. Unlike the situation faced by
offenders subject to S.B. 10, under the provisions at issue, it was not guaranteed that Morgan would
be subject to enrollment in the violent offender database. Compare Williams at ¶ 18 with R.C.
2903.42(A)(1); see also Hubbard at ¶ 34. Instead, for each person considered a violent offender
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there exists a rebuttable presumption that the individual will be required to enroll in the database.
R.C. 2903.42(A)(1).
{¶31} As for a violent offender’s duties under the statutes, every violent offender who has
duties imposed pursuant to R.C. 2903.42 and is classified as a violent offender pursuant to R.C.
2903.41(A)(2) must enroll in the violent offender database personally with the sheriff of the county
in which the offender resides within ten days after the offender’s release from jail or prison. R.C.
2903.43(A)(2). Annually, the offender must re-enroll in the violent offender database for a period
of ten years. R.C. 2903.43(D)(1). R.C. 2903.43(C)(2) details the information the initial enrollment
form must contain:
(a) The violent offender’s or out-of-state violent offender’s full name and any alias
used;
(b) The violent offender’s or out-of-state violent offender's residence address;
(c) The violent offender’s or out-of-state violent offender’s social security number;
(d) Any driver’s license number, commercial driver’s license number, or state
identification card number issued to the violent offender or out-of-state violent
offender by this or another state;
(e) The offense that the violent offender or out-of-state violent offender was
convicted of or pleaded guilty to;
(f) The name and address of any place where the violent offender or out-of-state
violent offender is employed;
(g) The name and address of any school or institution of higher education that the
violent offender or out-of-state violent offender is attending;
(h) The identification license plate number of each vehicle owned or operated by
the violent offender or out-of-state violent offender or registered in the violent
offender’s or out-of-state violent offender’s name, the vehicle identification
number of each vehicle, and a description of each vehicle;
(i) A description of any scars, tattoos, or other distinguishing marks on the violent
offender or out-of-state violent offender.
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{¶32} An enrolling offender also must provide fingerprints and palm prints and the sheriff
must take a photograph of the violent offender at the time of enrollment. R.C. 2903.43(C)(3). The
enrollment in the violent offender database terminates upon the expiration of the ten-year period;
however, the period may be extended indefinitely under certain circumstances. R.C.
2903.43(D)(2). If the period is extended, it is nonetheless subject to termination pursuant to R.C.
2903.44. See R.C. 2903.43(D)(2). Each violent offender who has had duties imposed by R.C.
2903.42 must notify the sheriff with whom the offender most recently enrolled in person within
three business days of a change of address that occurs during the enrollment period. R.C.
2903.43(E). The bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall establish and maintain
the violent offender database and make the database available to federal, state, and local law
enforcement officers. R.C. 2903.43(F)(2). However, the database is not a public record under
R.C. 149.43. R.C. 2903.43(F)(2). Nonetheless, absent an exception set forth in the statute, “any
statements, information, photographs, fingerprints, or materials that are provided pursuant to this
section by a violent offender” in the possession of a county sheriff are public records open to public
inspection. R.C. 2903.43(F)(3)(a). However, the offender’s social security number and driver’s
license number are not public records and are not open to public inspection. R.C. 2903.43(F)(3)(b).
{¶33} Again, these provisions are substantively different from those in S.B. 10. Morgan’s
requirements under the violent offender registry would be far less onerous than those of an offender
subject to S.B. 10. Offenders subject to S.B. 10 could be required to register in multiple counties,
see R.C. 2950.04(A)(2), and verify the information as often as every ninety days, see R.C.
2950.06(B)(3). In addition, offenders subject to S.B. 10 are prohibited from residing within a
thousand feet of a school, preschool, or child day care. See 2950.034(A). Further, S.B. 10 includes
community notification provisions, see R.C. 2950.11, and authorizes the dissemination of
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information about the offender on the internet. See R.C. 2950.13(A)(11). Whereas Morgan only
would be required to re-enroll annually and would only be required to initially enroll in his county
of residence. R.C. 2903.43(D)(1); R.C. 2903.43(A)(2). However, he would be required to report
changes to his address of residence, employment, or school. See R.C. 2903.43(E); R.C. 2903.41(F)
(defining change of address). Morgan also would not be prohibited from residing near a school or
day care. See Hubbard, 2020-Ohio-856, ¶ 35. And while certain information Morgan would have
to report would be public record, see R.C. 2903.43(F)(3)(a), the statutes at issue do not include
community notifications provisions or a publicly available internet registry.
{¶34} Finally, the statutes at issue provide penalties for violent offenders who recklessly
fail to enroll, re-enroll, or notify the sheriff of a change of address. R.C. 2903.43(I)(1). Whoever
fails to comply with R.C. 2903.43(I)(1) is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree. R.C. 2903.43(I)(2).
