State v. Reeves

[Cite as State v. Reeves, 2016-Ohio-5540.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
GREENE COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : C.A. CASE NO. 2015-CA-12
:
v. : T.C. NO. 14CR519
:
HOWARD E. REEVES : (Criminal appeal from
: Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
:
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the ___26th___ day of _____August_____, 2016.
...........
ELIZABETH A. ELLIS, Atty. Reg. No. 0074332, Civil Division Chief, 61 Greene Street,
Xenia, Ohio 45385
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
JOHN S. PINARD, Atty. Reg. No. 0085567, 120 W. Second Street, Suite 603, Dayton,
Ohio 45402
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
DONOVAN, P.J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Howard E. Reeves appeals his conviction and sentence
for three counts of rape, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), all felonies of the first
degree, and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, in violation of R.C.
2907.04(A), all felonies of the second degree. Each count for which Reeves was
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convicted was accompanied by a repeat violent offender specification based on a prior
conviction for rape of a minor which occurred in 2001. Reeves filed a timely notice of
appeal with this Court on March 11, 2015.
{¶ 2} The record establishes that Reeves was arrested and taken into custody on
August 20, 2014, after the police became aware of allegations that he committed several
sex offenses against at least two minors. On August 22, 2014, a complaint was filed in
Fairborn Municipal Court charging Reeves with four counts of rape and two counts of
unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, in regards to offenses which occurred between May
1, 2013, and August 19, 2014. We note that Reeves remained in jail throughout the
pendency of his case. Shortly thereafter, on August 27, 2014, Reeves’ case was
transferred to the Greene County Court of Common Pleas. On the same day, Reeves,
represented by private counsel, filed a “Waiver of Preliminary Hearing and Specific Time
Waiver,” which states in pertinent part:
Now come the Defendant, and hereby waives the following:
1. The right to a preliminary hearing and time within which to have this case
presented to the Greene County Grand Jury.
2. The time for which hearing or trial must be held in accordance with R.C.
2945.71, and for the 60 days that is being waived to present the matter
to grand jury under Rule of Superintendence 39(B)(2).
Defendant requests that this matter be remanded to the Greene County
Common Pleas Court, pursuant to Rule of Superintendence 39 and the
Criminal Rules. (Emphasis added).
{¶ 3} On September 12, 2014, Reeves’ retained counsel withdrew from the case,
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and new defense counsel was appointed by the trial court. On October 24, 2014,
Reeves was charged by indictment with three counts of rape, and five counts of unlawful
sexual conduct with a minor. Each count in the indictment was accompanied by a repeat
violent offender specification. At his arraignment on October 31, 2014, Reeves pled not
guilty to all of the charges in the indictment.
{¶ 4} On November 5, 2014, Reeves filed a motion for a sanity and competency
evaluation. In a judgment entry issued on January 22, 2015, the trial court found Reeves
competent to stand trial, and his trial was scheduled to occur on February 23, 2015. On
February 19, 2015, Reeves filed a motion to dismiss based upon speedy trial violations.
In a judgment entry issued on February 20, 2015, the trial court overruled Reeves’ motion
to dismiss. Specifically, the trial court found that Reeves waived his right to speedy trial
when he filed his “Waiver of Preliminary Hearing and Specific Time Waiver” on August
27, 2014.
{¶ 5} Prior to the beginning of Reeves’ bench trial, the State offered him a plea
deal but misstated the sentence that he would be subject to if he accepted the deal.
Neither Reeves nor the trial court corrected the State’s incorrect plea offer.1 Ultimately,
Reeves rejected the incorrect plea offer, and the case proceeded to a bench trial on
February 23, 2015. The trial court did not render a verdict when the trial concluded the
same day. On February 25, 2015, the State corrected its plea offer to Reeves in open
court, and he requested additional time to consider the offer. The trial court granted
1
Initially, the State mistakenly informed Reeves that his acceptance of the plea mandated
the imposition of three life sentences without the possibility of parole. Rather, the correct
sentences that Reeves would have been subject to if he accepted the plea is three
sentences of twenty-five years to life or three sentences of life without parole for Counts
I, II, and III.
