State v. Draper

[Cite as State v. Draper, 2011-Ohio-773.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
PUTNAM COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 12-10-07
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
BARTLEY DRAPER, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Putnam County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 06 CR 73
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: February 22, 2011
APPEARANCES:
Kelly J. Rauch for Appellant
Todd C. Schroder for Appellee
Case No. 12-10-07
WILLAMOWSKI, J.,
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Bartley Draper (“Draper”) appeals the Putnam
County Court of Common Pleas’ decisions overruling his “Motion for
‘Sentencing’” and “Motion for Vacation of Void Sentence and ‘Sentencing.’” For
the reasons set forth below, the judgments are affirmed.
{¶2} Ted Diller (“Diller”) operated a classic vehicle restoration business
out of Pandora, Ohio. Diller hired Draper to paint a vehicle. At auction, the
vehicle sold for $500,000. Draper, seeing the high sales price, wanted more
money than was offered to him as a bonus and became angry when he was only
offered a $2,000.00 bonus.
{¶3} On August 15, 2006, Draper broke into Diller’s garage used by the
business. Draper proceeded to inflict damage on windows, doors, eleven vehicles
being restored, trucks, wreckers, and two Harley Davidson motorcycles. Draper
also ransacked the office space within the garage. As he left, Draper put a note in
Diller’s mailbox stating, “I will get you.” That same night, Draper was stopped by
law enforcement and cited for speeding, lanes of travel, and operating a vehicle
while under the influence (O.V.I.). Law enforcement discovered Diller’s mail, a
crowbar, and a mallet hammer in the vehicle.
{¶4} On October 13, 2006, the Putnam County Grand Jury indicted Draper
on count one of breaking and entering in violation of R.C. 2911.13(A), a felony of
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the fifth degree, and count two of vandalism in violation of R.C. 2909.05(B)(1)(a),
a felony of the third degree. The indictment specified in Count II that the amount
of damage was more than $100,000. (Doc. No. 1). Draper entered pleas of not
guilty to both counts on October 20, 2006. (Oct. 20, 2006 Tr. at 2). On January
29, 2007, a change of plea hearing was held. (Doc. No. 17). Pursuant to a plea
agreement, Draper entered a plea of guilty to Count II, vandalism, and Count I,
breaking and entering, was dismissed. (Doc. No. 19). A sentencing hearing was
held on March 13, 2007. The trial court sentenced Draper to three years in prison
and journalized its judgment on March 16, 2007. (Doc. No. 24). No appeal was
taken from this judgment.
{¶5} On September 20, 2007, Draper filed a motion for judicial release.
(Doc. No. 29). A hearing was held on the motion on October 10, 2007. (Doc. No.
30). On October 22, 2007, the motion was granted and Draper was placed on
supervision. (Doc. No. 35). On June 4, 2009, the State filed a motion to revoke
supervision alleging that Draper violated the terms of his release by consuming
alcohol. (Doc. No. 40). A hearing was held on this motion on August 3, 2009.
(Doc. No. 46). Draper admitted to the violation, his supervision was revoked on
August 4, 2009, and Draper was returned to prison to complete his sentence. (Doc.
No. 49). No appeal was taken from this judgment.
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{¶6} On November 17, 2009, Draper filed a “Motion For ‘Sentencing’”
alleging that his sentence was void under State v. Bezak, State v. Jordan, and State
v. Simpkins, because the trial court failed to properly notify him of post-release
control at the August 3, 2009 sentencing hearing. 114 Ohio St.3d 94, 2007-Ohio-
3250, 868 N.E.2d 961; 104 Ohio St.3d 21, 2004-Ohio-6085, 817 N.E.2d 864; 117
Ohio St.3d 420, 2008-Ohio-1197, 884 N.E.2d 868; (Doc. No. 57). Draper filed a
“Supplemental Motion For Vacation Of Void Sentence and ‘Sentencing’” on April
27, 2010, alleging that the trial court also erred in ordering the amount of
restitution without considering the actual economic loss suffered by the victim.
(Doc. No. 58). The trial court overruled these motions on May 3, 2010. (Doc.
Nos. 59-60).
{¶7} On May 18, 2010, Draper filed a notice of appeal. (Doc. No. 61).
Draper now appeals from these judgments raising seven assignments of error. We
will address Draper’s assignments of error out of the order they appear in his brief,
combining assignments of error where beneficial for discussion.
Fourth Assignment of Error
The trial court erred in denying [Draper’s] motion to vacate his
sentence on the grounds that his sentence is void as a result of
the court’s failure to notify him of post-release control.
Seventh Assignment of Error
The trial court erred when it imposed more than the minimum
sentence.
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{¶8} Draper argues in his fourth assignment of error that his sentence is
void because the trial court failed to notify him of whether post-release control
was discretionary or mandatory. Additionally, Draper argues that his guilty plea is
void by virtue of his void sentence. Finally, Draper argues that the trial court
failed to properly notify him of his post-release control at the August 3, 2009
sentencing hearing after his violation of supervision. In his seventh assignment of
error, Draper argues that the trial court erred by imposing more than the minimum
sentence.
