State v. Earnest

[Cite as State v. Earnest, 2022-Ohio-2374.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 29270
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2020-CR-3032
:
WILLIAM EARNEST : (Criminal Appeal from
: Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
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OPINION
Rendered on the 8th day of July, 2022.
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MATHIAS H. HECK, JR. by ANDREW T. FRENCH, Atty. Reg. No. 0069384, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division,
Montgomery County Courts Building, 301 West Third Street, 5th Floor, Dayton, Ohio
45422
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
KIRSTEN KNIGHT, Atty. Reg. No. 0080433, P.O. Box 137, Germantown, Ohio 45327
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
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EPLEY, J.
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{¶ 1} William Earnest pled guilty in the Montgomery County Court of Common
Pleas to operating a vehicle while under the influence (OVI), a felony of the third degree.
The trial court sentenced him to a mandatory prison term of 120 days plus five years of
community control, ordered him to pay a $1,350 mandatory fine and a $250 supervision
fee, suspended his driver’s license for five years, and ordered the mandatory forfeiture of
the vehicle involved in the offense if it were registered in Earnest’s name. Earnest
appeals from his conviction.
{¶ 2} Earnest’s appointed counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), stating that she cannot find any
meritorious issues for appeal and requesting permission to withdraw. As a potential
assignment of error, counsel states that Earnest’s sentence was contrary to law. Upon
our independent review of the record, we agree with counsel’s assessment that the
appeal is frivolous. For the following reasons, the trial court’s judgment will be affirmed.
I. Facts and Procedural History
{¶ 3} According to the presentence investigation report, at approximately 7:54 p.m.
on July 26, 2019, an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper observed a vehicle traveling 58
mph in a 40 mph zone. After following the vehicle and observing additional traffic
violations, the trooper initiated a traffic stop. The trooper made contact with the driver,
Earnest, and based on his observations, had Earnest perform field sobriety tests, which
he failed. Earnest was transported to the Dayton patrol post. There, he refused to
submit to a chemical test, but a blood sample was taken after the trooper secured a
search warrant. Laboratory testing revealed that Earnest’s blood had 0.195 grams by
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weight of alcohol per one hundred milliliters (grams percent) of whole blood.
{¶ 4} On January 6, 2021, Earnest was indicted on four counts of OVI related to
the incident: (1) a violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(f) (0.17 or more grams percent with prior
felony OVI conviction); (2) a violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a) (test refusal with prior
felony OVI conviction); (3) a violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a) (prior felony OVI
conviction); and a violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(f) (0.17 or more grams percent with
three or more prior OVI convictions within 10 years). Counts 1 through 3 were felonies
of the third degree; Count 4 was a fourth-degree felony.
{¶ 5} Earnest pled not guilty to the charges, and his defense counsel filed a
demand for discovery. On February 8, 2021, defense counsel filed a motion for
continuance, stating that Earnest was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail on “non-
specific federal offenses” and that she was working with the prosecutor, federal
prosecutor, and federal defense counsel on a global resolution of the federal and state
cases. The trial court granted this continuance and an additional continuance that
defense counsel requested.
{¶ 6} On April 8, 2021, Earnest pled guilty to Count 1 (R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(f) with
prior felony OVI conviction). In exchange for the plea, the State dismissed the remaining
three OVI charges. The prosecutor asked that sentencing be delayed to coordinate with
the sentencing in Earnest’s federal case. The trial court ordered a presentence
investigation and tentatively scheduled sentencing for April 22, 2021.
{¶ 7} Defense counsel filed several motions to continue the sentencing date, all of
which the trial court granted, and Earnest ultimately appeared for sentencing on
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September 8, 2021. At that hearing, defense counsel requested the mandatory
minimum sentence, whereas the State asked for “the maximum, certainly six months in
regards to the prison sentence on the other case.” Earnest declined to speak on his own
behalf. The trial court noted that Earnest had “OVI after OVI,” possession cases, and a
felonious assault in 2003, and he faced significant prison time on his pending federal case
(a charge of possession with intent to distribute).
{¶ 8} The trial court imposed a mandatory 120 consecutive days in prison followed
by five years of community control sanctions, a $1,350 fine, a mandatory driver’s license
suspension of five years, mandatory forfeiture of his vehicle, and mandatory drug and
alcohol treatment. The court articulated several conditions of community control and
imposed a $250 supervision fee. Court costs and payment to the assigned counsel
budget were waived. The trial court notified Earnest that the failure to comply with
community control could result in a 36-month prison term. The trial court filed its written
judgment entry on September 19, 2021.
{¶ 9} Earnest appeals from his conviction. We note that, at this juncture, Earnest
has served his 120-day sentence (see Notice of Calculation of Sentence, May 25, 2022),
and his community control has been terminated (see Entry, May 26, 2022).
