State v. D'Amico

[Cite as State v. D'Amico, 2017-Ohio-1352.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT )
STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 27258
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
THOMAS J. D'AMICO COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. CR 13 04 0997
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: April 12, 2017
TEODOSIO, Judge.
{¶1} Appellant, Thomas J. D’Amico, appeals from his convictions in the Summit
County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms.
I.
{¶2} This Court previously set forth the underlying facts in this case as follows:
On March 17, 2013, Mr. D’Amico ran up behind [R.F.], who was the [fiancé] of
Mr. D’Amico’s former wife, M.S., broke a beer bottle over [R.F.’s] head, and
attempted to stab him in the neck with it. As a result of this attack, Mr. D’Amico
was indicted on charges of felonious assault, menacing by stalking, aggravated
menacing, and violating a protection order. Mr. D’Amico pleaded guilty to
felonious assault and violating a protection order, and the remaining counts were
dismissed. The trial court sentenced Mr. D’Amico to seven years in prison.
State v. D’Amico, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27258, 2015-Ohio-278, ¶ 2. This Court initially
affirmed the case on appeal, but later granted Mr. D’Amico’s motion to reopen the appeal. The
Court confirmed its prior judgment, but then granted Mr. D’Amico’s second motion to reopen
the appeal.
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{¶3} Mr. D’Amico now appeals from his convictions and raises three assignments of
error for this Court’s review.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR ONE
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF MR. D’AMICO BY
IMPOSING A SENTENCE BASED UPON FACTS NOT CONTAINED IN THE
RECORD, IN VIOLATION OF MR. D’AMICO’S RIGHTS UNDER THE
SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION, AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 10 AND 16 OF THE OHIO
CONSTITUTION. []
{¶4} In his first assignment of error, Mr. D’Amico argues that the trial court relied
heavily on an incorrect interpretation of the video surveillance footage at sentencing. We
disagree.
{¶5} The Supreme Court of Ohio has held that “an appellate court may vacate or
modify a felony sentence on appeal only if it determines by clear and convincing evidence that
the record does not support the trial court’s findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence is
otherwise contrary to law.” State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 1; see also
R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). The Supreme Court of Ohio has further defined “clear and convincing
evidence” as:
[T]hat measure or degree of proof which will produce in the mind of the trier of
facts a firm belief or conviction as to the allegations sought to be established. It is
intermediate, being more than a mere preponderance, but not to the extent of such
certainty as is required beyond a reasonable doubt as in criminal cases. It does
not mean clear and unequivocal.
(Emphasis sic.) Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, 477 (1954).
{¶6} Mr. D’Amico specifically challenges the following statement made by the trial
court at sentencing:
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And the Court notes that the offense itself, the manner in which it occurred was
incredibly violent. And in a certain sense, Mr. D’Amico, you are fortunate that
you did not kill the victim, given the manner in which you assaulted him. To take
a beer bottle and hammer it over somebody’s head until it breaks requires quite a
bit of force, especially when the bottle is full. And to then take the broken bottle
and start stabbing somebody in the neck could have easily severed arteries that
could have caused death. So you are fortunate in a certain sense that you did not
kill [the victim.]
{¶7} Mr. D’Amico admits that he hit the victim with a beer bottle, but argues that he
only punched the victim in the head or face afterward. Although the pre-sentence investigation
report states that “[o]nce the beer bottle broke, the Defendant continued to stab at the back of
[the victim’s] head and neck area until the beer bottle completely broke away” and that the
victim was treated for “multiple lacerations on his head and neck that had glass from a beer
bottle imbedded in them[,]” Mr. D’Amico argues that the video does not reflect an attack to the
victim’s neck area and claims that the breaking of the bottle caused the victim’s wounds, not a
stabbing to the neck.
{¶8} Our independent review of video reveals that Mr. D’Amico used a bottle to strike
the victim twice in the head and neck area, with the bottle shattering upon the second hit. But,
the video is inconclusive as to whether Mr. D’Amico retained a piece or pieces of the shattered
bottle in his hand when he subsequently punched or stabbed the victim two additional times in
the head and neck area. Accordingly, we cannot say that the trial court relied on an incorrect
interpretation of the video by stating that Mr. D’Amico “stabb[ed] somebody in the neck * * *.”
{¶9} Mr. D’Amico also argues that the video does not demonstrate an assault that is
incredibly violent in nature. He first indicates that the victim did not fall down after the assault.
But, the victim’s ability to remain standing immediately after being suddenly and unexpectedly
assaulted from behind bears absolutely no relationship to the level of violence inherent in the
attack.
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{¶10} Mr. D’Amico further argues that the video does not depict a stabbing. He
inaccurately asserts that neither the victims nor the State mentioned a stabbing in their statements
to the court. The record is clear that one of the victims said in her statement to the court, “He * *
* attacked my fiancé from behind by hitting him on head with a full bottle of beer and stabbing
him in the neck with a broken bottle.” (Emphasis added.). The pre-sentence investigation report
also details a stabbing. We have already concluded that the video itself is inconclusive as to this
issue.