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Reeves five additional days in which to consider the State’s corrected offer.
{¶ 6} On March 2, 2015, Reeves requested that the trial court recuse itself and that
his case be assigned to a new judge for sentencing purposes suggesting a willingness to
accept the plea deal. The trial court refused Reeves’ request for recusal, ignored his
proffered plea, found him guilty on all counts in the indictment, and sentenced him to three
terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional forty years.
{¶ 7} It is from this judgment that Reeves now appeals.
{¶ 8} Reeves’ first assignment of error is as follows:
{¶ 9} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTION TO
DISMISS BASED ON THE STATE’S VIOLATION OF THE SPEEDY TRIAL STATUTE.”
{¶ 10} In his first assignment, Reeves contends that the trial court erred when it
denied his motion to dismiss the indictment because his right to speedy trial had been
violated pursuant to R.C. 2945.71.
{¶ 11} The right to a speedy trial is guaranteed by the United States and Ohio
Constitutions. State v. Adams, 43 Ohio St.3d 67, 68, 538 N.E.2d 1025 (1989).
Ohio's speedy trial statute, R.C. 2945.71, “was implemented to incorporate the
constitutional protection of the right to a speedy trial” provided in the United States and
Ohio Constitutions. Brecksville v. Cook, 75 Ohio St.3d 53, 55, 661 N.E.2d 706 (1996).
As such, that statute must be strictly construed against the State. Id.{¶ 12} A defendant can establish a prima facie case for a speedy trial violation by
demonstrating that the trial was held past the time limit set by statute for the crime with
which the defendant is charged. State v. Gray, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 20980, 2007–
Ohio–4549, ¶ 15. “If the defendant can make this showing, the burden shifts to the State
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to establish that some exception[s] applied to toll the time and to make the trial timely. If
the State does not meet its burden, the defendant must be discharged. R.C. 2945.73.” Id.{¶ 13} Under R.C. 2945.71(C)(2), the State must bring a felony defendant to trial
within 270 days of arrest. “ ‘Each day during which the accused is held in jail in lieu of
bail on the pending charge is counted as three, pursuant to the triple-count provision
of R.C. 2945.71(E).’ This ‘triple-count’ provision would reduce to 90 days the time for
bringing to trial an accused who is incarcerated the entire time preceding trial.” (Citation
omitted.) State v. Dankworth, 172 Ohio App.3d 159, 2007–Ohio–2588, 873 N.E.2d 902,
¶ 31 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 14} The time within which a defendant must be brought to trial may be extended
for the reasons specifically enumerated in R.C. 2945.72. State v. Brewer, 2d Dist.
Montgomery Nos. 22159, 22160, 2008–Ohio–2715, ¶ 37, citing State v. Palmer, 84 Ohio
St.3d 103, 702 N.E.2d 72 (1998). Permissible reasons for extending the trial date
include “[a]ny period of delay necessitated by reason of a * * * motion * * * made or
instituted by the accused” and “[t]he period of any continuance granted on the accused's
own motion, and the period of any reasonable continuance granted other than upon the
accused's own motion[.]” R.C. 2945.72(E) and (H).
{¶ 15} As a general proposition, the defendant in a criminal action can waive
his speedy-trial rights as long as the waiver is made voluntarily. State v. King, 70 Ohio
St.3d 158, 160, 637 N.E.2d 903 (1994). Speedy-trial waivers are distinct from the
provisions in R.C. 2945.72 that extend the statutory speedy-trial time by tolling it. State v.
Kerby, 162 Ohio App.3d 353, 2005-Ohio-3734, 833 N.E.2d 757, ¶ 62 (2d Dist.). A waiver
relinquishes the right, at least until the waiver is withdrawn. Id. A waiver of speedy-
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trial rights must be knowing, intelligent, and voluntary, which includes an understanding
of both the effect of the waiver and the duration and extent of that waiver. State v. Adams,
43 Ohio St.3d 67, 69, 538 N.E.2d 1025 (1989).
{¶ 16} In the instant case, Reeves was arrested on August 20, 2014. When
computing speedy trial time, the day of arrest is not counted. State v. Cline, 2d Dist.
