State v. Davis

[Cite as State v. Davis, 2022-Ohio-2397.]
COURT OF APPEALS
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
JUDGES:
STATE OF OHIO : Hon. Earle E. Wise, P.J.
: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
:
-vs- :
: Case No. 2021 AP 12 0034
WESLEY DAVIS :
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Tuscarawas
County Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
2021 CR 04 0142
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: July 12, 2022
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
KRISTINE BEARD DAN GUINN
Assistant Prosecutor 232 West 3rd Street, Ste. 312
125 E. High Avenue Dover, OH 44622
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2021 AP 12 0034 2
Gwin, J.,
{¶1} Appellant Wesley E. Davis [“Davis”] appeals his sentence after a negotiated
guilty plea in the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas.
Facts and Procedural History
{¶2} Davis was indicted by the Tuscarawas County Grand Jury for one count of
Rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1) with a sexually violent predator specification for a
child less than ten years of age, a felony of the first degree, and two counts of Gross
Sexual Imposition in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4), felonies of the third degree. The
victims for the offenses were Davis's two granddaughters both less than thirteen years of
age at the time of the offenses.
{¶3} On the day of trial, the state agreed to dismiss count one [Rape], in
exchange for a plea to the remaining counts of Gross Sexual Imposition. After accepting
Davis's no contest plea and making a finding of guilt the court dismissed count one
[Rape]. The court deferred sentencing, ordered a pre-sentence investigation, and
continued Davis on pretrial supervision.
{¶4} At the sentencing hearing, the mother of the victims was present and
addressed the trial court advising the Court how the abuse had seriously affected the
children and the family. Davis's counsel argued that Davis should be placed on
community control. After a review of the presentence investigation report and
statements of the parties, the trial court sentenced Davis to serve an aggregate term
of forty-eight months in prison.
Assignment of Error
{¶5} Davis raises one Assignment of Error,
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{¶6} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT IMPOSED A PRISON
SENTENCE AS OPPOSED TO COMMUNITY CONTROL UPON THE APPELLANT.”
Law and Analysis
{¶7} Davis argues that the trial court erred as a matter of law because the court
did not sentence Davis to a community control sanction.
Standard of Appellate Review
{¶8} A court reviewing a criminal sentence is required by R.C. 2953.08(F) to
review the entire trial-court record, including any oral or written statements and
presentence-investigation reports. R.C. 2953.08(F)(1) through (4). Although a court
imposing a felony sentence must consider the purposes of felony sentencing under R.C.
2929.11 and the sentencing factors under R.C. 2929.12, “neither R.C. 2929.11 nor
2929.12 requires [the] court to make any specific factual findings on the record.” State v.
Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729, 169 N.E.3d 649, at ¶ 20, citing State v.
Wilson, 129 Ohio St.3d 214, 2011-Ohio-2669, 951 N.E.2d 381, ¶ 31, and State v. Arnett,
88 Ohio St.3d 208, 215, 724 N.E.2d 793 (2000).
{¶9} We review felony sentences using the standard of review set forth in R.C.
2953.08. State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶22;
State v. Howell, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2015CA00004, 2015-Ohio-4049, ¶31. R.C.
2953.08(G)(2) provides we may either increase, reduce, modify, or vacate a sentence
and remand for resentencing where we clearly and convincingly find that either the record
does not support the sentencing court’s findings under R.C. 2929.13(B) or (D),
2929.14(B)(2)(e) or (C)(4), or 2929.20(I), or the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.
See, also, State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.2d 659, ¶28.
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2021 AP 12 0034 4
{¶10} 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. The Ohio Supreme Court further elucidated in State v.
Toles, 166 Ohio St.3d 397, 2021-Ohio-3531, 186 N.E.3d 784, ¶10, “R.C. 2953.08, as
amended, precludes second-guessing a sentence imposed by the trial court based on its
weighing of the considerations in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.”
{¶11} In State v. Bryant, the Court recently clarified the holding in State v. Jones,
163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729, 169 N.E.3d 649,
The narrow holding in Jones is that R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) does not
allow 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. See Jones at ¶ 31, 39. Nothing about that holding should be
construed as prohibiting appellate review of a sentence when the claim is
that the sentence was improperly imposed based on impermissible
considerations—i.e., considerations that fall outside those that are
contained in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. Indeed, in Jones, this court made
clear that R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(b) permits appellate courts to reverse or
modify sentencing decisions that are “‘otherwise contrary to law.’” Jones at
¶ 32, quoting R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(b). This court also recognized that
“otherwise contrary to law” means “‘in violation of statute or legal regulations
at a given time.’” Id. at ¶ 34 quoting Black’s Law Dictionary 328 (6th
Ed.1990). Accordingly, when a trial court imposes a sentence based on
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2021 AP 12 0034 5
factors or considerations that are extraneous to those that are permitted by
R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12, that sentence is contrary to law. Claims that
raise these types of issues are therefore reviewable.
