State v. Calabrese

[Cite as State v. Calabrese, 2017-Ohio-7316.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 104151
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
CARL E. CALABRESE
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-14-591977-A
BEFORE: Blackmon, J., Keough, A.J., and Boyle, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: August 24, 2017
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
David M. Lynch
333 Babbitt Road, Suite 333
Euclid, Ohio 44123
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael C. O’Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: Brett Hammond
David Schwark
Assistant County Prosecutors
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, J.:
{¶1} Carl E. Calabrese (“Calabrese”) appeals from the order of the trial court
denying his motion to vacate his guilty plea to intimidation. He assigns the following
error for our review:
The trial court committed error by denying [Calabrese’s] motion to vacate
his plea because [Calabrese] was mentally incapable of entering his guilty
plea on the day that he entered it.
{¶2} Having reviewed the record and pertinent law, we affirm.
{¶3} The record reflects that in 2004, the Cuyahoga County Probate Court issued
an order finding Calabrese incompetent, and appointing a guardian for him. Several
months later, Calabrese pled guilty in Case No. CR-03-443466 to intimidation, attempted
intimidation, and vandalism, apparently in connection with actions against a Lyndhurst
Municipal Court judge. Calabrese was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
{¶4} On December 18, 2014, Calabrese was indicted on one count of
intimidation, arising out of statements that he made to a Mayfield Heights Police
Department employee, again concerning the same Lyndhurst Municipal Court judge. In
January 2015, after Calabrese’s counsel advised the court that the guardianship remained
in effect, Calabrese was referred to the court’s psychiatric clinic, and the matter was
transferred to the court’s mental health docket. The February 12, 2015 and April 16,
2015 reports of the psychiatric clinic indicated that Calabrese has bipolar disorder and
substance dependency issues. He was prescribed mood stabilizing medication and was
determined to be eligible for the court’s treatment in lieu of a conviction program.
{¶5} At a hearing on April 23, 2015, the parties stipulated to the court
psychiatric reports. Defense counsel also explained that the probate guardianship arose
from Calabrese’s bipolar disorder, and that Calabrese’s father is his guardian. Defense
counsel stated that “as long as [Calabrese] takes his medications, he seems to be fine and
able to cope with everyday life.” Calabrese informed the court that he wished to enter a
guilty plea, and the trial court undertook a Crim.R. 11 plea colloquy. In relevant part,
the court asked Calabrese whether he understood the proceedings, and he stated that he
did. He also denied being under the influence of any drugs, alcohol, or medication that
would adversely affect his ability to understand what was happening or to enter into a
plea. At the conclusion of the colloquy, the court stated:
[T]he Court is satisfied that * * * Defendant has been informed of his
Constitutional rights, [and] understands the nature of the charges, the effect
of a plea, and the maximum penalties which may be imposed. The Court
further finds that the Defendant’s pleas will be made knowingly,
intelligently, and voluntarily.
{¶6} After Calabrese pled guilty to intimidation, defense counsel asked the court
to place Calabrese in the treatment in lieu of a conviction program. The trial court
granted the motion and the case was stayed so that Calabrese could enter treatment in lieu
of conviction. He was supervised by the court’s mental health unit. He was required to
attend his doctor’s appointments, take prescribed medication, undergo drug testing, attend
sobriety meetings, and report to his probation officer on a weekly basis. By June 24,
2015, however, Calabrese had tested positive for marijuana five times, and positive for
cocaine once. The court continued the intervention program, but Calabrese continued to
test positive for marijuana. Calabrese also missed required group meetings and was
inconsistent with required 12-step meetings. The court found him to be in violation of
community control on November 6, 2015. The court also ordered a reevaluation of
Calabrese’s medication on that same date.
{¶7} The matter was scheduled for sentencing on December 7, 2015, then was
continued until January 26, 2016. Four days before the sentencing hearing, Calabrese’s
counsel moved to withdraw the guilty plea, asserting that Calabrese “did not have a full
understanding of the effect of the plea that he entered nor did he understand the
consequences attached thereto.”
