State v. Ramsden

[Cite as State v. Ramsden, 2021-Ohio-3071.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
CLINTON COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
Appellee, : CASE NO. CA2020-11-016
: OPINION
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:
CLAYTON RAMSDEN, :
Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM CLINTON COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. CRI 1950014
Andrew T. McCoy, Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Danielle E. Sollars, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
The Law Office of John D. Hill, LLC, and John D. Hill, Jr., for appellant.
S. POWELL, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, Clayton Ramsden, appeals from his conviction in the Clinton
County Court of Common Pleas after he pled guilty to two counts of aggravated vehicular
homicide and one count of assault. In support of his appeal, Ramsden argues the Clinton
County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, erred by exercising its discretion and
Clinton CA2020-11-016
binding this matter over to the common pleas court so that Ramsden could be prosecuted
as an adult. We disagree. Therefore, for the reasons outlined below, we affirm Ramsden's
conviction.
Facts and Procedural History
{¶ 2} On May 8, 2019, a complaint was filed in the juvenile court alleging Ramsden,
who was at that time 16 years old, was a delinquent child for having committed acts that if
charged as an adult would constitute eight felony offenses: four counts of aggravated
vehicular homicide, two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, and two counts of
endangering children. The complaint was based on allegations that Ramsden, who did not
yet have his driver's license, was driving erratically just prior to causing a horrific multi-
vehicle accident on the evening of February 18, 2019 that resulted in the deaths of his
girlfriend, Wendy Brewer, and his girlfriend's infant daughter, A.D.1 The accident also
caused another driver to sustain serious physical injuries to his foot. Ramsden likewise
suffered serious physical injuries to his person that required him to spend several weeks in
the hospital recuperating.
{¶ 3} On May 23, 2019, another complaint was filed in the juvenile court alleging
Ramsden was a delinquent child for having committed acts that if charged as an adult would
constitute two additional felony offenses: one count of trafficking in drugs and one count of
possession of marijuana. This complaint was based on allegations that Ramsden was the
subject of a traffic stop initiated during the early morning hours of March 11, 2019 after he
was observed operating a vehicle without its headlights illuminated. Once the traffic stop
was initiated, it was alleged that officers detected the odor of marijuana coming from the
1. The medical examinations of the two deceased victims in this case, Brewer and A.D., indicate that Brewer
died of blunt force trauma, whereas A.D. died as the result of extensive internal and external burns. That is
to say, unlike Brewer who died upon impact, A.D. was burnt alive.
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vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of two bags containing a
total of 24 individually wrapped "homemade treats" under the vehicle's driver's and
passenger's seats. The complaint indicates that these "homemade treats," which weighed
over 200 grams, later tested positive for marijuana. The complaint also indicates that a
passenger who had been riding in the vehicle with Ramsden, B.P., advised the officers at
the scene that she and Ramsden were transporting the "homemade treats" with the
intention of selling them.
{¶ 4} Once both of these complaints were filed with the juvenile court, the state
moved the juvenile court to have both delinquency cases transferred to the common pleas
court so that Ramsden could be prosecuted for his crimes as an adult. The state made
these motions pursuant to Ohio's discretionary bindover statute, R.C. 2152.12(B). After the
juvenile court concluded that there was probable cause to believe Ramsden committed all
ten acts charged within those two complaints, and once an investigation and mental
evaluation of Ramsden was completed, the juvenile court scheduled the matter for another
hearing to determine Ramsden's amenability to care or rehabilitation within the juvenile
system, and whether the imposition of juvenile sanctions would adequately protect the
safety of the community.
{¶ 5} On July 2, 2019, the juvenile court held the aforementioned amenability
hearing. During this hearing, the juvenile court heard testimony from four witnesses:
Melissa Lipp, a former caseworker with Clinton County Children Services who was familiar
with Ramsden as she had recently worked on a case involving Ramsden's mother;
Samantha Woodruff, the assistant principal at Wilmington High School where Ramsden had
attended school before he was expelled; Matthew Unger, the principal at Wilmington High
School; and Dr. Lee Lehman, the chief deputy coroner with the Montgomery County
Coroner's Office who performed the autopsies on the two deceased victims in this case,
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Wendy Brewer and A.D. Ramsden did not testify at this hearing nor did Ramsden present
any witnesses on his behalf.
