State v. Hargrove

[Cite as State v. Hargrove, 2013-Ohio-1860.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NO. C-120321
TRIAL NO. B-0708832
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
vs. : O P I N I O N.
JUDAH HARGROVE, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed in Part, Sentence Vacated in Part, and Cause
Remanded
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: May 8, 2013
Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Judith Anton Lapp,
Assistant Prosecting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellee,
Bruce K. Hust, for Defendant-Appellant.
Note: we have removed this case from the accelerated calendar.
OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
Per Curiam.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Judah Hargrove appeals from the trial court’s
judgment revoking his community control and imposing a prison sentence of 18 months.
He argues that the court’s award of 99 days of jail-time credit was inadequate. Because
the trial court calculated conflicting jail-time-credit amounts, and this court cannot
confirm that the final allowance was the amount of jail-time credit that Hargrove should
have received, we vacate that part of his sentence, and we remand the cause to the trial
court for the proper calculation of the jail-time credit.
I. Facts and Procedural History
{¶2} Hargrove was indicted on October 25, 2007, on one count of identity
fraud and one count of misuse of a credit card. The sheriff completed the return on
the arrest warrant on October 31, 2007. Hargrove did not make bail. Almost one
year later, on October 15, 2008, Hargrove pleaded guilty to identity fraud, and the
state dismissed the remaining charge. The trial court sentenced Hargrove to two
years of community control with intensive supervision, which was to begin after
Hargrove’s release from prison on other charges. The court also orally notified
Hargrove that he had already served 426 days on the charge.
{¶3} The record suggests that Hargrove was released from prison on the
other charges in December 2011. In March 2012, he was charged with violating the
terms of his community control in the identity-fraud case. On March 20, 2012, the
Hamilton County Sheriff placed a detainer on Hargrove, who was apparently again
locked up on other charges. On April 11, 2012, the trial court found Hargrove guilty
of the community-control violation and revoked Hargrove’s community control in
the identity-fraud case. The court then sentenced Hargrove to 18 months in prison,
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
and notified him at the sentencing hearing and in the judgment of conviction that he
was entitled to a jail-time credit of 99 days. Hargrove did not object.
II. Assignment of Error
{¶4} In his sole assignment of error, Hargrove argues that the trial court
imposed a sentence that was contrary to law because the court had failed to credit
him with an adequate amount of jail-time credit.
A. Jail-Time Credit
{¶5} Ohio has long awarded offenders a “jail-time credit” at sentencing for
the time they were confined while awaiting trial, in order to equalize the treatment of
those who could afford bail with those who could not. See State v. Fugate, 117 Ohio
St.3d 261, 2008-Ohio-856, 883 N.E.2d 440, ¶ 7. An offender is entitled to jail-time
credit for days that he is confined “for any reason arising out of the offense” for
which is he sentenced, but not for time served for an unrelated reason. R.C.
2967.191; State v. Smith, 71 Ohio App.3d 302, 304, 593 N.E.2d 402 (10th Dist.1992);
State v. Dawn, 45 Ohio App.2d 43, 44, 340 N.E.2d 421 (1st Dist.1975).
{¶6} R.C. 2967.191 codifies this principle with respect to offenders
sentenced to prison.1 The version of R.C. 2967.191 in effect at the time of Hargrove’s
sentencing provided:
The department of rehabilitation and correction shall reduce
the stated prison term of a prisoner * * * by the total number of days
that the prisoner was confined for any reason arising out of the offense
for which the prisoner was convicted and sentenced, including
confinement in lieu of bail while awaiting trial, confinement for
1 R.C. 2949.08 codifies the jail-time credit with respect to offenders sentenced to a “community-
based correctional facility” or “jail.”
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
examination to determine the prisoner’s competence to stand trial or
sanity, and confinement while awaiting transportation to the place
where the prisoner is to serve the prisoner’s prison term.
{¶7} The General Assembly recently amended R.C. 2967.191 and R.C.
2929.19 to clarify the trial court’s responsibility in calculating the jail-time credit for
offenders sentenced to a prison term. 2011 Ohio S.B. 337 (effective Sept. 28, 2012).
The trial court’s duties include holding a hearing on the issue if one is requested and
notifying the defendant and the department of corrections of the credit. R.C.
2929.19(B)(2)(g)(i-ii); R.C. 2967.191.
B. Analysis
{¶8} The trial court’s failure to properly calculate the jail-time credit is an
error that can be raised on direct appeal.2 State ex rel. Williams v. McGinty, 129
Ohio St.3d 275, 2011-Ohio-2641, 951 N.E.2d 755. An appellate court may modify or
vacate a sentence only if it is clearly and convincingly contrary to law. R.C.
2953.08(G)(2).
{¶9} Because Hargrove did not object when the trial court notified him of
the 99 days of credit at his April 2012 sentencing hearing, we review under a plain-
error standard. See Crim.R. 52(B).
{¶10} Hargrove contends that the transcript from his October 2008
sentencing hearing demonstrates that he was entitled to a credit of at least 426 days.
He does not, however, explain how that calculation could be accurate where the
record demonstrates that less than a year had transpired between his arrest upon his
2The 2012 amendment also expressly provides that “the trial court retains continuing jurisdiction
to correct any error not previously raised at sentencing” in determining the jail-time credit. R.C.
2929.19(B)(2)(g)(iii).
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
indictment and the date of the October 2008 sentencing hearing. Yet, the trial court
did calculate the allowance at 426 days, and it repeatedly informed Hargrove of this
amount at that hearing without any objection by the state.
{¶11} The state does not dispute that the trial court calculated a credit of
426 days at the October 2008 sentencing, and it is unable to explain the court’s
subsequent calculation of 99 days of credit at the April 2012 sentencing. Thus, the
state submits that the case should be remanded to the trial court for a proper
calculation.
III. Conclusion
{¶12} On these facts, where the trial court calculated conflicting jail-time-
credit amounts, and this court cannot confirm that the final allowance was correct,
we hold that Hargrove has demonstrated that his sentence was clearly and
convincingly contrary to law. Moreover, the error in the calculation of Hargrove’s
jail-time credit arose to the level of plain error. Thus, we sustain the assignment of
error. Accordingly, we vacate Hargrove’s sentence in part, and we remand the cause
for the proper calculation of the jail-time credit. The trial court’s judgment is
affirmed in all other respects.
Judgment affirmed in part, sentence vacated in part, and cause remanded.
HENDON, P.J., CUNNINGHAM and DEWINE, JJ.
Please note:
The court has rendered its own entry on the date of the release of this opinion.
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