{¶11} The prosecutor played the video of the assault for the trial court to view prior to
sentencing, but the record does not reflect that the court relied heavily on the video, especially in
light of the court’s “lengthy discussion about other factors on the record * * *.” D’Amico, 2015-
Ohio-278, at ¶ 9.
{¶12} At the sentencing hearing, the trial court heard statements from the prosecutor,
defense counsel, Mr. D’Amico, both of the victims, and a victim’s stepmother. The court stated
that it “is required to evaluate the principles and purposes of felony sentencing and the
seriousness and recidivism factors that exist under Ohio law.” It noted that the victims “suffered
serious physical and psychological harm” and Mr. D’Amico’s relationship with one of the
victims facilitated the offenses. The court considered the record of harassment prior to the
offense, the violence of the offense itself, Mr. D’Amico’s criminal history, and his failure to
respond favorably to previous sanctions. The court found no genuine remorse in Mr. D’Amico
and found his statements in the pre-sentence investigation report “unbelievably inappropriate in
tone.” The court considered the video and found no provocation on the part of the victim. In
reference to Mr. D’Amico’s “ongoing psychological condition[,]” the court noted concern over
his “homicidal ideations” and his statement that “[s]trangely * * * the assault helped him to get
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over his former girlfriend.” The court stated that it “has zero assurance that [imposing] less than
a significant prison term would adequately protect the public or punish the offender” and
recidivism was a “genuine concern.”
{¶13} The trial court sentenced Mr. D’Amico to seven years in prison for Felonious
Assault, a felony of the second degree, to be served concurrently with six months in jail for
Violating a Protection Order, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Mr. D’Amico does not claim
that these sentences are not within the statutory sentencing ranges for these offenses. See R.C.
2929.14(A)(2); see also R.C. 2929.24(A)(1). “Trial courts have full discretion to impose a
prison sentence within the statutory range and are no longer required to make findings or give
their reasons for imposing maximum * * * sentences.” State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-
Ohio-856, paragraph seven of the syllabus.
{¶14} We conclude that the record here supports the trial court’s findings under relevant
statutes and that the sentence is not otherwise contrary to law. See Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516,
2016-Ohio-1002, at ¶ 1.
{¶15} Mr. D’Amico’s first assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR TWO
TRIAL COUNSEL RENDERED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE AT
SENTENCING, IN VIOLATION OF MR. D’AMICO’S RIGHTS UNDER THE
SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION, AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 10 AND 16 OF THE OHIO
CONSTITUTION. []
{¶16} In his second assignment of error, Mr. D’Amico argues that trial counsel’s failure
to correct the trial court’s erroneous interpretation of the video amounted to ineffective
assistance of counsel and there is a reasonable probability that he would have received a lesser
sentence if trial counsel had objected. We disagree.
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{¶17} “To prove ineffective assistance of counsel, [Mr. D’Amico] must establish that:
(1) [his] trial counsel’s performance was deficient; and (2) but for counsel’s deficient
performance, there is a reasonable probability that the result of the trial would have been
different.” State v. Taylor, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27867, 2016-Ohio-3439, ¶ 20, citing Strickland
v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984).
{¶18} In light of our conclusion above that the trial court did not err in its interpretation
of the video, Mr. D’Amico “cannot show the necessary prejudice required to support an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim.” Id., quoting State v. Blankenship, 9th Dist. Summit No.
16019, 1993 WL 329962, *4 (Sept. 1, 1993).
{¶19} Mr. D’Amico’s second assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR THREE
PREVIOUS APPELLATE COUNSEL RENDERED INEFFECTIVE
ASSISTANCE, IN VIOLATION OF MR. D’AMICO’S RIGHTS UNDER THE
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION,
AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION. []
{¶20} In his third assignment of error, Mr. D’Amico argues that previous appellate
counsel’s failure to provide an adequate record, including the surveillance video and pre-
sentence investigation report, for this Court’s review amounted to ineffective assistance of
counsel. We disagree.
{¶21} Once again, “[a]n appellant must show prejudice to establish ineffective
assistance of counsel.” State v. McGowan, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27092, 2015-Ohio-1804, ¶ 28,
rev’d on other grounds, 147 Ohio St.3d 166, 2016-Ohio-2971, citing Strickland at 687. Mr.
D’Amico cannot demonstrate prejudice because he received an adequate remedy for any error
when this Court reopened his appeal and now has the video and pre-sentence investigation report
before it for review. See id. Moreover, even with the complete record now before this Court,
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including the surveillance video and pre-sentence investigation report, Mr. D’Amico cannot
demonstrate prejudice in light of our conclusion above that the trial court did not err in its
interpretation of the video. See id.{¶22} Mr. D’Amico’s third assignment of error is overruled.
III.
{¶23} Mr. D’Amico’s assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Summit
County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
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 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.
THOMAS A. TEODOSIO
FOR THE COURT
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HENSAL, P. J.
SCHAFER, J.
CONCUR.
APPEARANCES:
KRISTOPHER A. HAINES, Assistant State Public Defender, for Appellant.
SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and HEAVEN DIMARTINO, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.