State v. Cardwell

[Cite as State v. Cardwell, 2016-Ohio-5591.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
State of Ohio, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
No. 15AP-1076
v. : (C.P.C. No. 14CR-5203)
Ka-Juan F. Cardwell, : (REGULAR CALENDAR)
Defendant-Appellant. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on August 30, 2016
On brief: Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Laura R.
Swisher, for appellee.
On brief: Mark J. Miller, for appellant. Argued: Mark J.
Miller.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
SADLER, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Ka-Juan Cardwell, appeals from a judgment of the
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas that imposed a sentence of 14 years
incarceration following appellant's guilty plea to 7 counts of burglary without
specifications. For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court judgment and remand
the matter to that court for the limited purpose of entering a nunc pro tunc entry.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶ 2} On September 30, 2014, appellee, State of Ohio, indicted appellant on seven
counts of burglary, one with an associated firearm specification, for incidents involving
separate victims where appellant allegedly entered occupied residences and stole a
vehicle, a gun, credit cards, and various other items. Appellant entered a guilty plea to all
No. 15AP-1076 2
seven counts of burglary, and, on recommendation of the prosecutor, the trial court
entered a nolle prosequi as to the specification. The trial court received a presentencing
investigation report and sentencing memoranda from both parties. The prosecutor and
defense attorney did not jointly recommend a sentence.
{¶ 3} The trial court held a sentencing hearing on November 20, 2015. After
hearing from the parties and 4 victims, the trial court imposed a 2-year prison sentence
for each of the 7 counts of burglary and ran each sentence consecutively to each other for a
total prison term of 14 years. Appellant filed a timely appeal to this court.
II. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶ 4} Appellant assigns the following assignment as error:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN IMPOSING CONSECUTIVE
SENTENCES WITHOUT MAKING THE REQUIRED
FINDINGS PURSUANT TO R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) DEPRIVING
APPELLANT OF DUE PROCESS CONTRARY TO THE
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION AND CORRESPONDING RIGHTS UNDER
THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
III. DISCUSSION
{¶ 5} In his assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial court failed to
make the requisite findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at the sentencing hearing. "An
appellate court will not reverse a trial court's sentencing decision unless the evidence is
clear and convincing that either the record does not support the sentence or that the
sentence is contrary to law." State v. Robinson, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-910, 2016-Ohio-
4638, ¶ 7, citing State v. Chandler, 10th Dist. No. 04AP-895, 2005-Ohio-1961, ¶ 10. R.C.
2953.08(G)(2).
{¶ 6} "Under Ohio law, absent an order requiring sentences to be served
consecutively, terms of incarceration are to be served concurrently." State v. Sergent, __
Ohio St.3d __, 2016-Ohio-2696, ¶ 16, citing R.C. 2929.41(A). However, a trial court, in its
discretion, may impose consecutive sentences for multiple prison terms pursuant to R.C.
2929.14(C)(4). Id. To do so, the trial court must find (1) that the consecutive service is
necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender, (2) that
consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender's
No. 15AP-1076 3
conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public, and (3) at least one 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 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.
R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
{¶ 7} The Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St. 3d 209, 2014-
Ohio-3177, established that, "[i]n order to impose consecutive terms of imprisonment, a
trial court is required to make the findings mandated by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at the
sentencing hearing and incorporate its findings into its sentencing entry, but it has no
obligation to state reasons to support its findings." Id. at syllabus. In making R.C.
2929.14(C)(4) findings at the sentencing hearing, the trial court is not required to provide
"a talismanic incantation of the words of the statute"—"a word-for-word recitation of the
language of the statute is not required." Id. at ¶ 29, 37. Thus, appellate courts have been
"fairly deferential to the trial court" in reviewing R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) challenges and will
determine the trial court made requisite findings if reasonably able to "glean" such
findings from the record. State v. Hargrove, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-102, 2015-Ohio-3125,
¶ 19-21 (determining that the trial court made the requisite disproportionality finding in
stating that appellant's conduct was the "worst form" and "most serious type" of the
criminal offense and its discussion of appellant's previous similar conviction and resultant
prison stay); Bonnell at ¶ 29 (instructing that "as long as the reviewing court can discern
that the trial court engaged in the correct analysis and can determine that the record
No. 15AP-1076 4
contains evidence to support the findings, consecutive sentences should be upheld").
See also State v. Bennington, 7th Dist. No. 14 BE 48, 2015-Ohio-5439, ¶ 30 (concluding
that the trial court engaged in the appropriate disproportionality analysis in stating that
"a single term does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the defendant's continuing
conduct").
