State v. Davis

[Cite as State v. Davis, 2023-Ohio-867.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
MEIGS COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, : Consolidated Case
: Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7,
Plaintiff-Appellee, : 21CA8, 21CA9
:
v. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
ANTHONY G. DAVIS, :
:
Defendant-Appellant. :
APPEARANCES:
Donald K. Pond, Akron, Ohio, for Appellant.
James K. Stanley, Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney, Pomeroy, Ohio, for
Appellee.
Smith, P.J.
{¶1} In this consolidated appeal, Anthony G. Davis appeals the July 27,
2021 and September 17, 2021 entries of the Meigs County Court of Common
Pleas.1 In 2020, the Meigs County Grand Jury returned four separate indictments
against Davis. In 2021, Davis pled guilty to multiple counts. This appeal concerns
Davis’s plea to the sole count of failure to comply, R.C. 2921.331(B)(C)(5),
contained in the fourth indictment in Meigs County Case No. 20-CR-152.
1
Davis references the September entry as dated “September 19, 2021,” which we consider to be a scrivener’s error.
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 2
{¶2} On appeal, Davis asserts his counsel rendered ineffective assistance by
failing to file a motion on Davis’s behalf to dismiss the failure to comply count on
speedy trial grounds. For the reasons which follow, we find no merit to Davis’s
arguments. Accordingly, we overrule the sole assignment of error and affirm
Davis’s conviction and the judgment of the trial court.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
{¶3} On July 14, 2020, Davis was indicted by the Meigs County Grand Jury
on nine counts which included seven counts of receiving stolen property, one count
of theft, and one count of misuse of credit cards. All counts were alleged to have
occurred on June 22, 2020. This nine-count indictment was assigned Meigs
County Common Pleas Court Case Number 20-CR-014. For simplification, we
will refer to this indictment as “Case One.” Case One involved several victims
including Levi Schwartz, Henry Doerfer, and Leading Creek Water.
{¶4} Also on July 14, 2020, Davis was indicted on two counts of receiving
stolen property alleged to have occurred on or about January 23, 2020. This case
was assigned Meigs County Common Pleas Court Case Number 20-CR-076, “Case
Two.” This case involved alleged victims Daniel Storms and Aiden Tackett.
Davis was not arraigned on these cases until October 22, 2020, after his arrest on
the warrants issued in Cases One and Two. In each case, Davis’s bond was set at
$50,000.00 cash or surety, with 10% permitted. Davis remained incarcerated.
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 3
{¶5} Davis was subsequently indicted on November 10, 2020, on one count
of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. The alleged date of
this occurrence was September 9, 2020. This matter was assigned Meigs County
Common Pleas Court Case Number 20-CR-151, “Case Three.”
{¶6} Subject of this appeal, Davis was also indicted on November 10, 2020,
for failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, causing a substantial
risk of serious harm to persons or property, in violation of R.C.
2921.331(B)&(C)(5). The alleged violation date was October 10, 2020. This case
was assigned Meigs County Common Pleas Court Case Number 20-CR-152, “Case
Four.”
{¶7} On November 12, 2020, Davis appeared via Zoom from the Middleport
Jail and verbalized his desire to be arraigned in person so arraignment was
continued to November 18, 2020. At arraignment, Davis’s bond in Cases Three
and Four was set at $50,000.00, with 10% permitted. Davis remained in jail. At
this time, all four cases advanced together through the remainder of the
proceedings.
{¶8} On November 20, 2020, Davis’s attorney entered a notice of
appearance and filed a demand for discovery and request for bill of particulars on
Davis’s behalf. On November 24, 2020, the State of Ohio filed its response to
discovery. A jury trial was scheduled for January 11, 2021. On December 30,
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 4
2020, the court journalized an entry which indicated “Speedy trial is tolled during
the period of this continuance. Reason: Jury trial continued by court due to
COVID issues.” Davis’s trial was continued to February 22, 2021.
{¶9} A status hearing was conducted on February 3, 2021. On that date,
Davis’s attorney filed a motion to reduce bond. In a February 9, 2021 entry, the
court vacated the jury trial date due to pending motions and noted that speedy trial
was tolled. The motion to reduce bond was heard and denied on February 22,
2021.
