State v. Robinson

[Cite as State v. Robinson, 2017-Ohio-2703.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
HANCOCK COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 5-16-13
v.
MONTRE O. ROBINSON, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Hancock County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 2013-CR-249
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: May 8, 2017
APPEARANCES:
Allen M. Vender for Appellant
Alex K. Treece for Appellee
Case No. 5-16-13
PRESTON, P.J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Montre O. Robinson (“Robinson”), appeals the
December 17, 2014 judgment entry of sentence of the Hancock County Court of
Common Pleas. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
{¶2} This case stems from the November 8, 2013 shooting death of Joe
Gutierrez (“Gutierrez”) in which it was alleged that Robinson aided and abetted
Ralph G. Harris, III (“Harris”) in discharging a firearm from a vehicle causing
Gutierrez’s death. (Doc. No. 116). On November 25, 2013, the Hancock County
Grand Jury indicted Robison on one count of murder in violation of R.C,
2903.02(A), an unclassified felony, with a specification under R.C. 2941.146 that
Robinson purposely caused the death of another “by discharging a firearm from a
motor vehicle” and one count of tampering with evidence in violation of R.C.
2921.12(A)(1), a third-degree felony. (Doc. No. 1). On December 2, 2013,
Robinson appeared for arraignment and entered pleas of not guilty. (Doc. No. 11).
{¶3} The case proceeded to a jury trial on October 14-17 and 20-22, 2014.
(Doc. No. 110). On October 22, 2014, the jury found Robinson guilty as to the
counts and specification in the indictment. (Doc. Nos. 101, 102, 110). The trial
court filed its judgment entry of conviction on December 11, 2014. (Doc. No. 110).
On December 11, 2014, the trial court sentenced Robinson to an indefinite term of
life in prison with parole eligibility after serving 15 years on Count One, 5 years in
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prison on the specification, and 24 months in prison on Count Two, and it ordered
that Robinson serve the terms consecutively. (Doc. No. 112); (Dec. 11, 2014 Tr. at
24-25). The trial court filed its judgment entry of sentence on December 17, 2014.
(Doc. No. 112).
{¶4} On May 19, 2016, Robinson filed his notice of appeal.1 (Doc. No. 136).
He raises two assignments of error for our review.
Assignment of Error No. I
The trial court erred when it imposed consecutive sentences on
Robinson because the record did not contain evidence to support
the trial court’s findings. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(a); R.C.
2929.14(C)(4); State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-
3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the
United States Constitution and Article I, Section 16, of the Ohio
Constitution; December 11, 2014, Sentencing Hearing, Tr. 24-26;
December 11, 2014 Judgement Entry.
{¶5} In his first assignment of error, Robinson argues the trial court erred in
imposing consecutive sentences.
{¶6} Under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), an appellate court will reverse a sentence
“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. Clear and convincing evidence is that “‘which will produce in the mind of the
1
Robinson filed a motion for leave to file a delayed appeal with this court on May 19, 2016, which was
granted on June 15, 2016.
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trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established.’” Id.
at ¶ 22, quoting Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469 (1954), paragraph three of the
syllabus.
{¶7} “Except as provided in * * * division (C) of section 2929.14, * * * a
prison term, jail term, or sentence of imprisonment shall be served concurrently with
any other prison term, jail term, or sentence of imprisonment imposed by a court of
this state, another state, or the United States.” R.C. 2929.41(A). R.C. 2929.14(C)
provides:
(4) * * * [T]he court may require the offender to serve the prison terms
consecutively if the court finds that the consecutive service is
necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the
offender and that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the
seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender
poses to the public, and if the court also finds any of the following:
(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while
the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction
imposed pursuant to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the
Revised Code, or was under post-release control for a prior offense.
(b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of
one or more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more
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of the multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no
single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of
the courses of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the
offender’s conduct.
(c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that
consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future
crime by the offender.
{¶8} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires a trial court to make specific findings on
the record before imposing consecutive sentences. State v. Hites, 3d Dist. Hardin
No. 6-11-07, 2012-Ohio-1892, ¶ 11; State v. Peddicord, 3d Dist. Henry No. 7-12-
24, 2013-Ohio-3398, ¶ 33. Specifically, the trial court must find: (1) consecutive
sentences are necessary to either protect the public or punish the offender; (2) the
sentences would not be disproportionate to the offense committed; and (3) one of
the factors in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a), (b), or (c) applies. Id.; Id.{¶9} The trial court must state the required findings at the sentencing hearing
prior to imposing consecutive sentences and incorporate those findings into its
sentencing entry. State v. Sharp, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-13-01, 2014-Ohio-4140,
¶ 50, citing State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, ¶ 29. A trial
court “has no obligation to state reasons to support its findings” and is not “required
to give a talismanic incantation of the words of the statute, provided that the
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necessary findings can be found in the record and are incorporated into the
sentencing entry.” Bonnell at ¶ 37.