Slip Opinion No. 2020-0599, 2022-Ohio-1878(June 7, 2022), ¶22.
Issue for Appellate Review: Whether Davis’s sentence was imposed
based on impermissible considerations—i.e., considerations that fall outside those that
are contained in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12
R.C. 2929.13(C)
{¶12} R.C. 2929.13(C) applies to one convicted of a third degree felony. Davis
pled no contest to two felonies of the third degree.
{¶13} According to R.C. 2929.13(C), when determining whether a third-degree
felony warrants a prison sentence, the trial court is to consider the seriousness and
recidivism factors contained in R.C. 2929.12. As well, the trial court is to consider the
purposes and principles of sentencing outlined in R.C. 2929.11.
R.C. 2929.11
{¶14} R.C. 2929.11(A) governs the purposes and principles of felony sentencing
and provides that a sentence imposed for a felony shall be reasonably calculated to
achieve the two overriding purposes of felony sentencing, which are (1) to protect the
public from future crime by the offender and others, and (2) to punish the offender using
the minimum sanctions that the court determines will accomplish those purposes. In
order to achieve these purposes and principles, the trial court must consider the need for
incapacitating the offender, deterring the offender and others from future crime,
rehabilitating the offender, and making restitution to the victim of the offense, the public,
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2021 AP 12 0034 6
or both. R.C. 2929.11(A). Additionally, the sentence must be commensurate with, and
not demeaning to, the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and its impact on the victims
and consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes by similar offenders.” R.C.
2929.11(B).
R.C. 2929.12
{¶15} R.C. 2929.12 sets forth the seriousness and recidivism factors for the
sentencing court to consider in determining the most effective way to comply with the
purposes and principles of sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11. The statute provides a
non-exhaustive list of factors a trial court must consider when determining the
seriousness of the offense and the likelihood that the offender will commit future offenses.
The Case at Bar
{¶16} In the case at bar, the trial court heard from the victims’ mother and their
pastor. (Sent. T. at 3-6.) The court heard from Davis’s attorney, the state’s attorney, and
Davis. The trial court reviewed the presentence investigation report, and the victim impact
statements. (Sent. T. at 2).
{¶17} In the case at bar, the record supports that the harm caused the victims was
“serious physical harm” [R.C. 2929.12(B)(2)]. (Sent. T. at 8). The offenses were also
more serious because Davis used his relationship with the victims to facilitate the
offenses. [R.C. 2929.12(B)(6)]. (Sent. T. at 8-9). None of the factors set forth in R.C.
2929.12(C) are applicable to render the offenses “less serious.” (Sent. T. at 9). No
grounds for mitigation are contained in the record. (Sent. T. at 9). Davis has not
expressed his remorse and continues to deny anything happened. (Sent. T. at 7).
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2021 AP 12 0034 7
{¶18} Accordingly, the trial court considered the purposes and principles of
sentencing [R.C. 2929.11] as well as the factors that the court must consider when
determining an appropriate sentence. [R.C. 2929.12].
Davis has not demonstrated that the trial court imposed the sentence based on
impermissible considerations—i.e., considerations that fall outside those that are
contained in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. State v. Bryant, Slip Opinion No. 2020-0599,
2022-Ohio-1878(June 7, 2022), ¶22.
{¶19} We conclude that the trial court did not commit error when it sentenced
Davis. Upon review, we find that the trial court’s sentencing on the charges complies with
applicable rules and sentencing statutes. While Davis may disagree with the weight given
to these factors by the trial judge, Davis’s sentence was within the applicable statutory
range, and the sentence is not based on considerations that fall outside those that are
contained in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. Therefore, we have no basis for concluding that
it is contrary to law.
{¶20} Davis’s First Assignment of Error is overruled.
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2021 AP 12 0034 8
{¶21} The judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas is
affirmed.
By Gwin, J.,
Wise, Earle E., P.J., and
Baldwin, J., concur