{¶ 6} On July 9, 2019, the juvenile court issued a decision exercising its discretion
to transfer both delinquency cases to the common pleas court so that Ramsden could be
prosecuted for his crimes as an adult. At Ramsden's request, the juvenile court also issued
an entry setting forth its findings of fact and conclusions of law in support of that decision.
Within its findings of fact, the juvenile court found, in pertinent part, the following:
The social history [set forth in the investigation conducted into
Ramsden's background] revealed an unstable childhood and
family life with multiple suspected incidents of neglect and
abuse and questionable supervision of [Ramsden]. There were
also reports that family members had concerns with [Ramsden]
stealing money and using illegal substances, but no
delinquency case concerning [Ramsden] has ever been brought
before the Court. The mental evaluation revealed no mental
illness or disabilities, but did state that [Ramsden] shows issues
with substance abuse and poor decision making. The evaluator,
Dr. Carla Dreyer, ultimately came to the conclusion that
[Ramsden] would be amenable to rehabilitation, but stated that
it would need to be considered in light of the seriousness of the
offense.
{¶ 7} The juvenile court also found that Ramsden had "behavior and attendance
issues in school." This included issues with Ramsden skipping class, fighting, and other
rule violations while he was enrolled at Wilmington High School. The juvenile court further
found that Ramsden's behavior issues ultimately resulted in Ramsden being expelled from
Wilmington High School after it was discovered that Ramsden brought an unspent shotgun
shell to school in his backpack.
{¶ 8} After setting forth its findings of fact, the juvenile court then set forth its
conclusions of law. This included the juvenile court concluding that Ramsden was
emotionally, physically, and psychologically mature enough to have both delinquency cases
against him transferred to the common pleas court for adult prosecution. This also included
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the juvenile court concluding that "while there may be time in the juvenile system for
rehabilitation, the juvenile system will not provide for a reasonable assurance of public
safety." In reaching this decision, the juvenile court stated:
The Court finds the timeline of these allegations particularly
troubling. On February 18, 2019, [Ramsden] was the driver in
what was described as a horrific crash in which people
[Ramsden] claims to have cared about lost their lives.
[Ramsden] himself suffered several serious injuries that
required prolonged hospitalization. Despite this, on March 11,
2019, exactly four (4) weeks after the traffic incident, [Ramsden]
drove a car, unlicensed, with passengers. It was at this time
that a large amount of marihuana edibles were found.
{¶ 9} Continuing, the juvenile court stated:
The Court also takes into account the seriousness of the
offenses charged in this case. While [Ramsden] has no prior
delinquency history, [Ramsden] presents before the Court at
this time charged with eight (8) serious felonies in one case and
two (2) drug-related felonies in the second case. The gravity of
these cases, one involving death and serious physical harm, not
including property damaged, allegedly committed within less
than a month of each other, indicates that [Ramsden] is not
amenable to prosecution within the juvenile system despite the
lack of prior delinquency record.
{¶ 10} Concluding, the juvenile court stated:
It is particularly egregious that after [Ramsden] experienced the
death of his girlfriend and her daughter, he felt fit to operate a
vehicle again, especially when not properly licensed.
[Ramsden's] behavior after the vehicular incident raises
concerns that lead the Court to believe that the juvenile court
cannot provide for a reasonable assurance of public safety.
{¶ 11} On July 10, 2019, the Clinton County Grand Jury returned a ten-count
indictment charging Ramsden with the same ten felony offenses set forth in the two
delinquency complaints discussed above: four counts of aggravated vehicular homicide,
two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, two counts of endangering children, one count
of trafficking in drugs, and one count of possession of marijuana. After several unrelated
proceedings, Ramsden eventually entered into a plea agreement and pled guilty to two
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counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of assault. Ramsden entered his
plea on September 19, 2020. The common pleas court accepted Ramsden's guilty plea
and scheduled the matter for sentencing. At sentencing, which occurred on October 6,
2020, the common pleas court sentenced Ramsden to a total, aggregate term of five years
in prison. The common pleas court also suspended Ramsden's driver's license for a period
of ten years and notified Ramsden that he would be subject to an optional postrelease
control term of up to three years upon his release from prison.
