State v. Perry

[Cite as State v. Perry, 2022-Ohio-3056.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NO. C-200178
TRIAL NO. B-1904068
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
vs. :
O P I N I O N.
MICHAEL L. PERRY, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed in Part, Reversed in Part, and Cause
Remanded
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: September 2, 2022
Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Paula E. Adams,
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellee,
Michael J. Trapp, for Defendant-Appellant.
OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
MYERS, Presiding Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Michael L. Perry appeals his classification as a
violent offender and his indefinite sentence for the offense of felonious assault.
{¶2} Perry entered a guilty plea to one count of felonious assault, in violation
of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1), a second-degree-felony offense. The offense occurred on or
about June 7, 2019, subjecting Perry to the indefinite sentencing provisions of the
Reagan Tokes Law, effective March 22, 2019. Prior to sentencing, Perry raised a
constitutional challenge to the Reagan Tokes Law and requested to be sentenced under
the former, definite sentencing scheme. The trial court rejected Perry’s constitutional
challenge and imposed an indefinite sentence of a minimum term of three years in
prison and a maximum term of four-and-one-half years in prison. In addition, the
court told Perry that he would be required to register with Ohio’s Violent Offender
Database pursuant to R.C. 2903.41 through 2903.44 (“Sierah’s Law”) upon his release
from prison.
{¶3} In his first assignment of error, Perry argues that the trial court erred by
classifying him as a violent offender under Sierah’s Law because he was not convicted
of a predicate offense listed in R.C. 2903.41(A). The state concedes the error. Because
felonious assault, the offense for which Perry was convicted, is not a predicate offense
listed in R.C. 2903.41, the trial court erred by classifying Perry as a violent offender.
See State v. Freeman, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-190751, 2021-Ohio-2283, ¶ 13-14. We
sustain Perry’s first assignment of error.
{¶4} In his second assignment of error, Perry argues that the Reagan Tokes
Law on its face violates the United States and Ohio Constitutions. Specifically, he
contends that the Reagan Tokes Law violates the separation-of-powers doctrine.
Perry’s challenge is ripe for review in his direct appeal of his indefinite sentence. See
State v. Maddox, Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-764, ¶ 11 and 21.
{¶5} This court addressed a similar challenge to the Reagan Tokes Law in
State v. Guyton, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-190657, 2022-Ohio-2962. In Guyton, we
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
determined that the Reagan Tokes Law was constitutional on its face, rejecting a claim
that the indefinite sentencing scheme violates the separation-of-powers doctrine, as
well as other clauses of the federal and state constitutions. Id. at 18-19 and 69. Based
on our holding in Guyton, we overrule the second assignment of error.
{¶6} Consequently, we reverse the trial court’s judgment as to the violent-
offender classification, affirm the court’s judgment in all other respects, and remand
the case for the trial court to correct the sentencing entry nunc pro tunc in accordance
with this opinion and the law.
Judgment accordingly.
BERGERON and WINKLER, JJ., concur.
Please note:
The court has recorded its own entry this date.
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