{¶10} The trial court made the three statutorily required findings before
imposing consecutive sentences at the sentencing hearing and incorporated those
findings into its sentencing entry. Specifically, at the sentencing hearing, the trial
court said:
Court finds that the additional 2 years, based upon the fact
pattern here, is appropriate. Defendant specifically went about trying
to hide his car, which was the travel vehicle, from law enforcement.
Court finds the additional 2 years is necessary to protect the public,
punish the offender. And it’s not disproportionate with the fact
pattern that’s before the Court.
In addition, as is reflected and pointed out by the Prosecutor,
Defendant was under probationary supervision out of Wood County
at the time of the offense.
In addition, the Court finds that the harm in this case was so
great, specifically a homicide, the death of an individual, that the
single term does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the
offender’s conduct. In addition, criminal history shows that
consecutive terms are needed to protect the public.
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(Dec. 11, 2014 Tr. at 25-26).
{¶11} The trial court incorporated those findings into its sentencing entry.
(Doc. No. 112). In its sentencing entry, the trial court stated:
Pursuant to Revised Code, Section 2929.14(C)(4) the Court
finds for the reasons stated on the record that consecutive sentences
are necessary to protect the public from future crime and to punish the
Defendant and are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the
Defendant’s conduct and the danger the Defendant poses to the public.
The Court also finds that the Defendant committed the multiple
offenses while the Defendant was under a community sanction; that
the harm caused by the Defendant was so great or unusual that no
single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of a single
course of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the
Defendant’s conduct and the Defendant’s history of criminal conduct
demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the
public from future crime by the Defendant.
(Id.).
{¶12} Accordingly, the record reflects that the trial court made the
appropriate R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) findings before imposing consecutive sentences and
incorporated those findings in its sentencing entry. Although the trial court needed
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to find only one of the factors provided in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c), the trial court
found all three factors to be present. Compare State v. Jones, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 104152, 2016-Ohio-8145, ¶ 8 (noting that the trial court found all three factors
under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c), and the trial court’s conclusion that all three
factors applied can be considered “as three alternatives to the third finding”); State
v. Broderson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103724, 2016-Ohio-5839, ¶ 9 (concluding
that the trial court made the requisite R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) findings before imposing
consecutive sentences despite concluding that all three factors in R.C.
2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c) applied); State v. Cooperwood, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos.
99309, 99310, and 99311, 2013-Ohio-3432, ¶ 39 (finding all three R.C.
2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c) factors). See also State v. Bray, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2016-CA-
22, 2017-Ohio-118, ¶ 31 (finding two R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c) factors); State v.
Turner, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101355, 2015-Ohio-683, ¶ 11 (finding two R.C.
2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c) factors).
{¶13} Nonetheless, Robinson argues that the trial court erred in imposing
consecutive sentences because the record does not support the trial court’s
conclusion under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b) that the harm caused by two or more of the
multiple offenses was so great and unusual that no single prison term adequately
reflects the seriousness of Robinson’s conduct. More specifically, Robinson argues
that the record does not reflect that Robinson’s conduct connected with the murder
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in this case was any “worse than any other defendant convicted of the same crimes.”
(Appellant’s Brief at 8). Similarly, Robison argues that the trial court erred in
imposing consecutive sentences because the record does not support the trial court’s
conclusion under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(c) that Robinson’s “history of criminal
conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public
from future crime by [Robinson].” (Doc. No. 112). That is, Robinson argues that
“his criminal history is relatively minor.” (Appellant’s Brief at 10).
{¶14} Notwithstanding Robinson’s arguments relative to those factors, the
record supports the trial court’s conclusion under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a) that
Robinson committed the offenses while under a probation sanction. Likewise,
Robinson concedes that he “pleaded guilty to assault and theft in 2011” for which
he “received three years of probation for those offenses” and “had nearly completed
that probationary term when Harris shot Gutierrez.” (Appellant’s Brief at 9).
Because only one R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c) factor needs to be supported by the
record, we need not address Robinson’s argument regarding the trial court’s
findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b) or (c). See Jones ¶ 8; Bray at ¶ 32-33.
Therefore, Robinson’s sentence is not contrary to law.