{¶8} The court held a hearing on the motion to vacate the guilty plea. Calabrese
testified that at the time of his plea, he did not know the meaning of the term “in lieu of
conviction.” Calabrese’s guardian, his father, also testified that in the most recent report
prepared for the probate court in November 2014, Calabrese was deemed “mentally
impaired,” due to bipolar disorder that affected his concentration and comprehension.
The guardian acknowledged that he was present for the guilty plea, however.
Thereafter, the court denied the motion to vacate the guilty plea, noting that Calabrese
had highly competent counsel, and that:
[t]he competency in probate is completely different from whether you can
legally take a plea and be competent to understand the nature of the
proceedings against you in a court of law. So a judge and a lawyer are, in
fact, able to assess whether someone understands the nature of the
proceedings against them, including [the judge who conducted the plea
proceedings] who had been a mental health court judge for many, many
years, who conducted a very thorough colloquy with your client at the time.
{¶9} The court then sentenced Calabrese to 18 months imprisonment.
Motion to Vacate
{¶10} “[A] presentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea should be freely and
liberally granted. Nevertheless, it must be recognized that a defendant does not have an
absolute right to withdraw a plea prior to sentencing.” State v. Xie, 62 Ohio St. 3d 521,
527, 584 N.E.2d 715 (1992). We review presentence motions to withdraw guilty pleas
for an abuse of discretion. Id.
{¶11} In determining whether the trial court abused its discretion by denying a
defendant’s motion to withdraw a plea, we consider the following factors: (1) whether the
accused was represented by highly competent counsel; (2) whether the accused was
afforded a full hearing pursuant to Crim.R. 11 before he entered the plea; (3) whether,
after the motion to withdraw was filed, the accused was given a complete and impartial
hearing on the motion; and (4) whether the record reveals that the court gave full and fair
consideration to the plea withdrawal request. State v. Peterseim, 68 Ohio App. 2d 211,
428 N.E.2d 863 (8th Dist.1980).
{¶12} This court has also set forth additional factors to consider, including that:
(1) the motion was made in a reasonable time; (2) the motion stated specific reasons for
withdrawal; (3) the record shows that the defendant understood the nature of the charges
and possible penalties; and (4) the defendant had evidence of a plausible defense. State
v. Heisa, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 1018877, 2015-Ohio-2269, ¶ 19; State v. Pannell, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89352, 2008-Ohio-956, ¶ 13.
{¶13} In this matter, we find no abuse of discretion. The record demonstrates
that Calabrese was represented by highly competent counsel and that prior to entering the
plea, Calabrese was referred to the mental health court and referred to the court
psychiatric clinic for evaluation. Prior to the plea, the parties stipulated to the court
psychiatric clinic reports. These reports indicated that Calabrese has bipolar disorder
with psychotic features, but he was prescribed mood stabilizing medication and was
eligible for supervision through the Mental Health Court.
{¶14} Additionally, Calabrese was afforded a full hearing pursuant to Crim.R. 11
before he entered the plea. During the Crim.R. 11 colloquy plea, Calabrese indicated
that he understood the proceedings and was not under any medication that would impair
his understanding. The court determined that the plea was knowingly, voluntarily, and
intelligently made, then transferred Calabrese to the supervision of the mental health
docket. Calabrese’s trial counsel also stated that “as long as [Calabrese] takes his
medications, he seems to be fine and able to cope with everyday life.” Therefore, it
appears from the record that Calabrese understood the rights he was waiving as well as
the nature of the charges and possible penalties.
{¶15} Further, the trial court gave Calabrese a complete hearing on his motion to
vacate the guilty plea, and also gave full and fair consideration to the plea withdrawal
request. During the hearing, the court concluded that the motion was not made in a
reasonable time, because it was filed almost two years after the guilty plea. As to this
factor, the trial court found:
[T]hings seemed fine especially as you were continued through probation.
It might be that you recognized that your non-compliance might subject you
to further punishment is when all of this came up. Now, certainly I find it
to be disingenuous about the standard. Just having a change of heart, in
fact, is not enough to overcome your plea.
