State v. Campbell

[Cite as State v. Campbell, 2020-Ohio-3146.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ROSS COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
: Case No. 19CA3683
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
:
vs. :
: DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
CHASSIDY CAMPBELL, :
:
Defendant-Appellant. :
__________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Jeffrey Marks, Ross County Prosecutor, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellee.
Chase B. Bunstine, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellant.
__________________________________________________________________
Smith, P.J.
{¶1} This is an appeal from a Ross County Court of Common Pleas
judgment entry that sentenced Appellant, Chassidy Campbell, to an aggregate
twenty-four-month prison sentence for aggravated possession of drugs, in violation
of R.C. 2925.11, and receiving stolen property, in violation of R.C. 2913.51. After
reviewing the facts of the case and the law, we overrule Appellant’s assignment of
error and affirm the trial court’s sentencing entry.
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 2
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶2} On January 15, 2019, the State charged Appellant with receiving stolen
property, a fourth-degree felony, and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree
felony. At her arraignment, she pled not guilty.
{¶3} On April 22, 2019, the trial court held a hearing to consider a plea
agreement in which the State recommended a sentence of eight months in prison.
During a colloquy with the trial court, Appellant indicated that she understood all
the consequences of her plea, including that the court was not bound to accept the
State’s recommended sentence, and that the court could impose between six and
eighteen months of prison time for the receiving stolen property charge, and
between six and twelve months of prison time for the aggravated possession of
drugs charge. The trial court accepted Appellant’s guilty plea, finding that she
made a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent decision. The trial court expressed a
desire to proceed directly to sentencing. However, Appellant sought a delay in
sentencing purportedly to arrange care for her disabled child. The trial court
agreed and postponed sentencing until May 13, 2019 at 9:15 a.m. on the condition
that Appellant would take weekly random drug tests until the 13th. The trial court
also told Appellant that if she tested positive for drugs or if she failed to appear on
the 13th, “all bets are off.” The court added, “you may go to prison for the full
freight on this case.” Appellant stated that she understood. The trial court then
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 3
ordered Appellant to be released on her own recognizance, but that she must first
go to the probation department to be drug tested.
{¶4} Appellant was not present when the trial court convened for her
sentencing hearing at 9:15 on May 13th. Appellant’s counsel informed the court
that Appellant stated she had been delayed by a car accident that occurred in front
of her. The court noted that Appellant had failed to comply with her pretrial
supervision but gave Appellant a few minutes to appear, stating that if she did not
appear the court would issue an arrest warrant. At 9:29 a.m., the trial court
recessed.
{¶5} At 9:31 a.m., the court went back on the record with Appellant present
in the courtroom. The trial court expressed its concern that Appellant was late and
stated that Appellant had failed to comply with the pre-sentencing requirements
through the probation department. The court then ordered the probation
department to drug test Appellant “right now.” However, Appellant did not go to
the probation department. Instead, she left the court and did not return. The court
issued an entry finding that Appellant failed to appear for her sentencing hearing
and issued a warrant for her arrest. Appellant was arrested on May 23, 2019.
{¶6} On May 24, 2019, the court held a hearing to sentence Appellant. At
the hearing, the court recounted that at the May 13th hearing Appellant was
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 4
ordered to be drug tested, but instead she fled the courthouse and was later arrested
by the Marshal Service on the 23rd pursuant to an arrest warrant.
{¶7} The trial court asked the State if it had any comments. The State
alleged that Appellant was “dishonest” with the Marshals by attempting to
“mislead” them about her identity.
{¶8} The trial court then asked Appellant if she had any comments.
Appellant said that she “got really scared and ran” when the court mentioned a
possible thirty-month sentence. She apologized for her behavior and claimed to be
compliant with the drug testing. The trial court noted that Appellant tested positive
for methamphetamine, MDMA, and THC. Appellant admitted to making poor
choices.
{¶9} The court then proceeded with sentencing. The trial court stated that it
had considered “[Presentence Investigation], the statements of [Appellant] and
counsel, and I’m making my decision primarily based upon the overriding
principals and purposes of felony sentencing. I’ve considered all the relevant and
seriousness and recidivism factors. I find that the offender is not amenable to
community control and that a prison term is consistent with the purposes and
principals of felony sentencing.” The court then sentenced Appellant to eighteen
months for receiving stolen property and six months for aggravated possession of
drugs with the sentences to be served consecutively to each other, for an aggregate
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 5
sentence of twenty-four months in prison. The court found that “consecutive
sentences are necessary to protect the public and punish the offender, that they are
not disproportionate and that I find that in this case the harm is so great or unusual
that a single term does not adequately reflect the seriousness of Appellant’s
conduct.” It is from this sentencing entry that Appellant appeals, asserting a single
assignment of error.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
“APPELLANT ASSERTS THAT THE RECORD DOES NOT
SUPPORT THE TRIAL COURT’S FINDINGS FOR APPELLANT’S
SENTENCE.”
