State v. Thornton

[Cite as State v. Thornton, 2017-Ohio-4037.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NO. C-160501
TRIAL NO. B-1506313
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
vs. : O P I N I O N.
TAJUANA THORNTON, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed as Modified
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: May 31, 2017
Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Melynda J. Machol,
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellee,
Raymond T. Faller, Hamilton County Public Defender, and Joshua A. Thompson,
Assistant Public Defender, for Defendant-Appellant.
OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
ZAYAS, Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Tajuana Thornton appeals from the judgment of
the trial court convicting her of theft under R.C. 2913.02(A)(1), a fifth-degree felony,
sentencing her to serve five years of community control, and ordering her to pay a
$250 fine and $5,454.01 in restitution to the victims, John and Merri Gerke. In her
sole assignment of error, Thornton asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in
ordering her to pay $5,454.01 in restitution. Because we find that the Gerkes had not
suffered an economic loss, we hold that the trial court’s order of restitution was
contrary to law. We modify the judgment to remove the restitution order, and affirm
the judgment of the trial court as modified.
Background
{¶2} While living at the home of John and Merri Gerke, Thornton, without
permission, used a check belonging to the Gerkes to pay her rent at another location,
and used their bank account to pay several bills. The Gerkes reported the funds
stolen to Fifth Third Bank, which reimbursed the Gerkes $5,454.01, the full amount
stolen by Thornton.
{¶3} Thornton was indicted for two counts of theft, one count of forgery,
and two counts of telecommunications fraud. The Gerkes were the only victims
listed in the indictment. Thornton waived her right to a jury trial and pleaded guilty
to one count of theft in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1). The trial court accepted her
guilty plea.
{¶4} At Thornton’s sentencing hearing, after reviewing the victim-impact
statement, the trial court recognized that Fifth Third Bank had reimbursed the
Gerkes for their loss. The trial court initially ordered that Thornton pay restitution
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
to Fifth Third Bank or to the Gerkes. Defense counsel remarked that R.C. 2929.18
did not permit the trial court to order Thornton to pay restitution to a third party,
and that Fifth Third Bank was not a proper victim before the court. The trial court
stated, “Well, then what I’ll do is I’ll order the Gerkes to be paid * * * $5,454.01. And
I guess it’s up to them whether they want to pay the bank back.” The trial court
explained that it may promote theft if Thornton did not have to pay back the money
that she had stolen from the Gerkes. The trial court entered judgment on count one,
dismissed the other counts, sentenced Thornton to five years’ community control,
imposed a $250 fine and court costs, and ordered $5,454.01 in restitution to be paid
to the Gerkes.
{¶5} Thornton filed a motion to stay the order of restitution pending
appeal. The trial court denied her motion. Thornton also filed a motion to stay the
execution of her sentence with this court, which was also denied.
Assignment of Error
{¶6} In her sole assignment of error, Thornton alleges that the trial court
abused its discretion in ordering her to pay $5,454.01 in restitution. Thornton
argues that the Gerkes did not suffer an economic loss, because Fifth Third Bank
had, prior to her sentencing, reimbursed them for the entire amount.
Standard of Review
{¶7} R.C. 2953.08 governs felony-sentencing appeals. The statute provides
that a defendant who has pleaded guilty to a felony may appeal as a matter of right
on the ground that the sentence is contrary to law. R.C. 2953.08(A)(4). A sentence
is defined as “the sanction or combination of sanctions imposed by the sentencing
court on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to an offense.” R.C.
2929.01(EE). “ ‘Sanction’ means any penalty imposed upon an offender who is
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
convicted of or pleads guilty to an offense, as punishment for the offense * * * [and]
includes any sanction imposed pursuant to * * * [R.C.] 2929.18 * * *.” R.C.
2929.01(DD). A sentencing court may impose restitution as a part of a felony
sentence pursuant to R.C. 2929.18.
{¶8} In reviewing challenges to felony sentences pursuant to R.C. 2953.08,
“we may only modify or vacate [a] sentence if we ‘clearly and convincingly find’ that
either (1) the record does not support the mandatory sentencing findings, or (2) that
the sentence is ‘otherwise contrary to law.’ ” State v. White, 2013-Ohio-4225, 997
N.E.2d 629, ¶ 11 (1st Dist.). However, in reviewing trial court orders imposing
restitution in felony cases, this court has utilized an abuse-of-discretion standard of
review. See State v. Jackson, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-140573, 2015-Ohio-3742, ¶ 7.