Champaign No. 2002-CA-05, 2003-Ohio-4712, at ¶ 27, reversed on other grounds, 103
Ohio St.3d 471, 816 N.E.2d 1069 (2004). Therefore, the time for bringing Reeves to trial
began running on August 21, 2014, the day after his arrest. Id.{¶ 17} As previously mentioned, on August 27, 2014, Reeves filed a “Waiver of
Preliminary Hearing and Specific Time Waiver,” which stated that he waived “[t]he time
for which hearing or trial must be held in accordance with R.C. 2945.71.” A criminal
defendant may waive his constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy trial, and “for
purposes of trial preparation, a defendant's statutory right to a speedy trial may be waived,
with or without the defendant's consent, by the defendant's counsel.”
State v. King, 70 Ohio St.3d 158, 160, 637 N.E.2d 903 (1994). However, “[t]o be
effective, an accused's waiver of his or her constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy
trial must be expressed in writing or made in open court on the record.” Id. at 158.
{¶ 18} Here, Reeves explicitly waived his right to speedy trial on August 27, 2014,
along with waiving his right to a preliminary hearing with respect to the charges stated in
the complaint. In the waiver, Reeves specifically acknowledges that his case is going to
be presented to a grand jury at some time in the future. Moreover, Reeves specifically
requests that his case be remanded to the Greene County Court of Common Pleas. In
our view, the record clearly establishes that Reeves understood that he had been charged
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by complaint with felony rape and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The language
utilized in the waiver further establishes that Reeves understood that he was waiving
speedy trial time regarding the charges set forth in the complaint against him and that his
case would be transferred to common pleas court. Accordingly, we conclude that
Reeves’ waiver of his right to speedy trial was made in a knowing, voluntary, and
intelligent fashion.
{¶ 19} Therefore, from August 21, 2014, to August 26, 2014, six days passed for
the purposes of Reeves’ speedy trial time. From August 27, 2014, until October 24,
2014, the date the indictment was filed, speedy trial time was tolled. Twelve additional
days passed when speedy trial time began to run again on October 25, 2014, until
November 5, 2014, when Reeves filed a motion for a sanity and competency evaluation
which tolled time until January 22, 2015, when the trial court issued a decision finding
Reeves competent and sane to stand trial. Speedy trial time began to run again from
January 22, 2015, until February 19, 2015, when Reeves filed a motion to dismiss for
violation of his right to speedy trial. During that time, twenty-nine days passed which
counted towards Reeves’ speedy trial calculations. The trial court overruled Reeves’s
motion to dismiss on Friday, February 20, 2015, and his trial began on February 23, 2015.
Two more days passed which counted towards Reeves’ speedy trial time. Accordingly,
we find that only forty-nine days had elapsed which was well within Reeves’ speedy trial
time period with respect to the charges contained in the complaint filed against him on
August 22, 2014.
{¶ 20} As noted by the State, however, Counts VII and VIII (two additional counts
of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor), were added when Reeves’ indictment was filed
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on October 24, 2014. The State concedes that the counts should be dismissed because
speedy trial time had elapsed by the time Reeves went to trial on February 23, 2015.
The Ohio Supreme Court has held that “[w]hen new and additional charges arise from the
same facts as did the original charge and the state knew of such facts at the time of the
initial indictment, the time within which trial is to begin on the additional charge is subject
to the same statutory limitations period that is applicable to the original charge.” Adams,
43 Ohio St.3d at 68, quoting State v. Clay, 9 Ohio App.3d 216, 218, 459 N.E.2d 609 (11th
Dist.1983). Moreover, “[w]hen an accused waives the right to a speedy trial as to an
initial charge, this waiver is not applicable to additional charges arising from the same set
of circumstances that are brought subsequent to the execution of the waiver.”
State v. Boles, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 18762, 2003-Ohio-2693, ¶ 13. “[E]ven where
the accused knows of the possibility of additional charges being brought against him, a
waiver of speedy trial rights cannot apply to charges brought subsequent to the waiver.”