{¶15} Robinson’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. II
The trial court abused its discretion when it refused to instruct
the jury regarding an essential element of the offense when the
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jury sought clarification on instruction. State v. Carter, 72 Ohio
St.3d 545, 553, 651 N.E.2d 965 (1995); State v. Adams, 103 Ohio
St.3d 508, 2004-Ohio-5845, 817 N.E.2d 29; Sandstrom v. Montana,
442 U.S. 510, 99 S.Ct. 2450, 61 L.Ed.2d 368 (1970). Fifth and
Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and
Article I, Section 16, of the Ohio Constitution; Tr. 1563-66.
{¶16} In his second assignment of error, Robinson argues that the trial court
abused its discretion when it refused to instruct the jury on an essential element of
the offense of murder when the jury sought clarification. In particular, Robinson
argues that the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to include the word
“purposely” in its response to the jury’s question.
{¶17} “When a jury during its deliberation requests ‘clarification of
instructions previously given, a trial court has discretion to determine its response
to that request.’” State v. Juntunen, 10th Dist. Franklin Nos. 09AP-1108 and 09AP-
1109, 2010-Ohio-5625, ¶ 19, quoting State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545 (1995),
paragraph one of the syllabus. “A reversal of a conviction based upon a trial court’s
response to such a request requires a showing that the trial court abused its
discretion.” State v. Castile, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 13AP-10, 2014-Ohio-1918, ¶
23, citing Carter at 553 and State v. Young, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 04AP-797,
2005-Ohio-5489, ¶ 35. An abuse of discretion implies that the trial court acted
unreasonably, arbitrarily, or unconscionably. State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151,
157 (1980).
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{¶18} “A trial court’s response to a jury’s question ‘when viewed in its
entirety, must constitute a correct statement of the law and be consistent with or
properly supplement the jury instructions that have already been given.’” Juntunen
at ¶ 19, quoting State v. Preston-Glenn, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 09AP-92, 2009-
Ohio-6771, ¶ 28. “‘An appellate court will only find reversible error where a jury
instruction has, in effect, misled the jury.’” Id., quoting State v. Hull, 7th Dist.
Mahoning No. 04 MA 2, 2005-Ohio-1659, ¶ 45, citing Sharp v. Norfolk & W. Ry.
Co., 72 Ohio St.3d 307, 312 (1995), and citing Carter at 553.
{¶19} The trial court did not abuse its discretion in its response to the jury’s
request for clarification. In this case, the jury asked the trial court, “can you please
explain the conviction of principal * * * in layman’s terms[?]” (Oct. 14-17 and 20-
22, 2014 Tr., Vol. VII, at 1563). The trial court responded,
The State’s theory of the case is that Ralph Harris, III is the principal
offender of the murder of Joe Gutierrez, III. And that the Defendant
in this case, Montre O. Robinson, aided or abetted the principal
offender, Ralph Harris, III. It makes no difference in your
deliberations whether or not Ralph Harris, III has been convicted as a
principal offender.
(Id. at 1536-1564). Contrary to Robinson’s argument, the jury was not seeking
clarification regarding any element of the offense of murder. Rather, the jury’s
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request for clarification related to principal-accomplice liability. The trial court’s
response regarding the principal’s conviction is a correct statement of law—that is,
the principal’s conviction is not necessary for an “aider and abettor’s” conviction.
See State v. Taylor, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-13-044, 2014-Ohio-5074, ¶ 26 (“‘It is
illogical to propose that the prosecution must show that the principal who is not on
trial, violated the statute beyond a reasonable doubt. The issue at trial was not the
absent principal’s guilt, but rather the appellant’s guilt.’”), quoting State v. Graven,
52 Ohio St.2d 112, 116 (1977). See also State v. Franco, 12th Dist. Madison No.
CA97-08-035, 1998 WL 204934, *4 (Apr. 27, 1998) (“Aiding and abetting is a
substantive and independent offense, so that aiders and abettors to the principal
offense may be prosecuted without the trial and conviction of the principal
offender.”), citing Graven at 115-116, State v. Perryman, 49 Ohio St.2d 14, 27,
(1976), and State v. Smith, 14 Ohio App.3d 366, 368 (12th Dist.1983). As such, the
trial court’s response did not mislead the jury. Further, the trial court’s response is
not inconsistent with the written instructions previously read and provided to the
jury for the jury’s use during deliberation, and properly supplements those
instructions. (See Doc. No. 104). Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in its response to the jury’s request for clarification.
{¶20} Robinson’s second assignment of error is overruled.
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{¶21} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
WILLAMOWSKI and SHAW, J.J, concur.
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