State v. Holdcroft

[Cite as State v. Holdcroft, 2010-Ohio-6262.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
WYANDOT COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 16-10-04
v.
HENRY ALLEN HOLDCROFT, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Wyandot County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 98-CR-0044
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: December 20, 2010
APPEARANCES:
Henry Allen Holdcroft, Appellant
Jonathan K. Miller for Appellee
Case No. 16-10-04
WILLAMOWSKI, P.J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Henry Allen Holdcroft (hereinafter
“Holdcroft”), appeals the judgment of the Wyandot County Court of Common
Pleas dismissing his petition for post-conviction relief and motions related to that
petition. For the reasons stated herein, we affirm.
{¶2} On November 13, 1998, the Wyandot County Grand Jury indicted
Holdcroft on three counts, including: count one of aggravated arson in violation of
R.C. 2909.02(A)(3), a first degree felony; count two of complicity to commit
aggravated arson in violation of R.C. 2923.03(A)(1), a first degree felony; and
count three of arson in violation of R.C. 2909.03(A)(4), a third degree felony. The
charges stemmed from an incident where Holdcroft hired a third party to set fire to
his then-wife’s automobile and residence.
{¶3} On June 9, 1999, the State filed a motion to dismiss count two of the
indictment on the basis that the charge was an allied offense of similar import to
count one, aggravated arson. The trial court granted the State’s motion to dismiss
count two on June 25, 1999.
{¶4} On July 6-9, 1999, a jury trial was held on the remaining two counts
of the indictment against Holdcroft. The jury returned guilty verdicts on both
counts. On July 29, 1999, the trial court filed a judgment entry of conviction.
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{¶5} On September 10, 1999, the trial court sentenced Holdcroft to ten
years imprisonment on count one, aggravated arson, and five years imprisonment
on count three, arson. The trial court ordered “that the sentence imposed for
Count Three shall be served consecutively to the sentence imposed in Count One.”
(Sept 10 1999 JE, at 3). Holdcroft was ordered to make restitution to the victim,
Kathy Hurst, or the insurance carrier, in the sum of $5,775.00, and $400.00 to Eric
Goodman. The trial court also notified Holdcroft “that a period of post-release
control shall be imposed,” and that if he violated his post-release control further
restrictions upon his liberty could follow as a consequence. (Id.). Holdcroft was
also taxed with the costs of prosecution and all other fees permitted under R.C.
2929.18(A)(4).
{¶6} On September 14, 1999, Holdcroft filed a notice of appeal pro se.
The trial court appointed appellate counsel, and the appeal was assigned. On
appeal, Holdcroft asserted one assignment of error arguing that his convictions
were against the manifest weight of the evidence. State v. Holdcroft (Mar. 31,
2000), 3rd Dist. No. 16-99-04, at *1. This Court subsequently overruled
Holdcroft’s assignment of error, sustained the State’s assignment of error, and
upheld the convictions.
{¶7} While his direct appeal was pending before this Court, Holdcroft
filed a motion for the appointment of counsel in order to pursue post-conviction
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relief. The trial court granted Holdcroft’s motion and appointed counsel on
February 3, 2000.
{¶8} On May 5, 2000, Holdcroft, pro se, filed a notice of appeal to the
Ohio Supreme Court from this Court’s March 31, 2000 decision. The Ohio
Supreme Court, however, declined review. State v. Holdcroft (2000), 89 Ohio
St.3d 1464, 732 N.E.2d 997.
{¶9} On June 9, 2000, Holdcroft, through appointed appellate counsel,
filed a motion for a new trial, along with a motion to withdraw as appellate
counsel. The trial court granted the motion to withdraw but denied the motion for
a new trial. On June 26, 2000, Holdcroft filed a motion for judicial release, which
the trial court also denied.
{¶10} On July 13, 2006, Holdcroft filed a “motion to vacate or set aside
and modify sentence pursuant to R.C. 2945.25(A) & Crim.R. 52(B).” On July 20,
2006, the trial court overruled the motion, finding it was untimely and lacked
substantive merit “as the Defendant was not convicted of allied offenses of similar
import. There were separate and distinct felonies committed by the Defendant,
one involving a dwelling and the other involving an automobile.”
{¶11} On August 16, 2006, Holdcroft, pro se, filed a notice of appeal from
the trial court’s denial of his motion. On appeal, Holdcroft argued that his
sentence was void because he was sentenced on two offenses that were allied
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offenses of similar import. This Court overruled Holdcroft’s assignment of error,
finding that his motion was an untimely post-conviction motion, and, under a plain
error analysis, that the offenses were not allied offenses of similar import. State v.
Holdcroft, 3d Dist. No. 16-06-07, 2007-Ohio-586.