This is also distinguishable from the provisions of S.B. 10. “[T]he failure to register as a sex
offender as required by Chapter R.C. 2950 constitutes a felony of the same degree as that of the
underlying sexually oriented offense. R.C. 2950.99. This means that if a sex offender committed
a first-degree felony sex offense and the offender fails to register as required by Chapter R.C. 2950,
that failure constitutes another first-degree felony and carries with it a potential indefinite prison
term of 11 to 16.5 years.” Hubbard, 2020-Ohio-856, at ¶ 36.
{¶35} Overall, after carefully and thoroughly considering the statutes at issue, we cannot
say that their retroactive application violates the Ohio Constitution. The statutory scheme at issue
is vastly different than S.B. 10, which the Supreme Court determined to be unconstitutional. The
violent offender database is not so punitive as to impose a new burden in the constitutional sense
as contemplated by Williams. See Hubbard at ¶ 37. Instead, the scheme is remedial in nature. See
id.14
{¶36} Morgan’s first assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY REQUIRING TYLER TO REGISTER AS A
VIOLENT OFFENDER[.]
{¶37} Morgan argues in his second assignment of error that the trial court erred by
requiring Morgan to register as a violent offender.
{¶38} R.C. 2903.42 states:
For each person who is classified a violent offender, it is presumed that the violent
offender shall be required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to
the offense that so classifies the person and shall have all violent offender database
duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in
the database. The presumption is a rebuttable presumption that the violent offender
may rebut as provided in division (A)(4) of this section, after filing a motion in
accordance with division (A)(2)(a) or (b) of this section, whichever is applicable.
{¶39} The motion shall assert that the offender was not the principal offender. See R.C.
2903.42(A)(2)(a),(b). “[T]he offender has the burden of proving to the court that is sentencing, or
that has sentenced, the offender, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the offender was not the
principal offender in the commission of the offense that classifies the person a violent offender.”
R.C. 2903.42(A)(4). “If the violent offender does not prove to the court, by a preponderance of
the evidence, that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of the offense that
classifies the person a violent offender, the court shall issue an order specifying that the offender
is required to enroll in the violent offender database and has all VOD duties with respect to that
offense, and shall provide a copy of the order to the prosecutor and to the bureau of criminal
identification and investigation.” R.C. 2903.42(A)(4)(b).
{¶40} Morgan filed a motion in the trial court in order to rebut the presumption that he
should be required to enroll in the violent offender database. He asserted that he was not the
principal offender and that he had no other prior convictions for offenses of violence. At the
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hearing on the motion, Morgan presented no testimony but did offer his presentence investigation
report as evidence. Ultimately, the trial court denied Morgan’s motion concluding that Morgan
failed to meet his burden to establish that he was not the principal offender.
{¶41} In reviewing the presentence investigation report, we cannot say that it
demonstrates that Morgan was not the principal offender. In fact, the sequence of events, as
summarized by the author of the report, supports just the opposite. That summary indicates that
Morgan and Smith both had weapons and that both shot at the vehicle. In addition, witnesses
reported hearing the sound of two different guns fire six or seven shots at the car. While Morgan
denied shooting at the vehicle and denied possessing a gun, the trial court was not required to
believe him. We cannot say that Morgan has demonstrated that the trial court erred in determining
that Morgan did not meet his burden.
{¶42} Morgan’s second assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III
TYLER’S CONVICTIONS WERE NOT BASED UPON SUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE AS A MATTER OF LAW[.]
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV
TYLER’S CONVICTIONS WERE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF
THE EVIDENCE[.]
{¶43} Morgan argues in his third assignment of error that his conviction was based upon
insufficient evidence. He asserts in his fourth assignment of error that his conviction was against
the weight of the evidence.
{¶44} In this matter, Morgan entered a no-contest to plea to count eight, which was a
charge of murder. Under Crim.R. 11(B)(2), “[t]he plea of no contest is not an admission of
defendant's guilt, but is an admission of the truth of the facts alleged in the indictment, information,
16
or complaint * * *.” “Where the indictment, information, or complaint contains sufficient
allegations to state a felony offense and the defendant pleads no contest, the court must find the
defendant guilty of the charged offense.” State v. Byrd, 81 Ohio St.3d 582 (1998), syllabus.
Morgan has made no argument about the sufficiency of the allegations in the indictment. By
pleading no contest, Morgan waived any challenge to the sufficiency and the weight of the
evidence. See State v. Mason, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27715, 2016-Ohio-7081, ¶ 29 (sufficiency);
see also State v. Hodge, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 01CA007913, 2002 WL 242106, *2 (Feb. 20, 2002)
(sufficiency); State v. Jackson, 9th Dist. Summit Nos. 24463, 24501, 2009-Ohio-4336, ¶10
(manifest weight).