Appeal
{¶ 12} Ramsden now appeals from his conviction, raising the following single
assignment of error for review
{¶ 13} THE JUVENILE COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY RELINQUISHING
JURISDICTION OVER CLAYTON'S DELINQUENCY PROCEEDINGS AND BINDING HIM
OVER TO THE CLINTON COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, GENERAL DIVISION,
FOR PROSECUTION AS AN ADULT.
{¶ 14} In his assignment of error, Ramsden argues the juvenile court erred by
exercising its discretion and binding this matter over to the common pleas court so that he
could be prosecuted for his crimes as an adult; specifically, he argues the court erred by
finding that he was not amenable to juvenile sanctions and that the imposition of juvenile
sanctions would not adequately protect the safety of the community. Ramsden supports
these claims by arguing the juvenile court's decision, and underlying reasoning for binding
this matter over to the common pleas court, was entirely speculative, without sound
foundation, fundamentally baseless, and "completely contrary" to the evidence presented.
We disagree.
{¶ 15} "Juvenile courts have exclusive initial subject matter jurisdiction in matters
involving a child alleged delinquent for committing acts that would constitute a felony
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offense if committed by an adult." State v. Stephens, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2020-01-008,
2020-Ohio-5395, ¶ 9, citing State v. Golphin, 81 Ohio St.3d 543, 545 (1998). Pursuant to
R.C. 2152.12(B), however, the juvenile court is statutorily permitted to bind the matter over
to the common pleas court for adult prosecution if the record supports the following three
findings:
(1) The child was fourteen years of age or older at the time of
the act charged.
(2) There is probable cause to believe that the child committed
the act charged.
(3) The child is not amenable to care or rehabilitation within the
juvenile system, and the safety of the community may require
that the child be subject to adult sanctions.
This procedure is commonly referred to as a discretionary bindover. State v. May, 159 Ohio
St.3d 106, 2020-Ohio-61, ¶ 3, citing State v. Wilson, 73 Ohio St.3d 40, 43 (1995); State v.
Watkins, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2017-03-013, 2018-Ohio-46, ¶ 13.
{¶ 16} Given the facts of this case, the only dispute arises out of the requirement set
forth in R.C. 2152.12(B)(3). That is, whether the juvenile court erred by finding Ramsden
was not amenable to care or rehabilitation within the juvenile system, and that the safety of
the community required that Ramsden be subject to adult sanctions. In making this
decision, the juvenile court is required to consider whether the factors set forth in R.C.
2152.12(D) indicating the case should be transferred outweigh the factors set forth in R.C.
2152.12(E) indicating the case should not be transferred. R.C. 2152.12(B)(3). This is in
addition to any other factor(s) the juvenile court may find relevant. R.C. 2152.12(D) and
(E). This could include, for instance, the offender's remorse (or lack thereof) for the acts
charged. See State v. LaRosa, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2018-T-0097, 2020-Ohio-160, ¶ 37
("evidence pertaining to remorse of an offender is not improper for presentation to a juvenile
court during an amenability determination").
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{¶ 17} The factors indicating that a delinquency case should be transferred to the
common pleas court are listed in R.C. 2152.12(D). Those factors are as follows:
(1) The victim of the act charged suffered physical or
psychological harm, or serious economic harm, as a result of
the alleged act.
(2) The physical or psychological harm suffered by the victim
due to the alleged act of the child was exacerbated because of
the physical or psychological vulnerability or the age of the
victim.
(3) The child's relationship with the victim facilitated the act
charged.
(4) The child allegedly committed the act charged for hire or as
a part of a gang or other organized criminal activity.