{¶10} Appellant argues that her sentence is not supported by the record.
Appellant argues that a plea was negotiated with the State, which included a
recommended eight-month sentence. Appellant admits that she made “some poor
choices” in between her plea agreement and sentencing because she became
“scared and panicked” from the prospect of additional time. Nevertheless, she
argues that those poor choices do not warrant sixteen more months than were
negotiated in the plea agreement. Therefore, she asks this court to vacate her
sentence and remand her case for resentencing, or to reduce her sentence.
{¶11} In response, the State argues that the trial court made the requisite
findings to support Appellant’s twenty-four-month sentence. The State argues that
the only indication that Appellant would receive less than twenty-four months was
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 6
the plea agreement, which reflected a recommended eight-month sentence.
However, the State argues, after the plea agreement was reached Appellant tested
positive for methamphetamine prior to her sentencing. The State also cites
Appellant’s flight from the courtroom after the trial court had ordered her to take a
drug test. Therefore, the State argues Appellant’s sentence is supported by the
record.
THE LAW
1. Appealing a Felony Sentence.
{¶12} R.C. 2953.08(G) provides that a defendant may appeal a felony
sentence under certain circumstances. Under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), a reviewing
court may vacate or modify a felony sentence only under two circumstances: “it
determines by clear and convincing evidence that the record does not support the
trial court’s findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence is otherwise
contrary to law.” State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St. 3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59
N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 1. “Clear and convincing evidence is that measure or degree of
proof * * * which will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or
conviction as to the facts sought to be established.” Id. at ¶ 22, citing Cross v.
Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, 120 N.E.2d 118 (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶13} Here we are concerned only with the first prong of Marcum, i.e.
whether the trial court’s sentencing findings are supported in the record. A
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 7
reviewing court may increase, reduce, or modify a sentence if “the record does not
support the sentencing court’s findings under” the following provisions (if
applicable): R.C. 2929.13(B) or (D), R.C. 2929.14(B)(2)(e) or (C)(4), R.C.
2929.20(I). State v. Lechner, 4th Dist. Highland No. 19CA3, 2019-Ohio-4071,
¶ 50, 51, citing Marcum at ¶ 22-23. Unlike the statutes mentioned in Lechner, “the
general-guidance sentencing statutes of R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 * * * merely
require courts to ‘consider’ the statutory factors to determine a sentence within the
statutory range.” State v. Washington, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 17CA8, 2018-Ohio-
3545, ¶ 22, (Abele, J. Concurring), citing State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2006-
Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, ¶ 36-42 (2007-Ohio-3944, ¶ 41, quoting State v.
Foster, 109 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856 N.E.2d 470, at ¶ 100). Therefore, “it is
fully consistent for appellate courts to review those sentences that are imposed
solely after consideration of the factors in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 under a
standard that is equally deferential to the sentencing court.” Marcum, at ¶ 23.
2. Required Sentencing Findings and Considerations.
{¶14} In this case, the trial court imposed prison terms for both the fourth-
and fifth-degree felonies, which implicated R.C. 2929.13, as well as the general
provision applicable to all felony sentencing, R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12. The
trial court also required both prison terms to be served consecutively, which
implicated R.C. 2929.14.
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 8
a. R.C. 2929.13.
{¶15} “R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a) includes a presumption for community
control if an offender is convicted of, or pleads guilty to, a felony of the fourth or
fifth degree that is not an offense of violence.” State v. Grimmette, 4th Dist. Scioto
No. 18CA3830, 2019-Ohio-3576, ¶ 11, citing State v. Napier, 12th Dist. Clermont
No. CA2016-04-022, 2017-Ohio-246, ¶ 44, State v. Lilly, 12th Dist. Clermont Nos.