II. Anders Review
{¶ 10} Upon the filing of an Anders brief, an appellate court must determine, “after
a full examination of all the proceedings,” whether the appeal is “wholly frivolous.”
Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493; Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75,
109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988). “An issue is not frivolous merely because the
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prosecution can be expected to present a strong argument in reply.” State v. White, 2d
Dist. Montgomery No. 28338, 2020-Ohio-5544, ¶ 14, citing State v. Pullen, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 19232, 2002-Ohio-6788, ¶ 4. Rather, a frivolous appeal is one that
presents issues lacking arguable merit, which means that, “on the facts and law involved,
no responsible contention can be made that it offers a basis for reversal.” State v.
Marbury, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19226, 2003-Ohio-3242, ¶ 8, citing Pullen at ¶ 4. If
we find that any issue – whether presented by appellate counsel, presented by the
defendant, or found through an independent analysis – is not wholly frivolous, we must
reject the Anders brief and appoint new appellate counsel to represent the defendant.
White at ¶ 14, citing Marbury at ¶ 7; State v. Almeyda, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28727,
2021-Ohio-862, ¶ 3.
A. Plea Hearing
{¶ 11} “Due process requires that a defendant’s plea be knowing, intelligent, and
voluntary,” and compliance with Crim.R. 11(C) ensures the constitutional mandate is
followed. State v. Brown, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28966, 2021-Ohio-2327, ¶ 8.
{¶ 12} Crim.R. 11(C)(2) mandates that a trial court may not accept a guilty plea
without first addressing the defendant and:
(a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, with
understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum penalty
involved, and if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for probation or
for the imposition of community control sanctions at the sentencing hearing.
(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant
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understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the court,
upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence.
(c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant understands
that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury trial, to confront
witnesses against him or her, to have compulsory process for obtaining
witnesses in the defendant's favor, and to require the state to prove the
defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which the defendant
cannot be compelled to testify against himself or herself.
In reviewing the plea colloquy, the focus should be on whether “the dialogue between the
court and the defendant demonstrates that the defendant understood the consequences
of his plea.” State v. Dangler, 162 Ohio St.3d 1, 2020-Ohio-2765, 164 N.E.3d 286, ¶ 12.
{¶ 13} In general, a defendant is not entitled to have his or her plea vacated unless
the defendant demonstrates he or she was prejudiced by a failure of the trial court to
comply with the provisions of Crim.R. 11(C). Id. at ¶ 16, citing State v. Nero, 56 Ohio
St.3d 106, 108, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990). The test for prejudice is “whether the plea would
have otherwise been made.” Id.{¶ 14} This general rule is subject to two exceptions. Id. at ¶ 16. First, the trial
court must strictly comply with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c), as it pertains to the waiver of federal
constitutional rights. Id. at ¶ 14; Clark at ¶ 31. “When a trial court fails to explain the
constitutional rights that a defendant waives by pleading guilty or no contest, we presume
that the plea was entered involuntarily and unknowingly, and no showing of prejudice is
required.” Dangler at ¶ 14.
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{¶ 15} Second, “a trial court’s complete failure to comply with a portion of Crim.R.
11(C) eliminates the defendant's burden to show prejudice.” Id. at ¶ 15, citing State v.
Sarkozy, 117 Ohio St.3d 86, 2008-Ohio-509, 881 N.E.2d 1224, ¶ 22. See also State v.
Bishop, 156 Ohio St.3d 156, 2018-Ohio-5132, 124 N.E.3d 766, ¶ 11 (a defendant must
show prejudice if the trial court partially complied with Crim.R. 11(C) in regard to a
nonconstitutional right, but no showing of prejudice is required if the trial court completely
failed to comply).
{¶ 16} We have reviewed the transcript of the plea hearing and find that the trial
court fully complied with the requirements of Crim.R. 11. Earnest was 42 years old when
he entered his plea. The trial court ascertained that he had a ninth grade education and
was able to understand the plea form. Earnest stated that his plea was not due to threats
or promises outside of the plea agreement.
{¶ 17} The trial court reviewed the possible sanctions that Earnest faced for a third-
degree felony OVI offense, which included 120-day prison term, plus an optional prison
term up to 36 months and/or community control sanctions for up to five years, a
mandatory fine between $1,350 and $10,500, a class two driver’s license suspension
(between three years and life), a mandatory forfeiture of the vehicle involved if it were
registered in his name and an additional fine if the title were assigned or transferred, and
attendance at an alcohol and drug addiction treatment program. The court told Earnest
that he could be required to serve three years of post-release control upon his release
from prison and the consequences of violating post-release control. It further indicated
that Earnest could be sentenced to 36 months in prison if he violated the conditions of
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community control. The trial court asked the prosecutor to state the facts of the offense,
which the prosecutor did using the language of the indictment, and Earnest stated that he
understood the allegation.