Id., citing State v. Jackson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 17056, 1998 WL 639272 (Sept. 18,
1998). The waiver executed by Reeves therefore did not have any effect on Counts VII
and VIII that related back to the conduct for which he was originally charged.
Significantly, we find that 108 days had elapsed, which was well outside Reeves’ speedy
trial time period with respect to the complaint filed against him on August 22, 2014.
Pursuant to our decision in Boles, Counts VII and VIII in the indictment are therefore to
be dismissed by the trial court.
{¶ 21} “ ‘[A] specification is, by its very nature, ancillary to, and completely
dependent upon, the existence of the underlying criminal charge or charges to which
the specification is attached.’ ” State v. Evans, 113 Ohio St.3d 100, 2007-Ohio-861, 863
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N.E.2d 113, ¶ 15, quoting State v. Nagel, 84 Ohio St.3d 280, 286, 703 N.E.2d 773 (1999).
It is a penalty enhancement, not a separate violation or offense. Evans at ¶ 15. A
defendant is classified as a repeat violent offender based on a prior conviction or guilty
plea to a first-or second-degree offense of violence or an attempt of an offense of
violence. R.C. 2929.01(CC). The repeat violent offender classification is “strictly a
sentencing consideration for the court.” State v. Allen, 29 Ohio St.3d 53, 55, 506 N.E.2d
199 (1987).
{¶ 22} In the instant case, the repeat violent offender specifications depended
upon and attached to each count in Reeves’ indictment as a result of his prior conviction
for rape of a minor which occurred in 2001. Because the specifications were ancillary to
the charges of rape and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, Reeves does not have a
separate right to a speedy trial for the RVO specifications. State v. Smith, 9th Dist.
Summit No. 25069, 2010-Ohio-3983, ¶ 17.2 Therefore, the RVO specifications attached
to Counts I - VI are not subject to dismissal for violation of Reeves’ right to speedy trial.
In fact, the only RVO specifications subject to dismissal are those which were attached
to Counts VII and VIII which we have found to be violative of Reeves’ right to speedy trial.
{¶ 23} Reeves’ first assignment of error is sustained in part and overruled in part.
{¶ 24} Reeves’ second assignment of error is as follows:
{¶ 25} “INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AS WELL AS THE TRIAL
COURT ABUSING ITS DISCRETION RESULTED IN AN IMPROPER SENTENCE.”
{¶ 26} In his second and final assignment, Reeves argues that he received
2
The State initially erroneously conceded this issue. Thereafter, this Court issued an
order dated March 22, 2016, allowing both appellant and appellee an opportunity to
address Smith.
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ineffective assistance of counsel when his counsel failed to object to the State’s incorrect
recitation of the sentence he would be subject to if he accepted the plea offered by the
State immediately prior to trial on February 23, 2015. Reeves also argues that it was
error for the trial court to refuse to allow him to accept the plea deal after the potential
sentence had been corrected by the State even if the court did not want to recuse itself
at that point in the proceedings.
{¶ 27} “We review the alleged instances of ineffective assistance of trial counsel
under the two prong analysis set forth in Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668,
104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674, and adopted by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State v.
Bradley (1989), 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373. Pursuant to those cases, trial
counsel is entitled to a strong presumption that his or her conduct falls within the wide
range of reasonable assistance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688. To reverse a conviction
based on ineffective assistance of counsel, it must be demonstrated that trial counsel's
conduct fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that his errors were
serious enough to create a reasonable probability that, but for the errors, the result of the
trial would have been different. Id. Hindsight is not permitted to distort the assessment of
what was reasonable in light of counsel's perspective at the time, and a debatable
decision concerning trial strategy cannot form the basis of a finding of ineffective
assistance of counsel.” (Internal citation omitted). State v. Mitchell, 2d Dist. Montgomery
No. 21957, 2008-Ohio-493, ¶ 31.