{¶9} In March 2016, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that “appellate courts
may not apply the abuse-of-discretion standard in sentencing-term challenges.”
State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 10. The
Supreme Court noted
that some sentences do not require the findings that R.C. 2953.08(G)
specifically addresses. Nevertheless, it is fully consistent for appellate
courts to review those sentences that are imposed solely after
consideration of the factors in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 under a
standard that is equally deferential to the sentencing court. That is, an
appellate court may vacate or modify any sentence that is not clearly
and convincingly contrary to law only if the appellate court finds by
clear and convincing evidence that the record does not support the
sentence.
Id. at ¶ 23.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶10} Since Marcum, there has been a split among Ohio appellate courts in
reviewing the imposition of restitution in felony sentences. The Twelfth, Sixth, and
Fourth Appellate Districts have adopted the deferential standard set forth in
Marcum. See State v. Collins, 2015-Ohio-3710, 41 N.E.2d 899, ¶ 31, fn.1 (12th Dist.);
State v. Geldrich, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2015-11-103, 2016-Ohio-3400, ¶ 6; State
v. Farless, 6th Dist. Lucas Nos. L-15-1060 and L-15-1061, 2016-Ohio-1571, ¶ 4; State
v. Anderson, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 15CA3696, 2016-Ohio-7252, ¶ 33. Some of those
courts reasoned that because the term “sentence,” as utilized in R.C. 2953.08,
encompasses orders of restitution, the proper standard of review when analyzing the
imposition of restitution as a part of a felony sentence is whether the sentence
complies with R.C. 2953.08. See Anderson at ¶ 31, citing Collins at ¶ 31.
{¶11} However, the Eighth and Fifth Appellate Districts have continued to
apply an abuse-of-discretion standard of review. See State v. Nitsche, 2016-Ohio-
3170, 66 N.E.3d 135, ¶ 73, fn. 4 (8th Dist.); State v. Spencer, 5th Dist. Delaware No.
16 CAA 04 0019, 2017-Ohio-59, ¶ 44. In Nitsche, the Eighth District recognized
Marcum’s holding that appellate courts may not apply the abuse-of-discretion
standard in reviewing sentences, but reasoned that Marcum was limited to
sentencing-term challenges, and therefore, did not apply to orders of restitution.
Nitsche at ¶ 73, fn. 4.
{¶12} After reviewing Marcum, the cases from the other Ohio appellate
districts, and R.C. 2953.08, we hold that the proper standard of review when
analyzing the imposition of restitution as a part of a felony sentence is whether the
sentence complies with R.C. 2953.08. In other words, the proper standard of review
is whether this court clearly and convincingly finds that the sentence is contrary to
law. See Farless at ¶ 4, citing R.C. 2953.08(A)(4) and (G)(2)(b); Collins at ¶ 31. In
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
light of Marcum, we will no longer follow our line of cases that apply an abuse-of-
discretion standard of review in reviewing felony sentences that impose restitution or
other financial sanctions pursuant to R.C. 2929.18.
Economic Loss
{¶13} Because Thornton was convicted of a felony and can only appeal her
sentence under R.C. 2953.08, we review her sentence to determine whether we
clearly and convincingly find that the imposition of restitution under R.C. 2929.18
was contrary to law. See Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d
1231, at ¶ 10; Collins, 2015-Ohio-3710, 41 N.E.2d 899, at ¶ 31; Geldrich, 12th Dist.
Warren No. CA2015-11-103, 2016-Ohio-3400, at ¶ 6; Farless, 6th Dist. Lucas Nos. L-
15-1060 and L-15-1061, 2016-Ohio-1571, at ¶ 4; Anderson, 4th Dist. Scioto No.
15CA3696, 2016-Ohio-7252, at ¶ 33. We may modify or vacate Thornton’s sentence if
we find that it is contrary to law. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2).
{¶14} A trial court may sentence an offender to any financial sanction or
combination of financial sanctions, including restitution. R.C. 2929.18(A)(1).1 The
amount of restitution ordered to the victim of the offender’s crime is based on the
victim’s economic loss. Id. The term “ ‘economic loss’ means any economic
detriment suffered by a victim as a direct and proximate result of the commission of
an offense * * *. ‘Economic loss’ does not include non-economic loss or any punitive
or exemplary damages.” R.C. 2929.01(L).