CA2017-06-029, CA2017-06-030, 2018-Ohio-1014, ¶ 15. “The presumption of a
community control sanction, however, is subject to the exceptions listed in R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(b).” Id, citing State v. Barnes, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2012-T-
0049, 2013-Ohio-1298, ¶ 16. R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(6) provides:
The court has discretion to impose a prison term upon an
offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony
of the fourth or fifth degree that is not an offense of violence
or that is a qualifying assault offense if any of the following apply:
***
(ix) The offender at the time of the offense was serving, or the
offender previously had served, a prison term.
(Emphasis added).
{¶16} Therefore, to overcome the presumption of a community control
sanction for a fourth-or fifth-degree felony, a trial court must make findings under
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 9
R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(b)(i)(xi) supported in the record to have discretion to impose a
prison term. See State v. Kelly, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 13 CAA040028, 2014-
Ohio-464, ¶ 40.1
b. R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.
{¶17} “ ‘[T]rial courts have full discretion to impose a prison sentence
within the statutory range and are no longer required to make findings or give their
reasons for imposing maximum, * * * or more than the minimum sentences.’ ”
State v. Davis, 4th Dist. Highland No. 06CA21, 2007-Ohio-3944, ¶ 41, quoting
State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, at ¶ 100.
“However, in exercising their discretion, trial courts must still consider R.C.
2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 before imposing a sentence within the authorized
statutory range.” (Emphasis added.) Id, citing Foster at ¶ 105. R.C. 2929.11
provides that a court “shall be guided by the overriding purposes of felony
sentencing, which are to protect the public from future crime and to punish the
offender using the minimum sanctions to accomplish those purposes without
1
The Second and Eleventh District Courts of Appeals have held that the presumption against a prison term for a
fourth-or fifth-degree felony applies only if the defendant is convicted of a single fourth- or fifth-degree felony. The
Eleventh District Court of Appeals reasoned: “If the legislature intended the presumption pertaining to community
control to apply to situations in which an offender was convicted of or pleaded guilty to multiple felonies of the
fourth or fifth degree, it could have pluralized these terms. It did not do so. As such, we construe the statute to
envelop only those situations in which a qualifying offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a singular,
nonviolent felony of the fourth or fifth degree.” State v. Parrado, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2015-T-0069, 2016-
Ohio-1313, ¶ 23, see also State v. Boswell, 6th Dist. Erie No. E-18-053, 2019-Ohio-2949, ¶ 22 (“Based on our
review of the plain language of R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a), we agree with the Eleventh District that the community
control presumption contained therein applies only where the defendant pleads guilty to a singular nonviolent felony
of the fourth or fifth degree”). Although we appreciate the logic of Parrado’s holding, we decline to adopt it at this
time.
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 10
unnecessary” burdening government resources. State v. Watson 4th Dist. Meigs
Nos. 18CA20 & 18CA21, 2019-Ohio-4385, ¶ 12. “ ‘To achieve those purposes,
the sentencing court shall 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, or both.’ ” Id, quoting
R.C. 2929.11. “R.C. 2929.12 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.” Id, citing State v. Sawyer, 4th Dist.
Meigs No. 16CA2, 2017-Ohio-1433, ¶ 17.
c. R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
{¶18} If a trial court orders multiple sentences to be served consecutively,
the court must comply with R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), which requires a court to find that:
(1) Consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public
from future crime or to punish the offender, (2) consecutive
sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the
offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to
the public; and (3) that one of three circumstances * * *
applies: * * * (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
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 11
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.” State v. Bass,
4th Dist. Washington No. 16CA32, 2017-Ohio-7059, ¶ 8.
{¶19} A trial court is required to make these findings “at the sentencing
hearing and incorporate its findings into its sentencing entry, but it has no
obligation to state reasons to support its findings.” State v. Brunner, 4th
Dist. Scioto Nos. 18CA3848, 18CA3849, 2019-Ohio-3410, ¶ 41, citing State v.
Bonnell, 140 Ohio St. 3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 29. “A word-for-
word recitation of the language of the statute is not required, and as long as the
reviewing court can discern that the trial court engaged in the correct analysis and
can determine that the record contains evidence to support the findings,
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 12
consecutive sentences should be upheld.” Bonnell, 2014-Ohio-3177, ¶ 29, 140
Ohio St. 3d 209, 218, 16 N.E.3d 659, 666.
ANALYSIS
a. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Rejecting the Recommended Sentence.