{¶ 28} An appellant is not deprived of effective assistance of counsel when counsel
chooses, for strategic reasons, not to pursue every possible trial tactic. State v. Brown, 38
Ohio St.3d 305, 319, 528 N.E.2d 523 (1988). The test for a claim of ineffective
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assistance of counsel is not whether counsel pursued every possible defense; the test is
whether the defense chosen was objectively reasonable. Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). A reviewing court may not second-
guess decisions of counsel which can be considered matters of trial strategy. State v.
Smith, 17 Ohio St.3d 98, 477 N.E.2d 1128 (1985). Debatable strategic and tactical
decisions may not form the basis of a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel, even if,
in hindsight, it looks as if a better strategy had been available. State v. Cook, 65 Ohio
St.3d 516, 524, 605 N.E.2d 70 (1992).
{¶ 29} Specifically, Reeves argues that his counsel’s failure to object during the
following exchange constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel:
The State: Thank you, Your Honor. Now with regard to plea
negotiations in this case….
The Court: In regard to what?
The State: Plea negotiations.
The Court: Yes.
The State: In this case. The State has tendered an offer to the
Defendant that if he pleads guilty as charged to Count 1, Count 2, Count 3,
Count 5, Count 6, and Count 7 of the indictment; each one of those separate
counts having a specification as a repeat violent offender, pursuant to
section §2941.149, which the State would expect the Defendant to plead
guilty to as well; the State would dismiss Counts 4 and 8, and the
specifications that accompany those charges. Your Honor[,] the
punishment required by law in this case for counts 1, 2, and 3 is life without
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parole.
The maximum sentence the Defendant would be facing if he
accepted the State’s offer, potentially, if this Court saw fit to run these
sentences consecutively, would be three life sentences without parole and
an accompanying twenty-four years.
The Court: Very good. And Mr. Daly is that your understanding as
well?
Defense Counsel: It is.
(Tr. 8-9, Feb. 23, 2015). We note that Reeves ultimately rejected the State’s plea offer.
The trial court acknowledged Reeves’ decision to reject the plea offer and then
immediately proceeded to hold a bench trial.
{¶ 30} Reeves argues that he received ineffective assistance when his counsel
failed to object to the State’s recitation of the sentence he would be subject to if he
accepted the plea. Neither party disputes that the State gave an incorrect recitation of
the sentence Reeves would receive if he accepted the plea. Reeves’ acceptance of the
plea did not mandate the imposition of three life sentences without the possibility of
parole. Rather, the correct sentences that Reeves would have been subject to if he
accepted the plea is three sentences of twenty-five years to life or three sentences of life
without parole for Counts I, II, and III.
{¶ 31} We find that defense counsel’s failure to object to the State’s incorrect
recitation of the sentence at the plea hearing constituted performance which fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness. Herein, after the bench trial was concluded but
no verdicts had yet been rendered, the State became aware of its error and requested a
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hearing pursuant to the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding in Lafler v. Cooper, _____ U.S.
_____, 132 S.Ct. 1376, 182 L.Ed.2d 398 (2012).
{¶ 32} In Lafler, the court held that defendants are entitled to the effective
assistance of counsel during plea negotiations and that counsel may be ineffective when
counsel's advice led to the rejection of a plea bargain that would have resulted in a lesser
sentence. State v. Royster, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26378, 2015-Ohio-625, ¶ 32.
However, in order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on those
grounds, “a defendant must show that but for the ineffective advice, there is a reasonable
probability that the plea offer would have been presented to the court, that the court would
have accepted [the plea's] terms, and that the conviction or sentence, or both, under the
offer's terms would have been less severe than under the actual judgment and sentence
imposed.” Id. at paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶ 33} Thus, “[t]o show prejudice where a plea offer has lapsed or been rejected
because of counsel's deficient performance, defendants must demonstrate a reasonable
probability both that they would have accepted the more favorable plea offer had they
been afforded effective assistance of counsel and that the plea would have been entered
without the prosecution's canceling it or the trial court's refusing to accept it, if they had
the authority to exercise that discretion under state law.” Missouri v. Frye, _____ U.S.