{¶15} The victim of the offense is “[a] person who is identified as the victim
of a crime * * * in a police report or in a complaint, indictment, or information that
charges the commission of a crime and that provides the basis for the criminal
1 Pursuant to R.C. 2929.18(A)(3)(e), the trial court could have imposed a fine of up to $2,500.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
prosecution * * *.” R.C. 2930.01(H)(1). In 2004, the Ohio General Assembly
eliminated the language in R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) permitting the trial court to order
restitution to third parties for amounts paid to victims for economic losses. State v.
Aguirre, 144 Ohio St.3d 179, 2014-Ohio-4603, 41 N.E.3d 1178, ¶ 1. R.C. 2929.18, in
pertinent part, currently states that “the court imposing a sentence upon an offender
for a felony may sentence the offender to any financial sanction” including
“[r]estitution by the offender to the victim of the offender’s crime or any survivor of
the victim, in an amount based on the victim’s economic loss.” R.C. 2929.18(A)(1).
Therefore, unless the person or entity is a named victim as described in R.C.
2930.01(H)(1), the trial court may not order a defendant to pay restitution to that
third party. Aguirre at ¶ 1; see, e.g., State v. Johnson, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-
100702, 2011-Ohio-5913, ¶ 5; State v. Maurer, 2016-Ohio-1380, 63 N.E.3d 534, ¶ 18-
26 (8th Dist.); State v. Harris, 2015-Ohio-4412, 46 N.E.3d 198, ¶ 8 (6th Dist.).
{¶16} The trial court “may base the amount of restitution it orders on an
amount recommended,” but the restitution “shall not exceed the amount of the
economic loss suffered by the victim as a direct and proximate result of the
commission of the offense.” R.C. 2929.18(A)(1). Moreover, “[a]ll restitution
payments shall be credited against any recovery of economic loss in a civil action
brought by the victim * * * against the offender.” Id.{¶17} There is no question that the Gerkes were victims of Thornton’s crime.
Thornton challenges the trial court’s finding that the Gerkes had suffered economic
loss, because Fifth Third Bank had reimbursed them for the full amount prior to her
sentencing.
{¶18} Ohio appellate courts have addressed the issue of whether a victim has
suffered an economic loss after being reimbursed by a third party. See State v.
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Martin, 140 Ohio App.3d 326, 326-327, 747 N.E.2d 318 (4th Dist.2000) (holding
that the victim “did not suffer any ‘economic detriment,’ since he was fairly
compensated for his losses by his insurance carrier”); see also State v. Crum, 5th
Dist. Delaware No. 12 CAA 08 0056, 2013-Ohio-903, ¶ 12 (holding that “[i]f a victim
is reimbursed by a third-party, the victim has not suffered an economic loss”); State
v. Nickens, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104670, 2017-Ohio-1448, ¶ 8 (holding that “[i]f
the victim has insurance that reimbursed her for part or all of the loss that occurred
as a result of the offender’s criminal conduct, the victim has not suffered an
economic loss for the purposes of imposing restitution”); State v. Bowman, 181 Ohio
App.3d 407, 2009-Ohio-1281, 909 N.E.2d 170, ¶ 12 (2d Dist.) (holding that “the
evidence introduced to demonstrate the actual economic loss suffered by the victim
must take account of any offsets to the victim’s economic loss and any mitigation of
damages in the form of compensation received for the loss”); State v. Hebb, 5th Dist.
Ashland No. 2010-COA-038, 2011-Ohio-4566, ¶ 90-92 (holding that “the trial court
is to determine the actual economic loss suffered by the victim and to [take] into
account any offsets to the victim’s economic loss and any mitigation of damages in
the form of compensation received for the loss from, for example, insurance, civil
judgments against the defendant or civil judgments against any party responsible for
any part of the loss”).
{¶19} In analyzing economic loss in regards to restitution, the Second, Fifth,
and Eighth Appellate Districts have adopted the reasoning that
because R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) states that the trial court’s order of
restitution shall not exceed the amount of economic loss suffered by
the victim, and double recovery would amount to an impermissible
economic windfall for the victim, the evidence introduced to
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
demonstrate the actual economic loss suffered by the victim must take
account of any offsets to the victim’s economic loss and any mitigation
of damages in the form of compensation received for the loss from, for
example, insurance, the Ohio Title Defect Rescission Fund, or civil
judgments against the defendant.