(5) The child had a firearm on or about the child's person or
under the child's control at the time of the act charged, the act
charged is not a violation of section 2923.12 of the Revised
Code, and the child, during the commission of the act charged,
allegedly used or displayed the firearm, brandished the firearm,
or indicated that the child possessed a firearm.
(6) At the time of the act charged, the child was awaiting
adjudication or disposition as a delinquent child, was under a
community control sanction, or was on parole for a prior
delinquent child adjudication or conviction.
(7) The results of any previous juvenile sanctions and programs
indicate that rehabilitation of the child will not occur in the
juvenile system.
(8) The child is emotionally, physically, or psychologically
mature enough for the transfer.
(9) There is not sufficient time to rehabilitate the child within the
juvenile system.
{¶ 18} The factors indicating a delinquency case should not be transferred to the
common pleas court are listed in R.C. 2152.12(E). Those factors are as follows:
(1) The victim induced or facilitated the act charged.
(2) The child acted under provocation in allegedly committing
the act charged.
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(3) The child was not the principal actor in the act charged, or,
at the time of the act charged, the child was under the negative
influence or coercion of another person.
(4) The child did not cause physical harm to any person or
property, or have reasonable cause to believe that harm of that
nature would occur, in allegedly committing the act charged.
(5) The child previously has not been adjudicated a delinquent
child.
(6) The child is not emotionally, physically, or psychologically
mature enough for the transfer.
(7) The child has a mental illness or intellectual disability.
(8) There is sufficient time to rehabilitate the child within the
juvenile system and the level of security available in the juvenile
system provides a reasonable assurance of public safety.
{¶ 19} "There is no requirement that each statutory factor must be 'resolved against
the juvenile so long as the totality of the evidence supports a finding that the juvenile is not
amenable to treatment.'" In re M.A., 12th Dist. Brown No. CA2018-07-005, 2019-Ohio-829,
¶ 25, quoting State v. Haynie, 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA93-12-039, 1995 Ohio App. LEXIS
517, *13 (Feb. 13, 1995). However, while there is no requirement that each statutory factor
must be resolved against the juvenile, it is nevertheless generally well-established that "'the
greater the culpability of the offense, the less amenable will the juvenile be to rehabilitation.'"
State v. Rice, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2016-01-005, 2016-Ohio-5372, ¶ 12, quoting State
v. Watson, 47 Ohio St.3d 93, 96 (1989); State v. McDonald, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
11228, 1990 Ohio App. LEXIS 2289, *14-15 (June 5, 1990) ("[g]enerally, the greater the
culpability of the offense, the less amenable will the juvenile be to rehabilitation").
{¶ 20} "A juvenile-court judge has the discretion 'to transfer or bind over to adult court
certain juveniles who do not appear to be amenable to care or rehabilitation within the
juvenile system or appear to be a threat to public safety.'" Johnson v. Sloan, 154 Ohio St.3d
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476, 2018-Ohio-2120, ¶ 6, quoting State v. Hanning, 89 Ohio St.3d 86, 90 (2000). In
reaching this decision, the juvenile court enjoys a "wide latitude" in determining whether to
transfer a juvenile case to the common pleas court for adult prosecution. State v. Ramirez,
12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-11-305, 2011-Ohio-6531, ¶ 12, citing State v. Watson, 47
Ohio St.3d 93, 95 (1989); and State v. Allen, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2007-04-085, 2008-
Ohio-1885, ¶ 8. Therefore, given the wide latitude afforded to the juvenile court in cases
such as this, "the question is not whether this court would have reached the same decision
[as the juvenile court] to relinquish jurisdiction." In re M.A., 2019-Ohio-829 at ¶ 26. The
question is instead whether the juvenile court abused its discretion in reaching that decision.
State v. Phillips, 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA2009-03-001, 2010-Ohio-2711, ¶ 38, citing State
v. Hopfer, 112 Ohio App.3d 521, 535 (2d Dist.1996).
{¶ 21} An abuse of discretion means the juvenile court committed more than just an
error of law or judgment. State v. Ellis, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2018-03-043, 2018-Ohio-
5293, ¶ 17. An abuse of discretion instead suggests that the juvenile court's decision was
arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable. State v. Perkins, 12th Dist. Clinton No.