_____, 132 S.Ct. 1399, 182 L.Ed.2d 379 (2012), paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶ 34} On February 25, 2015, the trial court held a Lafler hearing during which the
following exchange occurred:
The Court: *** Before the Court pronounces its verdicts in this case
would either party wish to be heard starting with the State?
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The State: Yes, Your Honor. If the Court recalls, prior to the
commencement of the bench trial on Monday morning the Court asked us
to have a Lafler hearing and put the prior offer that was tendered by the
State on the record.
Subsequently, the State has discovered that we, in error, said that
certain counts in the indictment carried with it a mandatory sentence of life
without parole. So with the Court’s indulgence – as a result it was brought
to the Court’s attention in conference we all agree that the best way to
handle it was to reiterate the offer with the correct potential maximum
penalties.
I would like to do that now.
The Court: You may proceed.
The State: Alright, Your Honor the offer –
The Court: I assume there is no objection to that Mr. Daly.
Defense Counsel: There’s no objection to the State proceeding.
The Court: Very good. You may proceed Mr. Hayes.
The State: Alright. The offer that was tendered, and is still there, is
that if the Defendant pleads guilty to counts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7, the State
will dismiss counts 4 and 8.
Alright, the State would expect Mr. Reeves to also plead guilty or
acknowledge the specifications with regard to each one of those counts.
Those specifications are as a repeat violent offender.
The error, Your Honor, is that with regard to counts 1, 2, and 3 the
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State indicated that they carried with them mandatory terms of life without
parole. That is incorrect. Each one of those carries with it either a
sentence of twenty-five years to life or life without parole; and counts 5, 6,
and 7, which are all unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, felonies of the
second degree carries with them a maximum of eight years.
The Court: Thank you. And that offer is still on the table. Mr. Daly,
have you had a chance to talk to your client about that?
Defense Counsel: I have, Your Honor, and in response to the State’s
statement I also must state that I also was in error and told my client that it
was a life without the possibility of parole sentence. *** I told him now that
that’s not the case and his response to me was – well I asked him what
would you like to do – and his response was well that’s too much to put on
somebody at the last minute. Why do you keep changing things? I need
to think about this; so that’s all I can say.
The Court: Well, I think that’s reasonable to give the Defendant some
time to consider pleading guilty to counts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and the
specifications contain[ed] therein. Is that the correct offer, Mr. Hayes?
The State: It is, Your Honor.
***
The Court: Then we will reconvene on that day and time, March 2,
2015[,] at 11:00 a.m.; and at that time Mr. Daly it is my understanding that
you will have had an opportunity to even further discuss with the Defendant
and we will proceed thereupon. Is that correct?
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Defense Counsel: That is correct.
{¶ 35} Thereafter, on March 2, 2015, the following exchange occurred between all
of the parties:
The Court: Very good; anything further before the Court pronounces
verdict in this matter; from the State?
The State: No, Your Honor.
The Court: From the Defense?
Defense Counsel: Yes, Your Honor. You’ll remember last we had
left it, Your Honor, was – or the Court – was gracious enough to allow my
client additional time to determine whether or not he would like to change
his plea based on the incorrect reading of the Lafler hearing; and I say this
– I’ve said this in chambers but I’ll say this in front of my client because he
was a little bit nervous about this – so I’ll start off by saying that his position
is nothing personal against the Court. He likes the Court. The Court has
been very cordial to him. The Court has been very polite to him. There
have been no contentious issues between the Defendant and the Court.
It’s just that his life, or the balance of his life, is at issue so he needs to bring
this up and he doesn’t mean to offend anybody; but he would like to change
a plea but he would like to do that before a different judge.
The Court: The balance of his life could be at issue.
Defense Counsel: Could be, yes.
The Court: Continue.
Defense Counsel: Could be. So, he would like to change his plea
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but he would like to do it before another judge and the reason behind his
reasoning – and I spent the weekend with Mr. Reeves and he’s thought this
out quite well, I believe, and I’ll convey it to the Court – is that this particular
Honorable Court has heard all of the evidence, has heard all details, has
heard seven witnesses, has heard facts which ordinarily a Court which
would take a guilty plea or a no contest plea would not have heard. Yes
they would receive a paragraph or two in a pre-sentence report but certainly
not eight hours of testimony from seven witnesses over the course of a day;
and disturbing testimony, which my client thinks is going to effect [sic] the
Court’s decision.