{¶ 8} In determining whether the trial court engaged in the correct analysis, an
appellate court "may liberally review the entirety of the sentencing transcript to discern
whether the trial court made the requisite findings." State v. Stephen, 7th Dist. No. 14 BE
0037, 2016-Ohio-4803, ¶ 22, citing Bonnell at ¶ 29. See, e.g., State v. Steiner, 5th Dist.
No. 15CA17, 2016-Ohio-4648, ¶ 20-34 (citing to trial court's general sentencing findings
to support a determination that the trial court made requisite findings under R.C.
2929.14(C)(4)); State v. Harris, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-683, 2016-Ohio-3424, ¶ 54-56
(determining that trial court adequately articulated a consecutive sentencing finding
based on its statement "[p]ursuant to [R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)] based on the seriousness of the
conduct, the continuing course of conduct, the court will impose consecutive sentences"
when it also generally discussed the defendant's prior criminal history, pattern of conduct,
commission of the offense while on post-release control, and lack of remorse); State v.
Clark, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-135, 2015-Ohio-5082, ¶ 43, quoting State v. Hillman, 10th
Dist. No. 14AP-252, 2014-Ohio-5750, ¶ 70 (concluding that, although the trial court did
not expressly state it was making a particular finding under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), "the trial
court's commentary at the sentencing hearing demonstrates that it did make the
[required] findings").
{¶ 9} Appellant specifically argues here that the trial court failed to make the
"disproportionality" finding and any of the three alternative findings under R.C.
2929.14(C)(4)(a), (b), or (c) at the sentencing hearing. Appellant does not argue that the
trial court failed to make a "necessary" finding under the first step of R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
{¶ 10} Appellee counters that no error occurred because, although the language
used by the trial court was not direct, a review of the record shows the trial court
nonetheless made the requisite findings. Appellee alternatively argues that the record
shows that no plain error exists "when there is no probability of a different outcome,"
while recognizing that this court's prior decisions establish that a trial court's failure to
No. 15AP-1076 5
make findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) constitutes plain error. (Appellee's Brief at 11.)
See, e.g., State v. Wilson, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-551, 2013-Ohio-1520, ¶ 18; State v. Bender,
10th Dist. No. 12AP-934, 2013-Ohio-2777, ¶ 7; State v. Ayers, 10th Dist. No. 13AP-371,
2014-Ohio-276, ¶ 13-16; State v. Fair, 10th Dist. No. 13AP-901, 2014-Ohio-2788, ¶ 22;
State v. Dennison, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-486, 2015-Ohio-1135, ¶ 21.
{¶ 11} In the present case, at the sentencing hearing the trial court heard from the
parties and four of the victims. At the outset, the trial court admonished appellant for
testing presumptively positive for marijuana prior to coming to court. The trial court then
proceeded to analyze general sentencing principles and factors. The trial court made a
"general finding that the offender's conduct in this case is more serious than conduct
normally constituting the offense," based on the victims suffering serious physical,
psychological, and economic harm as a result of the offense, appellant's relationship with
the victims, appellant's commission of the offenses as a part of an organized criminal
activity with a codefendant, and the fact that appellant committed the burglaries while
people were present in the home, including, in some cases, children. (Tr. at 29.) The trial
court did not find any factors under that statute indicating that appellant's conduct is less
serious than conduct normally constituting the offense. The trial court additionally made
a finding that factors indicating that appellant is likely to commit future crimes are
present, including appellant's demonstrated pattern of marijuana use related to the
offense and refusal in acknowledging his substance abuse issue, and appellant's lack of
genuine remorse for the offenses. Although the trial court noted that the burglary
offenses were his first adult convictions, the trial court did not find it is not likely that
appellant will commit future crimes due to appellant's prior delinquency adjudication for
truancy, the circumstances of the offenses, and appellant's lack of remorse. Considering
the above, the trial court imposed a two-year sentence on each count, with the sentencing
decision in part "based on [appellant's] unwillingness to acknowledge that [the] role that
[appellant's] marijuana usage has played in the choices that [appellant] made throughout
life." (Tr. at 32.) The trial court further stated in pertinent part:
Pursuant to Revised Code Section 2929.14 Subsection C-4,
because the court believes that no single sentence will satisfy
this ongoing course of conduct and in order to ensure the
safety of the community, the court is going to impose those
No. 15AP-1076 6
sentences consecutively with each other, for a total of 14 years
of incarceration.