See Bowman at ¶ 12, citing Martin, and State v. Christy, 3d Dist. Wyandot No. 16-
06-01, 2006-Ohio-4319; State v. Clayton, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 22937, 2009-
Ohio-7040, ¶ 56; Hebb at ¶ 90; State v. Dunham, 5th Dist. Richland No. 13CA26,
2014-Ohio-1042, ¶ 82; State v. Waiters, 191 Ohio App.3d 720, 2010-Ohio-5764, 947
N.E.2d 710, ¶ 18 (8th Dist.).
{¶20} After reviewing the record, we find that the trial court erred in
ordering restitution to the Gerkes. Prior to Thornton’s sentencing hearing, Fifth
Third Bank had reimbursed the Gerkes, who were the only identified victims, for the
full amount stolen by Thornton. This fact was documented in the victim impact
statement. Ordering restitution to the Gerkes would result in an impermissible
windfall and would frustrate the purposes of restitution. See Bowman at ¶ 12.
Although we understand that the trial court imposed the restitution because it did
not want to promote theft, the judiciary has the duty to interpret the words provided
by the General Assembly, and to refrain from deleting or inserting words to achieve a
particular result. State v. Gonzales, ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2017-Ohio-777, ___
N.E.3d ___, ¶ 13, citing Cleveland Elec. Illum. Co. v. Cleveland, 37 Ohio St.3d 50,
524 N.E.2d 441 (1988), paragraph three of the syllabus. Because the Gerkes had
been reimbursed, and therefore, had not suffered an economic loss, we clearly and
convincingly find that the trial court’s order of restitution was contrary to law. We
sustain Thornton’s sole assignment of error.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
Conclusion
{¶21} Because the Gerkes had not suffered an economic loss pursuant to R.C.
2929.18, the trial court’s order of restitution was contrary to law. Therefore, we
reverse that part of the trial court’s judgment and modify the judgment to remove the
restitution order. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed as modified.
Judgment affirmed as modified.
MOCK, P.J., concurs separately.
Myers, J., concurs separately.
M OCK , P.J., concurring separately.
{¶22} While I disagree that the Gerkes did not suffer an economic loss as a
result of Thornton’s criminal acts, I must accept the result that the award of
restitution in this case was contrary to law.
{¶23} I do not believe that Thornton should reap the benefit of her illegal
activity and avoid having to pay restitution in this case, but the Ohio General
Assembly eliminated the language in R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) which permitted the trial
court to order restitution to third parties for amounts paid to victims for economic
losses. See State v. Aguirre, 144 Ohio St.3d 179, 2014-Ohio-4603, 41 N.E.2d 1178, ¶
1. If the bank had been listed as a “victim” in the indictment or restitution had been
made a part of the plea agreement, we would not being having this discussion. But
that is not the case.
{¶24} I write separately because some of the cases cited by the majority to
support the proposition that reimbursement precludes a restitution order involved
reimbursement from an insurance company. I disagree with those cases and believe
our recent case involving restitution and insurance coverage remains good law in this
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
district. See State v. Berlinger, 194 Ohio App.3d 145, 2011-Ohio-2223, 954 N.E.2d
1290 (1st Dist.).
{¶25} In Berlinger, this court upheld an award of restitution to a victim who
had been reimbursed by an insurance company. The court held that the victim had
suffered an economic loss because premiums had been paid to secure the coverage in
an amount that would cover the theft. Id. at ¶ 7. Berlinger is therefore
distinguishable from this case because our record contains nothing to indicate the
Gerkes suffered another form of economic loss other than the $5,454.01 vanishing
from their bank account. If the record had shown that the Gerkes had a subrogation
agreement with Fifth Third or had suffered another form of collateral economic
damage from Thornton’s criminal wrongdoing, my decision in this case would be
different.
Myers, J., concurring separately.
{¶26} I too, concur. There is no question that at the time of the theft, the
Gerkes were victims and suffered an “economic loss” as defined by R.C. 2929.01(L).
However, by the time of the sentencing, they had been fully reimbursed by their
bank. Under R.C. 2929.18 and Ohio case law, the bank, as a third party, cannot be
awarded restitution. And because the Gerkes ultimately suffered no economic loss,
they cannot be awarded restitution either.
{¶27} While this leaves Thornton with no criminal restitution obligation, the
result is required by the clear language of the statutes. The bank retains any rights it
has to pursue Thornton civilly.
Please note:
This court has recorded its own entry this date.
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