{¶9} As an initial matter, Draper has never filed a motion to withdraw his
guilty plea in the trial court, and therefore, we need not consider his argument for
vacation of his guilty plea. Additionally, Draper’s argument relating to the trial
court’s failure to properly advise him of his post-release control is moot, because
Draper has already been released from prison and was not placed upon post-
release control by the Adult Parole Authority.1 State v. Beleford, 3d Dist. No. 13-
06-32, 2007-Ohio-1912, ¶8; State v. Bostic, 8th Dist. No. 84842, 2005-Ohio-2184,
¶¶24-34; State v. Stewart, 8th Dist. No. 86411, 2006-Ohio-813, ¶50. Aside from
that, Draper has suffered no prejudice by the trial court’s failure to properly
1
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections website, of which we take judicial notice, does
not list Draper as an inmate or indicate that Draper is on post-release control. See, e.g., State v. Money, 2nd
Dist. No. 2009 CA 119, 2010-Ohio-6225, ¶25. The State has also indicated in its brief that Draper was
released from prison on July 25, 2010 without being subject to post-release control. (State’s Brief at 8).
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impose post-release control. Draper should have actually been sentenced to three
years of mandatory post-release control pursuant to R.C. 2967.28(B)(3), instead of
discretionary post-release control, because he was convicted of a third degree
felony during the commission of which he threatened physical harm against a
person. (See Aug. 13, 2007 Tr. at 8, 13). Draper’s proposed remedy of
resentencing, which he sought in the trial court, would be inappropriate at this
juncture since he has already served his term of imprisonment. State v. Bezak, 114
Ohio App.3d 94, 2007-Ohio-3250, 868 N.E.2d 961, ¶18; Hernandez v. Kelly, 108
Ohio St.3d 395, 2006-Ohio-126, 844 N.E.2d 301; State v. Harrison, 122 Ohio
St.3d 512, 2009-Ohio-3547, 912 N.E.2d 1106, ¶35, citing State v. Simpkins, 117
Ohio St.3d 420, 2008-Ohio-1197, 884 N.E.2d 568, ¶6. Finally, Draper’s argument
concerning the trial court’s imposition of sentence is also moot in light of the fact
that he is no longer incarcerated. See, e.g., State v. Campbell, 166 Ohio App.3d
363, 2006-Ohio-2294, 850 N.E.2d 799.
{¶10} Draper’s fourth and seventh assignments of error are, therefore,
overruled.
First Assignment of Error
The trial court committed error in denying [Draper’s] motion to
vacate his sentence as being void on the grounds that [Draper’s]
guilty plea was not freely voluntarily and knowingly made.
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Second Assignment of Error
The trial court erred in denying [Draper’s] motion to vacate his
sentence as being void on the grounds that [Draper’s] sentence is
contrary to law.
Third Assignment of Error
The trial court erred in denying [Draper’s] motion to vacate his
sentence on the grounds that his conviction is void due to a
defective indictment.
Fifth Assignment of Error
The trial court erred in denying [Draper’s] motion to vacate his
sentence on the grounds that his sentence is void as a result of
the courts improper imposition of restitution.
Sixth Assignment of Error
The trial court erred in denying [Draper’s] motion to vacate his
sentence on the ground that he was denied the right to effective
assistance of counsel.
{¶11} In his first and second assignments of error, Draper argues that his
sentence should be vacated as void, because his plea was not freely, voluntarily,
and knowingly made when the State failed to amend the indictment as promised
during the plea negotiations. In his third assignment of error, Draper argues that
his sentence should be vacated as void because his conviction rests upon a
defective indictment. In his fifth assignment of error, Draper argues that his
sentence is void because the trial court failed to properly impose restitution. In his
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sixth assignment of error, Draper argues that his sentence should be vacated due to
ineffective assistance of trial counsel.
{¶12} As a procedural matter, we must first observe that Draper’s motion in
the trial court was filed after the time for a direct appeal had passed, although none
was taken, and his arguments seek vacation of his sentence on the basis that his
constitutional rights have been violated. Thus, these arguments should have been
raised in a petition for post-conviction relief. State v. Reynolds (1997), 79 Ohio
St.3d 158, 679 N.E.2d 1131, syllabus. R.C. 2953.21(A)(2) requires, in pertinent
part, that a post-conviction petition be filed within one hundred eighty (180) days
after the expiration of the time for filing a direct appeal. Additionally, “R.C.
2953.23(A) divests a court of jurisdiction to hear an appeal after the expiration of
the one-hundred eighty day period set by R.C. 2953.21(A)(2) unless an exception
under R.C. 2953.23(A)(1) or (2) is met.” State v. King, 3d Dist. No. 2-07-24,
2007-Ohio-6233, ¶17.
{¶13} Draper’s sentence was journalized on March 16, 2007; and thus,
Draper had until April 15, 2007, to file his notice of appeal. (Doc. No. 24); App.R.
4. Since Draper did not file a direct appeal, the time for the petition for post-
conviction relief to be filed began running on April 16, 2007, and expired on
October 12, 2007. See R.C. 2953.21. The first petition was not filed until
November 17, 2009, more than two years after the deadline. Thus, Draper’s
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petition could only be considered if it met one of the two exceptions in R.C.
2953.23(A), neither of which applies in this case. As such, this Court is without
jurisdiction to consider these post-conviction arguments. See King, 2007-Ohio-
6233, at ¶17, citing R.C. 2953.23(A). Even if this Court had jurisdiction to
consider these post-conviction arguments, Draper’s arguments would be barred by
res judicata. State v. Schwieterman, 3d Dist. No. 10-09-12, 2010-Ohio-102, ¶23.
{¶14} Draper’s first, second, third, fifth, and sixth assignments of error are,
therefore, overruled.
{¶15} Having found no error prejudicial to Draper, the judgment of the
Court of Common Pleas of Putnam County is affirmed.
Judgment Affirmed
PRESTON, J., concurs.
ROGERS, P.J., concurs in Judgment Only.
/jnc
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