{¶45} Morgan’s third and fourth assignments of error are overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR V
TYLER’S PLEA WAS NOT KNOWINGLY, INTELLIGENTLY, OR
VOLUNTARILY MADE[.]
{¶46} Morgan argues in his fifth assignment of error that his plea was not knowingly,
intelligently, or voluntarily entered.
{¶47} “A plea is invalid where it has not been entered in a knowing, intelligent, and
voluntary manner.” State v. Gonzalez, 9th Dist. Summit No. 29018, 2019-Ohio-4882, ¶ 5, quoting
State v. Farnsworth, 9th Dist. Medina No. 15CA0038-M, 2016-Ohio-7919, ¶ 4. Crim.R. 11(C)(2)
states:
In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or a plea of no contest,
and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest without first addressing the
defendant personally 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.
17
(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant understands the
effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, 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 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.
{¶48} Morgan argues that his plea was not knowingly, intelligently, or voluntarily entered
because the trial court failed to inform him of the requirement that he register with the violent
offender registry, because the trial court failed to advise him that he could be convicted because
he was complicit, and because the trial court failed to proceed promptly to sentencing.
{¶49} With respect to the violent offender registry, the statutes at issue, R.C. 2903.41
through 2903.44, did not become effective until March 20, 2019. See Am.Sub.S.B. No. 231, 2018
Ohio Laws 117. Morgan pleaded no contest on February 4, 2019 and his sentencing was originally
scheduled for March 5, 2019. Thus, at the time of Morgan’s plea, the trial court had no reason to
anticipate that it would need to inform Morgan of any duties under the statutes. See R.C.
2903.41(A)(1) (defining as a violent offender, in part, as “[a] person who on or after the effective
date of this section is convicted of or pleads guilty to” an enumerated offense) and R.C.
2903.42(A)(1) (providing that only those offenders classified as violent offenders under R.C.
2903.41(A)(1) shall be notified by the sentencing court prior to sentencing of the registry
procedures and requirements). Morgan has not explained why such a warning would have been
warranted at his plea hearing in light of the circumstances before us. See App.R. 16(A)(7).
{¶50} Morgan also argues that his plea was not knowing, voluntary, and intelligent
because the trial court failed to advise him that he could be convicted if he was complicit. Morgan
cites no law or authority in support of his position. See App.R. 16(A)(7). The trial court informed
18
Morgan that by pleading no contest to count 8, he was making an admission that the facts
underlying the offense exist and that, by pleading no contest, the trial court could then enter a
finding of guilt against him. See Crim.R. 11(B)(2); see also Byrd, 81 Ohio St.3d 582, at syllabus.
{¶51} Finally, Morgan appears to assert that his plea was not knowing, intelligent, and
voluntary because the trial court did not comply with Crim.R. 32(A) as it did not sentence him
until after the statutes concerning the violent offender registry went into effect even though the
trial court had no choice in the sentence it was to impose. In relevant part, Crim.R. 32(A) provides
that “[s]entence shall be imposed without unnecessary delay.” Morgan has not explained how any
alleged failure to comply with Crim.R. 32(A) affected the voluntary, knowing, or intelligent nature
of his plea. See App.R. 16(A)(7). Moreover, his stated assignment of error is limited to an
assertion that his plea was not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. Thus, a separate, independent
challenge to the trial court’s compliance with Crim.R. 32(A) is outside the scope of his stated
assignment of error. See State v. Miller, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27048, 2015-Ohio-279, ¶ 18.
{¶52} Morgan has not demonstrated that his plea was not knowingly, intelligently, and
voluntarily made. Morgan’s fifth assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR VI
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT GRANTING TYLER’S MOTION TO
SUPPRESS[.]
{¶53} Morgan argues in his sixth assignment of error that the trial court erred in denying
his motion to suppress. Specifically, he contends that the police’s Facebook post was unduly
suggestive and that the police failed to comply with R.C. 2933.83(A)(6).
{¶54} A motion to suppress evidence presents a mixed question of law and fact. State v.
Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, ¶ 8. “When considering a motion to suppress,
the trial court assumes the role of trier of fact and is therefore in the best position to resolve factual
19
questions and evaluate the credibility of witnesses.” Id., citing State v. Mills, 62 Ohio St.3d 357,
366 (1992). Thus, a reviewing court “must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are
supported by competent, credible evidence.” Burnside at ¶ 8. “Accepting these facts as true, the
appellate court must then independently determine, without deference to the conclusion of the trial
court, whether the facts satisfy the applicable legal standard.” Id., citing State v. McNamara, 124
Ohio App.3d 706 (4th Dist.1997).