{¶16} Finally, regarding the reason set forth in the motion, we note that under
R.C. 2945.37(F), the court shall not find a defendant incompetent1 to stand trial solely
because:
the defendant is receiving or has received treatment as a voluntary or
involuntary mentally ill patient under Chapter 5122. or a voluntary or
involuntary resident with an intellectual disability under Chapter 5123. of
the Revised Code or because the defendant is receiving or has received
psychotropic drugs or other medication, even if the defendant might become
incompetent to stand trial without the drugs or medication.
{¶17} As this court noted in State v. Holman, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100468,
2014-Ohio-3908, ¶ 9.
Incompetency is defined as a defendant’s inability to understand the nature
and objective of the proceedings or presently assist in his defense. State v.
1
The standard for determining competency to stand trial and the competency to enter a plea
are the same. State v. Bolin, 128 Ohio App. 3d 58, 61, 713 N.E.2d 1092 (8th Dist.1998), citing
Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 113 S. Ct. 2680, 125 L. Ed. 2d 321 (1993).
Mangus, 7th Dist. Columbiana No. 07 CO 36, 2008-Ohio-6210, ¶ 66.
Incompetency is not equated with mere mental or emotional instability or
even with outright insanity. State v. Were, 118 Ohio St. 3d 448,
2008-Ohio-2762, 890 N.E.2d 263, ¶ 47. A defendant may be emotionally
disturbed and still be capable of understanding the charges against him and
of assisting his counsel. [Id.;] Mangus, citing State v. Bock, 28 Ohio St. 3d
108, 110, 28 Ohio B. 207, 502 N.E.2d 1016 (1986).
{¶18} Accord State v. Brooks, 9th Dist. Lorain Nos. 90CA004960 and
91CA005035, 1992 Ohio App. LEXIS 357 (Jan. 29, 1992), in which the court stated:
Competency determinations in the criminal court and in the probate court
are independent. State, ex rel. Davey, v. Owen (1937), 133 Ohio St. 96.
The competency or mental capacity of an individual under indictment must
be determined by the court of common pleas pursuant to the provisions of
R.C. 2945.37, and not by the probate court. Id. at 104. R.C. 2111.13,
which outlines the powers and duties of a court-appointed guardian, does
not provide for any powers of the guardian in criminal proceedings.
*** The fact that a defendant has a guardian does not ipso facto mean
that he is not competent to stand trial. In fact, an individual could be
found insane by the probate court, yet be declared sane by a court for
criminal proceedings. Davey, supra, 104.
See also State v. Bush, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2015-06-046, 2016-Ohio-551, ¶ 10
(“the fact that a person may be found incompetent under R.C. 2111.01(D) does not mean
that the person is incompetent to stand trial; the former is not dispositive of the latter.”);
State v. Burns, 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2004-07-084 and CA2004-10-126,
2005-Ohio-5290, ¶ 48 (“Even if a person is found to be incompetent for purposes of R.C.
Chapter 2111, that person may still be capable of understanding the nature and objective
of the proceedings against him, and of assisting in his own defense.).”
{¶19} A trial court’s finding that a defendant is competent to stand trial will not
be disturbed when there is some reliable and credible evidence supporting those findings.
Were, 118 Ohio St. 3d 448, at ¶ 46.
{¶20} In accordance with all of the foregoing, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in denying Calabrese’s motion to vacate his guilty plea. Calabrese was
referred to the mental health docket and the parties stipulated to the court psychiatric
reports. The court conducted a thorough Crim.R. 11 colloquy and determined that the
plea was voluntarily, intelligently, and knowingly made. His counsel advised the court
that so long as Calabrese takes his medication, he “seems to be fine and able to cope with
everyday life.” Parenthetically, the record clearly reflects that Calabrese was deemed
competent during the prior case, Case No. CR-03-443466, despite the existence of the
probate court guardianship. Therefore, despite the probate court’s finding of
incompetency, the trial court could, within the sound exercise of its discretion, conclude
that Calabrese was competent to enter a guilty plea in this matter.
{¶21} The assigned error is without merit.
{¶22} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common
pleas court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, JUDGE
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, A.J., and
MARY J. BOYLE, J., CONCUR