Now I can’t say with this particular Court that this has ever happened.
I can say that in my twenty-five years it has happened in other courts where
the Court says if the case goes to trial, it’s not that I’m going to penalize
your client for going to trial, but Mr. Daly I may find out additional facts that
may not come out during the allocution or during the plea. I may hear from
witnesses. I may see witnesses that don’t want to take the stand who are
crying or upset and that has an impact on the Court; so the sentence could
be different after trial as opposed to a plea.
My client feels that that is applicable in this situation, respectfully.
The objective here is to go back to the beginning with a correct Lafler
hearing. I think that’s my objective is try to – I think it’s everybody’s
objective – is to try to go back to the beginning to correct the incorrect Lafler
recitation. Unfortunately, we can’t un-ring a bell; so the best we can do,
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respectfully again, is transferred [sic] it to a judge who hasn’t sat through
the entire trial and have that judge take the plea. Again, all of this is said
with the utmost respect for the Court and I thank you.
***
The Court: Thank you. Let the record reflect and I think all counsel
will agree, the verdicts of the Court whatever they may be, preceded
Defense statement just now about his wish of his client.
Does the Defense agree to that?
Defense Counsel: I’m not – I don’t know to be honest with you.
The Court: Well I said I was ready to announce verdict last week.
Defense Counsel: Okay.
The Court: And I’m just now hearing, at 11:35, your client’s wish to
have this transferred.
Defense Counsel: Right.
The Court: So I want the record clear, in terms of chronology, that
the Court has rendered its verdict prior to hearing what you have just said
about transferring the case. Does the Defense agree to that?
Defense Counsel: Yes. I heard you say that. I heard you say the
Court was ready.
The Court: Do you agree to that chronology? That the Court
rendered its verdict prior to hearing just now for the first time that the
Defendant wanted the case transferred?
Defense Counsel: The Court did not render its verdict prior to.
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The Court: Was ready to render its verdict.
Defense Counsel: I agree that that’s what the Court had said, yes sir.
The Court: Alright. So before the Court came out here today, I want
to make the record very clear here, and for the first time now is hearing on
the record that the Defendant wishes to have a new judge for a potential
plea of guilt. Is that a correct recitation; from the State?
The State: Yes, Your Honor.
The Court: The Defense?
Defense Counsel: Yes.
The Court: Thank you very much. For the first time, the Court will
now finally read the verdicts into the record. ***
{¶ 36} At that point in the hearing, the trial court found Reeves guilty for every
count in the indictment and scheduled a sentencing hearing on March 5, 2015. Although
defense counsel suggested that Reeves wished to accept the corrected plea offered by
the State, the trial court proceeded immediately to pronouncing its verdicts. Defense
counsel did not object, and the trial court provided Reeves with no further opportunity to
accept the plea bargain offered by the State. By failing to object at this point, Reeves’
counsel was clearly ineffective because he failed to attempt to secure his client’s right to
accept the corrected plea bargain. Reeves was clearly prejudiced by defense counsel’s
failure in this regard, thus satisfying the second prong of the Strickland test for ineffective
assistance.
{¶ 37} Additionally, while the trial court was not required to grant Reeves’ request
to have the case transferred to another judge, at the very least, the trial court should have
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given Reeves the opportunity to tender the pleas based upon the State’s offer before
announcing its verdicts. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court abused its
discretion when it did not allow Reeves the opportunity to accept or reject the corrected
plea that was not offered to him prior to trial.
{¶ 38} Reeves’ second assignment of error is sustained.
{¶ 39} Reeves’ first assignment of error having been sustained in part, and his
second assignment of error having been sustained, his conviction and sentence are
reversed, and this matter is remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
..........
FAIN, J., and WELBAUM, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Elizabeth A. Ellis
John S. Pinard
Hon. Michael A. Buckwalter