{¶10} Davis’s trial was then scheduled for March 22, 2021. On March 18,
2021, Davis filed a motion to continue the trial date. On March 23, 2021, the
court’s entry continued the trial to May 3, 2021. The trial court’s notes indicate
that at an April 26, 2021 motions hearing, defense counsel requested separate trial
dates for the four cases, which the trial court granted. An April 27, 2021 entry also
continued the jury trial to July 15, 2021, due to the defendant’s motion for
continuance.
{¶11} On June 22, 2021, Davis entered a guilty plea to various counts
contained in all four indictments pursuant to a plea agreement with the State of
Ohio. To summarize, in Case One he pled guilty to one count of theft; Case Two,
one count of receiving stolen property; and in Cases Three and Four he pled guilty
to both counts of failure to comply. In exchange, the State of Ohio agreed to
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 5
dismiss all remaining counts and recommend consecutive sentences on the counts
for a sentence of 60 months total in prison. The State also agreed to recognizance
bonds for seven days in order for Davis to get his affairs in order, with a date for
return and sentencing set as June 29, 2021. It was also agreed that sentencing on
the count of failure to comply in Case Three was held in abeyance and would
actually be dismissed if Davis returned to the jail as ordered.
{¶12} Unfortunately, Davis failed to report to the jail on June 29th. A
warrant for his arrest was issued. Davis was thereafter brought before the court on
July 26, 2021 and sentenced to an aggregate prison term of seven years on Cases
Two, Three, and Four. The State indicated it intended to proceed on the remaining
counts alleged in Case One. Sentencing was continued to September 13, 2021.
{¶13} However, on September 13, 2021 (journalized September 17, 2021),
the state declined to proceed on the remaining counts. The trial court sentenced
Davis on Case One to 12 months in prison, consecutive to the prison terms
imposed in the other three cases, for an aggregate prison sentence of eight years.
{¶14} On October 13, 2021, Davis filed a motion for a delayed appeal in
Case Four. This court granted Davis’s motion on November 8, 2021, observing
that the notices of appeal in Cases One, Two, and Three were not timely filed and
agreeing with Davis’s assertion that for judicial economy, it had been necessary to
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 6
complete all four cases before filing notices of appeal. This court also, sua sponte,
consolidated all four cases on appeal.2
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
I. APPELLANT SUFFERED A DEPRIVATION OF
HIS RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF
COUNSEL, PURSUANT TO THE SIXTH AND
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND
ARTICLE I, SECTION 10 OF THE OHIO
CONSTITUTION. PRIOR TO APPELLANT’S
GUILTY PLEA, DEFENSE COUNSEL FAILED
TO MOVE THE TRIAL COURT FOR A
2
The criminal docketing statement and notice of appeal in Case Four indicate that Davis is appealing the July 27,
2021 judgment entry of the trial court. Davis attaches the July 27, 2021 entry but does not attach the September 17,
2021 entry. Given that the parties intended to resolve all four cases simultaneously, the July 27, 2021 judgment
entry may be viewed as an interlocutory order. An interlocutory order is “[a]n order that relates to some
intermediate matter in the case; any order other than a final order.” Black's Law Dictionary (10th Ed.2014). See
State v. Rohrer, 2015-Ohio-5333, 54 N.E.3d 654, at ¶ 15 (4th Dist.). Interlocutory orders merge into final orders.
Id. (Internal citations omitted.) On July 27, 2021, it does not appear that Davis’s cases were entirely resolved. But
the July 27, 2021 judgment entry merged into the final September 17, 2021 judgment entry.
Ohio App.R. 3(A) provides, “Failure of an appellant to take any step other than the timely filing of a notice of
appeal does not affect the validity of the appeal but is ground only for such action as the court of appeals deems
appropriate, which may include dismissal of the appeal.” See Transamerica Ins. Co. V. Nolan, 72 Ohio St. 3d 320,
649 N.E.2d 1229, at 1231. Pursuant to App.R. 3(A), the only jurisdictional requirement for the filing of a valid
appeal is the timely filing of a notice of appeal. Id. When presented with other defects in the notice of appeal, a
court of appeals is vested with discretion to determine whether sanctions, including dismissal, are warranted, and its
decision will not be overturned absent an abuse of discretion. See State v. Gray, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 99CA07,
2000WL 502821 (Apr. 21, 2000), Fn 1 (Where the State did not object to the appeal on jurisdictional grounds, State
was not prejudiced by its lack of notice regarding Gray’s intent to appeal a related judgment entry, and the basis of
the appeal was identical for both charges in separate judgment entries, it would be unjust not to consider the related
judgment entry).