{¶12} On December 11, 2009, the State filed a motion to correct
Holdcroft’s sentence pursuant to R.C. 2929.191. On December 30, 2009, the State
filed a motion for a de novo sentencing hearing to correct Holdcroft’s sentence
pursuant to State v. Singleton, 124 Ohio St.3d 173, 2009-Ohio-6434, 920 N.E.2d
958. On January 5, 2010, the trial court granted the State’s motion for a de novo
sentencing hearing.
{¶13} On January 26, 2010, the trial court conducted a de novo sentencing
hearing. Holdcroft’s sentence was journalized in the trial court’s February 2, 2010
Judgment Entry. The trial court sentenced Holdcroft to ten years on count one and
five years on count three. The trial court further ordered that the term of
imprisonment imposed on count three be served consecutively to the term of
imprisonment imposed on count one for an aggregate term of fifteen years. The
trial court notified Holdcroft that he would be subject to five years of mandatory
post-release control as to count one and three years of optional post-release control
as to count three after imprisonment. The trial court noted that the terms of post-
release control would not be served consecutively to each other. The trial court
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also ordered that Holdcroft “pay restitution to Kathy Hurst, or the insurance
carrier, in the sum of $5,775.00; and make restitution to Eric Goodman in the
amount of $400.00.” (Feb. 2, 2010 JE, at 5).
{¶14} On February 12, 2010, Holdcroft filed a notice of appeal from the
trial court’s judgment entry of sentence. On May 26, 2010, while the appeal was
pending, Holdcroft, pro se, filed a petition for post-conviction relief and various
motions relating to that petition.1 The trial court noted that Holdcroft was
appointed counsel to handle the direct appeal of his conviction which was pending
before this Court. The trial court subsequently dismissed Holdcroft’s petition for
post-conviction relief and stated that the “appeal is presently pending before the
Third Appellate District and accordingly this Court (the trial court) lacks
jurisdiction to rule on the matters raised in the Defendant’s Motions.” (May 27,
2010 JE at 1).
{¶15} Holdcroft now appeals the judgment of the trial court dismissing his
petition for post-conviction relief and his motions related to that petition and
asserts the following four assignments of error for our review.
First Assignment of Error
1
These motions were a Motion for Change of Venue which essentially requested that a court in a different
county, other than Wyandot County, hear the merits of his post-conviction relief petition, a Motion for
Expert Assistance and a Motion for Appointment of Counsel both relating to his post-conviction relief
petition.
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The trial court violated the appellants [sic] 6th, and 14th
Amendment rights to [sic] U.S. Constitution, violation of Pro.
Cond. R. 1.7, violation of ineffective assistance of counsel due to
the conflict of interest.
Second Assignment of Error
Appellant [sic] counsel Howard A. Elliott, rendered ineffective
assistance of counsel in violation of the 6th Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 10, 16 of the Ohio
Constitution.
Third Assignment of Error
Appellants [sic] constitutional rights were violated when the
Judge, Clerk of Courts and the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
failed to respond to the Administrative Judgment as showed [sic]
in exhibit A and B, and Appellants [sic] constitutional rights
were violated when the United States of America, State of Ohio,
County of Wyandot and Wyandot County Prosecuting Attorney
failed to respond to the Conditional Acceptance for Value
(CAFV) as exhibit C.
Fourth Assignment of Error
The trial court violated the Appellant’s constitutional rights, and
showed bias and prejudice by not contacting the Ohio Supreme
Court to have them appoint a new judge to rule on the violations
of conflict of interest, and Pro. Cond. R. 1.7 and violation of
cannon 3(3)(C), and other violations, by violating the Fifth and
Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Section 16,
Article I, [sic] Ohio Constitution and due process.
{¶16} To facilitate our review, we elect to address the assignments of error
out of order.
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Third Assignment of Error
{¶17} Upon reviewing his third assignment of error, we are unable to
discern the precise nature Holdcroft’s complaint because he references several
documents which are outside of the record and not reviewable by this Court.
However, we can glean from the record that Holdcroft’s primary contention within
the purview of our review focuses on the trial court’s Judgment Entry
“dismissing” his petition for post-conviction relief and the motions related to that
petition.2
{¶18} After reviewing the trial court’s decision to dismiss Holdcroft’s
petition for post-conviction relief, we initially note that the trial court incorrectly
stated that it lacked jurisdiction to rule on the petition. Appellate Rule 6 provides
that a trial court and an appellate court have concurrent jurisdiction to review a
judgment of conviction. Specifically contemplated by App. R. 6 is the trial court’s
ability to rule on a petition for post-conviction relief while a direct appeal of the
judgment imposing his conviction and sentence is pending before the appellate
court. Therefore, the trial court did have concurrent jurisdiction with this Court to
review Holdcroft’s petition for post-conviction relief and the motions relating to
that petition.