(Tr. 33-34.) Appellant did not object or otherwise call attention to the trial court's
analysis under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
{¶ 12} In its subsequent judgment entry, the trial court stated that it weighed the
factors set forth in R.C. 2929.14 and elaborates:
The Court made findings on the record, pursuant to R.C.
2929.14(C)(4), to support consecutive sentences. Considering
the facts of this case, the purposes and principals of
sentencing, and the requirements set forth in R.C.
2929.14(C)(4), the Court finds that a consecutive sentence is
both necessary and appropriate. The Court further finds that
(a) a consecutive sentence is necessary to punish Defendant,
given the seriousness of the offenses committed; (b) a
consecutive sentence is not disproportionate to the
seriousness of Defendant’s conduct; (c) 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 of
the multiple offenses 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; and (d) The offender’s
history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive
sentences are necessary to protect the public from future
crime by the offender.
(Judgment Entry at 2.)
{¶ 13} Having reviewed the record of the sentencing hearing, we conclude that the
trial court engaged in an analysis which satisfies imposition of consecutive sentences
pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). As to appellant's first argument, the record supports a
"disproportional" finding. Like Bennington at ¶ 30, the trial court made findings
regarding the seriousness of appellant's conduct as it relates to the criminal offense and
the inadequacy of a single sentence to both fit appellant's conduct and adequately protect
the public. However, the trial court judgment entry does not reflect both of the required
disproportionality findings that occurred at the sentencing hearing—that consecutive
sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and to the
danger the offender poses to the public. R.C 2929.14(C)(4). Therefore, pursuant to
No. 15AP-1076 7
Bonnell at ¶ 30, we remand the matter for the trial court to correct this omission by way of
a nunc pro tunc entry. Harris at ¶ 56.
{¶ 14} As to appellant's second argument regarding a lack of any of the alternative
findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a),(b), or (c), the trial court's express language shows it
found that the offenses constituted a "course of conduct," that no single sentence would
adequately address that course of conduct, and that consecutive sentences were needed to
ensure the safety of the community. While not spoken verbatim from the statute,
pursuant to Bonnell, such exactness under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) is unnecessary, and we find
this language establishes that the trial court made a finding under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b).
{¶ 15} While a finding under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b) alone is sufficient to meet the
third statutory step in justifying a consecutive sentence, the trial court additionally
indicated in its judgment entry that it made the R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(c) finding that "[t]he
offender's history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are
necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender." (Judgment Entry at 2.)
In general, uncharged yet undisputed criminal conduct may be considered at sentencing.
State v. Townsend, 5th Dist. No. 09-CAA-11-0096, 2010-Ohio-4417, ¶ 27; State v.
McColor, 7th Dist. No. 11 MA 64, 2013-Ohio-1279, ¶ 9. Thus, a trial court may consider a
defendant's admitted drug use in determining that the offender's history of criminal
conduct demonstrates that the consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public
from future crime under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). State v. Bailey, 5th Dist. No. 14-COA-008,
2014-Ohio-5129, ¶ 25-30. In sentencing appellant, the trial court here extensively
discussed and emphasized appellant's admitted and unaddressed drug use, the part it
played in appellant's course of conduct of committing residential burglaries, and how
appellant's demonstrated attitude about his drug use contributed to the likelihood that he
would commit future crimes against the public. Considering the record as a whole, we
conclude that at the sentencing hearing the trial court adequately engaged in the proper
analysis and made a finding, pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(c), as reflected in its
judgment entry.
{¶ 16} Furthermore, based on a careful review of the record, we do not clearly and
convincingly find that the record fails to support the trial court's findings under R.C.
2929.14(C)(4). R.C. 2953.08(G)(4); Hargrove at ¶ 24. Because the trial court engaged in
No. 15AP-1076 8
the appropriate analysis and the record supports the trial court's findings under R.C.
2929.14(C)(4), we conclude appellant's consecutive sentences are in accordance with law.
As such, appellee's "plain error" argument is moot.
{¶ 17} Accordingly, we overrule appellant's sole assignment of error but remand
the matter to the trial court to file a nunc pro tunc entry to correct the judgment entry to
reflect the findings made at the sentencing hearing as provided above.
IV. CONCLUSION
{¶ 18} Having overruled appellant's sole assignment of error, we affirm the
judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and remand the matter to that
court for the limited purpose of entering a nunc pro tunc entry reflecting the R.C.
2929.14(C)(4) findings the trial court made during the sentencing hearing.
Judgment affirmed;
cause remanded with instructions.
BROWN and KLATT, JJ., concur.
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