CA2005-01-002, 2005-Ohio-6557, ¶ 8. But, as this court has stated previously, so long as
"the juvenile court considered the appropriate statutory factors listed in R.C. 2152.12(D)
and (E), and there is some rational basis in the record to support the juvenile court's findings
when applying those factors, the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in deciding
whether to bind the matter over to the common pleas court." In re M.A. at ¶ 27, citing Phillips
at ¶ 39; see, e.g., State v. Anderson, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 14 CAA 05 0034, 2015-Ohio-
888, ¶ 60 ("[b]ecause the court weighed the appropriate statutory factors and the record
contains credible evidence that supports its findings, we cannot say that the court abused
its discretion in transferring jurisdiction over this case to the adult court").
Analysis
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{¶ 22} To support his single assignment of error, Ramsden does not argue that the
juvenile court failed to consider the appropriate statutory factors set forth in R.C. 2152.12(D)
and (E) when issuing its decision to bind this matter over to the common pleas court for
adult prosecution. Ramsden instead argues the juvenile court erred by finding he was not
amenable to juvenile sanctions, and that the imposition of juvenile sanctions would not
adequately protect the safety of the community. According to Ramsden, this is because
the juvenile court's finding was entirely speculative, without sound foundation,
fundamentally baseless, and "completely contrary" to the evidence presented. Ramsden's
argument, however, represents nothing more than a challenge to the weight that the
juvenile court decided to attribute to each the factors set forth in R.C. 2152.12(D) and (E).
{¶ 23} As this court has stated previously, R.C. 2152.12(D) and (E) "are silent with
regard to how a juvenile court should weigh these factors. Thus, the juvenile court has the
discretion to determine how much weight should be accorded to any given factor." In re
M.A., 2019-Ohio-829 at ¶ 33, quoting State v. Everhardt, 3rd Dist. Hancock No. 5-17-25,
2018-Ohio-1252, ¶ 22, citing State v. Marshall, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-150383, 2016-
Ohio-3184, ¶ 15 ("the juvenile court has the discretion to determine how much weight should
be accorded to any given factor"). Therefore, given that it is the juvenile court, and not this
court, that has the discretion to determine how much weight should be afforded to the
factors set forth in R.C. 2152.12(D) and (E), Ramsden's challenge to the weight that the
juvenile court ultimately decided to attribute to each those factors lacks merit.
{¶ 24} In so holding, we note that the record provides a clear rational basis to support
the juvenile court's findings when applying the factors set forth in R.C. 2152.12(D) and (E)
to the case at bar. Ramsden, a 16-year-old who had yet to obtain his driver's license, was
observed driving erratically just prior to causing a horrific multi-vehicle accident that resulted
in the deaths of his girlfriend, Wendy Brewer, and his girlfriend's infant daughter, A.D. The
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accident also caused another victim to sustain serious physical injuries to his foot.
Approximately four weeks later, Ramsden, who just days prior had been released from the
hospital where he had been recuperating from the injuries he sustained in that same
accident, was pulled over during early morning hours after he was observed operating a
vehicle without its headlights illuminated. This traffic stop resulted in the discovery of 24
individually wrapped "homemade treats" containing marijuana that he and a passenger,
B.P., were taking to be sold. This was in addition to the evidence indicating Ramsden
suffers from substance abuse issues, exhibits poor decision making, and had been expelled
from Wilmington High School for skipping class, fighting, and other rules violations. This
includes Ramsden bringing an unspent shotgun shell to school in his backpack.
Conclusion
{¶ 25} Exercising its discretion provided to it under R.C. 2152.12(B), the juvenile
court found that binding this matter over to the common pleas court was necessary under
these circumstances. We agree. Therefore, finding no merit to any of the arguments raised
by Ramsden herein challenging the juvenile court's decision to bind this matter over to the
common pleas court so that he could be prosecuted for his crimes as an adult, Ramsden's
single assignment of error lacks merit and is overruled.
{¶ 26} Judgment affirmed.
M. POWELL, P.J., and HENDRICKSON, J., concur.
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