{¶ 18} The trial court advised Earnest that a guilty plea is a complete admission
of guilt and that he would be unable to challenge the court’s pretrial rulings, and it
informed him of the constitutional rights that he was waiving by pleading guilty.
Earnest expressed his understanding.
{¶ 19} We conclude that the trial court fully complied with Crim.R. 11(C)’s
constitutional and non-constitutional advisements. A claim that Earnest’s plea was not
knowing, intelligent, and voluntary would be frivolous. In addition, we find nothing in the
record to suggest that anything that occurred prior to the plea hearing precluded him from
entering a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary plea.
B. Sentencing
{¶ 20} Appellate counsel raises that Earnest’s sentence potentially was contrary
to law. She claims that the trial court did not consider the statutory factors under R.C.
2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12.
{¶ 21} “The trial court has full discretion to impose any sentence within the
authorized statutory range, and the court is not required to make any findings or give its
reasons for imposing maximum or more than minimum sentences.” State v. King, 2013-
Ohio-2021, 992 N.E.2d 491, ¶ 45 (2d Dist.). However, in exercising its discretion, a trial
court must consider the statutory policies that apply to every felony offense, including
those set out in R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12. State v. Leopard, 194 Ohio App.3d
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500, 2011-Ohio-3864, 957 N.E.2d 55, ¶ 11 (2d Dist.), citing State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio
St.3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855, 846 N.E.2d 1, ¶ 38.
{¶ 22} In reviewing felony sentences, appellate courts must apply the standard of
review set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). See State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-
Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 9. Under that statute, an appellate court may increase,
reduce, or modify a sentence, or it may vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing,
only if it “clearly and convincingly” finds either (1) that the record does not support certain
specified findings or (2) that the sentence imposed is contrary to law. State v. Huffman,
2d Dist. Miami No. 2016-CA-16, 2017-Ohio-4097, ¶ 6.
{¶ 23} The Ohio Supreme Court has stated that R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(b) “does not
provide a basis for an appellate court to modify or vacate a sentence based on its view
that the sentence is not supported by the record under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.” State
v. Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729, 169 N.E.3d 649, ¶ 39. “When reviewing
felony sentences that are imposed solely after considering the factors in R.C. 2929.11
and R.C. 2929.12, we do not analyze whether those sentences are unsupported by the
record.” State v. McDaniel, 2d Dist. Darke No. 2020-CA-3, 2021-Ohio-1519, ¶ 11, citing
State v. Dorsey, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28747, 2021-Ohio-76, ¶ 18; Jones at ¶ 26-29.
Instead, “[w]e simply must determine whether those sentences are contrary to law.”
Dorsey at ¶ 18.
{¶ 24} “A sentence is contrary to law when it does not fall within the statutory range
for the offense or if the trial court fails to consider the purposes and principles of felony
sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the sentencing factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12.”
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(Citation omitted.) State v. Brown, 2017-Ohio-8416, 99 N.E.3d 1135, ¶ 74 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 25} The penalties for Earnest’s OVI offense are set forth in R.C.
4511.19(G)(1)(e). The trial court imposed the minimum mandatory prison term and the
minimum mandatory fine. The court did not impose an optional additional prison term,
but it ordered five years of intensive community control supervision, as permitted by R.C.
4511.19(G)(1)(e)(ii). As part of his community control sanctions, Earnest was required
to receive a substance abuse and mental health assessment and complete any
recommended treatment. He also was required to attend mandatory drug and alcohol
treatment. The court imposed a five-year driver’s license suspension, which was within
the statutory range. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle if it were
registered to Earnest. The court’s sentence was consistent with the OVI statute. Any
claim that the sentence is not supported by the record under R.C. 2929.11 and R.C.
2929.12 is precluded by State v. Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729, 169 N.E.3d
649. We find no arguably meritorious claim that Earnest’s sentence was contrary to law.
{¶ 26} Moreover, Earnest has completely served his 120-day prison sentence, and
he is not listed on the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) website,
which denotes that he is not on post-release control. His community control also has
been terminated. Accordingly, any errors in the court’s imposition of those portions of
his sentence are moot and would not present a non-frivolous issue for appeal.
III. Conclusion
{¶ 27} We have reviewed the potential assignment of error raised by Earnest’s
appellate counsel and have performed our duty under Anders to conduct an independent
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review of the record. After a thorough review, we have found no issues with arguable
merit for Earnest to advance on appeal. Accordingly, appellate counsel’s motion to
withdraw is granted. The trial court’s judgment will be affirmed.
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TUCKER, P.J. and DONOVAN, J., concur.
Copies sent to:
Mathias H. Heck, Jr.
Andrew T. French
Kirsten Knight
Hon. Mary E. Montgomery