{¶55} “Determining the admissibility of identification testimony is a two-step process.
First, a court must consider whether the identification procedure was unnecessarily suggestive. If
so, it then must consider whether the identification was ultimately unreliable under [ ] all of the
circumstances.” (Internal quotations and citations omitted.) State v. Tyler, 9th Dist. Summit No.
29225, 2019-Ohio-4661, ¶ 9. “A lineup is unduly suggestive if it steers the witness to one suspect,
independent of the witness’s honest recollection.” State v. Adams, 144 Ohio St.3d 429, 2015-
Ohio-3954, ¶ 208. As to reliability, “[t]he factors to consider are: (1) the opportunity of the witness
to view the criminal at the time of the crime, (2) the witness’ degree of attention, (3) the accuracy
of the witness’ prior description of the criminal, (4) the level of certainty demonstrated by the
witness at the confrontation, and (5) the length of time between the crime and the confrontation.”
State v. Broom, 40 Ohio St.3d 277, 284 (1988); see also State v. Davis, 9th Dist. Summit No.
25399, 2011-Ohio-5630, ¶ 11. “[N]o due process violation will be found where an identification
does not stem from an impermissibly suggestive confrontation, but is instead the result of
observations at the time of the crime.” State v. Davis, 76 Ohio St.3d 107, 112 (1996).
{¶56} “The rationale for excluding a tainted pretrial identification is to protect the
defendant from misconduct by the state.” State v. Brown, 38 Ohio St.3d 305, 310 (1988). “When
the questionable circumstances of an identification procedure are not due to state action, the
20
reliability of the identification is a question going to the weight of the testimony, not its
admissibility.” Adams at ¶ 209. In such cases, “any prejudicial effect of the testimony could []
be[] cured by effective cross-examination.” Brown at 311.
{¶57} First, Morgan complains that the Akron police’s Facebook post which depicted a
photo of Morgan alongside his name was unduly suggestive and tainted the identifications of A.P.
and B.K. However, the Facebook post was not put up until February 15, 2018, the day after A.P.
and B.K. made their identifications. Thus, it could not have played a role in their identifications
of Morgan. In fact, it was the information provided by A.P. that led to the Facebook post. A.P.
named Morgan as being involved prior to being shown any photographs. A.P. was familiar with
Morgan from school and, at his interview, provided police with a description of Morgan. From
that description, police looked at records from the school and then located a driver’s license photo
of the person the police thought A.P. might be referring to. When shown that photo of Morgan,
A.P. confirmed that that was the person who was involved. While B.K. did not know Morgan
prior to the shooting, and was told Morgan’s name by A.P., B.K. named Morgan as being involved
in the shooting during her police interview. B.K. was not even shown a photograph of Morgan
during her interview. Thus, both A.P.’s and B.K.’s identification of Morgan was the result of
information they provided to police and not the result of an identification procedure as it is
typically understood. Notably, in the section of his brief addressing the Facebook post, Morgan
does not expressly challenge J.P.’s identification of Morgan. See App.R. 16(A)(7). This Court
will not create an argument on this issue on Morgan’s behalf. See State v. Flowers, 9th Dist.
Summit No. 25841, 2012-Ohio-3783, ¶ 27. Given Morgan’s arguments on appeal, he has not
demonstrated that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress based upon the police’s
Facebook posting.
21
{¶58} Second, Morgan asserts that the police violated R.C. 2933.83(A)(6) by only
showing Morgan’s photo to the three witnesses. However, again, Morgan’s contention is based
on inaccurate facts. Neither B.K. nor J.P. was shown a photo of Morgan while being interviewed.
Further, Morgan did not raise a violation of R.C. 2933.83(A)(6) below in his motion to suppress
or at the suppression hearing, see State v. Hale, 9th Dist. Summit No. 28334, 2017-Ohio-7048, ¶
11, nor has he explained how a potential violation of R.C. 2933.83(A)(6) requires suppression of
A.P.’s identification under the circumstances of this case. See App.R. 16(A)(7). Given the
foregoing, this argument will not be further considered. See Hale at ¶ 11; App.R. 16(A)(7).
{¶59} Morgan has not demonstrated that the trial court erred in denying his motion to
suppress. His sixth assignment of error is overruled.
III.
{¶60} Morgan’s assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Summit County
Court of Common Pleas is affirmed, but the matter is remanded for the issuance of a nunc pro tunc
entry to correct the sentencing entry.
Judgment affirmed,
and cause remanded.
There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common
Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy
of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period
22
for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to
mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the
docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to Appellant.
DONNA J. CARR
FOR THE COURT
SCHAFER, J.
TEODOSIO, J.
CONCUR.
APPEARANCES:
WESLEY C. BUCHANAN, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and JACQUENETTE CORGAN, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.