2
We note that Holdcroft attached the trial court’s May 27, 2010 Judgment Entry to his notice of appeal in
this case.
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{¶19} However, on September 13, 2010, this Court dismissed Holdcroft’s
direct appeal of the trial court’s order of conviction and sentence in State v.
Holdcroft, 3rd Dist. No. 16-10-01, 2010-Ohio-4290. As the basis for dismissing
the case, we determined that the Judgment Entry imposing Holdcroft’s sentence
and conviction did not constitute a final appealable order. (Id. at ¶19). In
particular, the Judgment Entry failed to allocate the amount of restitution between
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the victim, Kathy Hurst, and the insurance company. (Id.). As previously stated
by this Court, an order of restitution must set forth the amount or method of
payment as to each victim receiving restitution in order to be a final appealable
order. See State v. Kuhn, 3rd Dist. No. 4-05-23, 2006-Ohio-1145, ¶ 8; see also
State v. Hartley, 3rd Dist. No. 14-09-42, 2010-Ohio-2018, ¶ 5. Because Section
3(B)(2), Article IV of the Ohio Constitution limits this Court’s jurisdiction to
reviewing “final appealable orders,” we remanded Holdcroft’s appeal of his
conviction and sentence to the trial court to resolve the restitution issue.
{¶20} Section 2953.21 of the Revised Code governs the filing of a petition
for post-conviction relief and states that “any person convicted of a criminal
offense * * * may file a petition in the court that imposed sentence, stating that the
grounds for relief relied upon, and asking the court to vacate or set aside judgment
or sentence or to grant other appropriate relief.” As stated above, the judgment
entering Holdcroft’s conviction and sentence did not constitute a final appealable
order. Accordingly, because the trial court had yet to file a final order entering
Holdcroft’s conviction and sentence, Holdcroft’s filing for a petition for post-relief
conviction is premature.
{¶21} Although, we found that the trial court incorrectly stated that it did
not have jurisdiction to rule on Holdcroft’s petition for post-conviction relief, we
conclude the trial court was correct in dismissing Holdcroft’s petition and the
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motions related to that petition because a final order of conviction and sentence
had yet to be filed in this case.
{¶22} Holdcroft’s third assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
First and Second Assignments of Error
{¶23} In his first and second assignments of error, Holdcroft argues that
both his trial counsel and his appellate counsel, who handled his first appeal in
2000, were ineffective. However, in light of our determination in State v.
Holdcroft, 3rd Dist. No. 16-10-01, 2010-Ohio-4290 that the trial court’s order of
conviction and sentence did not constitute a final appealable order, these issues are
premature for our review. Accordingly, we find that these assignments of error
are rendered moot and therefore overruled.
Fourth Assignment of Error
{¶24} In his fourth assignment of error, Holdcroft contends that the Judge
should have recused herself from deciding this case. As the basis for his
contention, Holdcroft argues that the Judge had a conflict of interest rendering her
both prejudiced and biased, and therefore warranting her disqualification from
deciding his case.
{¶25} The determination of a claim that a common pleas judge is biased or
prejudiced is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of Ohio, or his designee. See Jones v. Billingham (1995), 105 Ohio App. 3d
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8, 11, 663 N.E.2d 657 citing Section 5(C), Article IV of the Ohio Constitution.
See also Adkins v. Adkins (1988), 43 Ohio App.3d 95, 539 N.E.2d 686.
{¶26} Section 2701.03 of the Revised Code sets forth the procedure
available to a litigant in asserting a claim that a common pleas judge is biased or
prejudiced. Specifically, R.C. 2701.03(A) provides, in relevant part:
If a judge of the court of common pleas allegedly is interested in
a proceeding pending before the court, allegedly is related to or
has a bias or prejudice for or against a party to a proceeding
pending before the court or a party's counsel, or allegedly
otherwise is disqualified to preside in a proceeding pending
before the court, any party to the proceeding or the party's
counsel may file an affidavit of disqualification with the clerk of
the supreme court in accordance with division (B) of this section.
R.C. 2701.03(A).
{¶27} As this Court has previously stated on this issue in light of the
authority cited above, “a court of appeals is without the authority to determine
whether a judge of the court of common pleas is, or should be, disqualified from
presiding over a case.” State v. Milligan, 3rd Dist. No. 16-08-04, 2008-Ohio-
4509, ¶ 11. Accordingly, this Court is without the authority to determine the
disqualification of a common pleas court judge and Holdcroft’s fourth assignment
of error is overruled.
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{¶28} 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
ROGERS and PRESTON, J.J., concur.
/jlr
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