{¶20} Before we address whether the trial court’s sentencing findings and
considerations are supported in the record, we will address a preliminary matter
implicitly raised in Appellant’s argument. Appellant argues that her “poor
choices” of using drugs during her release prior to sentencing and her flight from
court during her sentencing hearing did not warrant a sentence that was a sixteen-
month upward departure from the recommended eight-month sentence. However,
“ ‘ “[a] trial court does not err by imposing a sentence greater than that forming the
inducement for the defendant to plead guilty when the trial court forewarns the
defendant of the applicable penalties, including the possibility of imposing a
greater sentence than that is recommended by the prosecutor.” ’ ” State ex rel.
Duran v. Kelsey, 106 Ohio St. 3d 58, 2005-Ohio-3674, 831 N.E.2d 450, quoting
State v. Buchanan, 154 Ohio App. 3d 250, 2003-Ohio-4772, 796 N.E.2d 1003, at
¶13, quoting State v. Pettiford, 12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2001-08-014, 2002 WL
652371, *3.
{¶21} At her plea hearing, the trial court informed Appellant that she could
receive more than the recommended eight-month sentence and was admonished
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 13
that using drugs or failing to appear at her sentencing could result in a greater
sentence. She chose to ignore that admonishment. The trial court did not err in
deciding not to impose the recommended eight-month sentence under Kelsey.
b. The Trial Court’s Findings and Considerations are Supported in the
Record.
1. Prison Terms.
{¶22} In sentencing Appellant, the trial court considered in part Appellant’s
presentence investigation indicating that she had previously served a prison term.
This was sufficient to rebut the presumption of a community control sanction for a
fourth- or fifth-degree felony, and imbued the trial court with discretion to impose
the prison terms under R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(b)(ix).
{¶23} The trial court also stated that it relied on the “overriding principals of
felony sentencing,” including the “minimum sanctions necessary to accomplish the
purposes of felony sentencing” (R.C. 2929.11), and “considered” the “relevant
seriousness and recidivism factors” (R.C. 2929.12) in deciding that Appellant was
not amenable to community control and prison was necessary.
{¶24} The trial court was not required to make any findings regarding the
particular length of the sentence as long as it was within the permissible statutory
range. Davis, 4th Dist. Highland No. 06CA21, 2007-Ohio-3944, ¶ 41. Both of
Appellant’s prison terms were within the statutory range. See R.C. 2929.14(A)(4)
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 14
and (5) (for a fourth-degree felony the range is 6-18 months and for a fifth-degree
felony the range is 6-12 months).
{¶25} Therefore, we find that the trial court’s consideration of R.C. 2929.11
and 2929.12 in sentencing appellant to an eighteen-month prison term for receiving
stolen property is supported by the record. We further find that the trial court’s
consideration of R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 in sentencing appellant to a six-month
prison term for aggravated possession of drugs is also supported in the record.
Washington, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 17CA8, 2018-Ohio-3545, ¶ 22, (Abele, J.
concurring) (“the general guidance sentencing statutes of R.C. 2929.11 and
2929.12 * * * merely require courts to “consider” the statutory factors” when
imposing a sentence).
{¶26} Accordingly, we hold that the trial court’s findings and considerations
in sentencing Appellant to the two prison terms are supported in the record.
2. Consecutive Sentences.
{¶27} In ordering Appellant’s prison terms to be served consecutively, the
sentencing entry stated: consecutive service of sentences is necessary to protect
the public from future crime and to punish the [Appellant] and that consecutive
sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of [Appellant’s] conduct and
the danger that the [Appellant] poses to the public. Further, the Court finds that
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 15
[Appellant’s] history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences
are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the [Appellant].
{¶28} These findings are consistent with those required by R.C.
2929.14(C)(4)(b) & (c).2
CONCLUSION
{¶29} Because we find no clear and convincing evidence that the trial
court’s findings are not supported by the record, we overrule Appellant’s
assignment of error and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
2
While it did not recite R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b) word-for-word, we nevertheless discern that the trial court engaged in
the correct analysis and conclude that the record contains evidence to support the findings. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St. 3d
209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 29.
Ross App. No. 19CA3683 16
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and that costs be
assessed to Appellant.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal. It is ordered
that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Ross County Court of
Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON
BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR
THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days
upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow
Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio an application for a stay during
the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay is continued by this entry, it
will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure
of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the
forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of
the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses
the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of
such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule
27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Abele, J. and Hess, J. concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court,
______________________________
Jason P. Smith
Presiding Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the
date of filing with the clerk.