In granting the motion for delayed appeal, this court deemed submitted the notices of appeal filed in all four cases on
October 13, 2021. We also consolidated the cases for purposes of the appeal. The September judgment entry was
attached to the notice of appeal in Case One. Although the notice of appeal in Case Four did not contain the
September judgment entry, it cannot be said that the State was prejudiced by any lack of notice of the entry. In the
interests of justice, despite the defect in Davis’s notice of appeal, we will consider his assignment of error.
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 7
DISMISSAL OF THE CASE PURSUANT TO A
STATUTORY SPEEDY TRIAL VIOLATION.
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶15} The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article
I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution, provide that defendants in all criminal
proceedings shall have the assistance of counsel for their defense. To establish
constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that (1)
counsel's performance was deficient, and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced
the defense and deprived the defendant of a fair trial. See Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984). To establish deficient
performance, a defendant must prove that counsel's performance fell below an
objective level of reasonable representation. See State v. Dixon, 4th Dist. Hocking
No. 21CA8, 2022-Ohio-2807, at ¶ 14; State v. Conway, 109 Ohio St.3d 412, 2006-
Ohio-2815, 848 N.E.2d 810, ¶ 95.
{¶16} “When a court examines whether counsel's representation amounts to
deficient performance, ‘a court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's
conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.’ ”
Dixon, supra, at ¶ 15, quoting, Strickland at 689, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052.
Moreover, because a properly licensed attorney is presumed to execute all duties
ethically and competently, State v. Taylor, 4th Dist. Washington No. 07CA11,
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 8
2008-Ohio-482, ¶ 10, to establish ineffectiveness a defendant must demonstrate
that counsel's errors were “so serious” that counsel failed to function “as the
‘counsel’ guaranteed * * * by the Sixth Amendment.” Strickland at 687, 466 U.S.
668, 104 S.Ct. 2052.
{¶17} Generally, when considering an ineffective assistance claim, a
defendant must overcome a presumption that counsel's challenged action might be
considered sound trial strategy. See Dixon, supra, at ¶ 18; State v. Hankison, 4th
Dist. Scioto No. 09CA3326, 2010-Ohio-4617, at ¶ 105. Judicial scrutiny of a
lawyer's performance is highly deferential. See Dixon, supra; State v. Sallie, 81
Ohio St.3d 673, 693 N.E.2d 267; State v. Newton, 2017-Ohio-7068, 95 N.E.3d 789(8th Dist.).
{¶18} A court need not analyze both Strickland test prongs, deficient
performance and prejudice to the defendant resulting in an unfair trial, if it can
resolve the claim under one prong. See State v. Madrigal, 87 Ohio St.3d 378, 389,
721 N.E.2d 52 (2000); State v. Bowling, 4th Dist. Jackson No. 19CA2, 2020-Ohio-
813, ¶ 12-13.
B. LEGAL ANALYSIS
{¶19} Under the sole assignment of error, Davis argues his counsel rendered
ineffective assistance by failing to move the court for a dismissal of Meigs County
Case Number 20-CR-152, Case Four, based upon statutory speedy trial grounds.
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 9
Furthermore, Davis points out his counsel advised him to enter a guilty plea.
These issues are interrelated because a guilty plea waives a defendant's right to
challenge R.C. 2945.71 statutory speedy trial claims. See Dixon, supra, at ¶ 17;
State v. Kelley, 57 Ohio St.3d 127, 566 N.E.2d 658 (1991), paragraph one of the
syllabus.
{¶20} The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution (which is
made applicable to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment) and Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution guarantee a
criminal defendant the right to a speedy trial; this guarantee is implemented by
R.C. 2945.71, which provides specific statutory time limits within which a person
must be brought to trial. See State v. Smith, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 16CA10,
2017-Ohio-7864, at ¶ 20; State v. Blackburn, 118 Ohio St.3d 163, 2008-Ohio-
1823, 887 N.E.2d 319, ¶ 10. Statutory and constitutional rights are separate and
distinct from one another. See State v. Belville, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 19CA27,
2021-Ohio-820, at ¶ 9; State v. Hilyard, 4th Dist. Vinton No. 05CA98, 2005-Ohio-
4957, at ¶ 7. Here, Davis’s argument is directed towards only a statutory speedy
trial violation and does not contend that his constitutional right to a speedy trial
was violated.
{¶21} R.C. 2945.71(C)(2) “requires that a person against whom a felony
charge is pending shall be brought to trial within 270 days after the person's
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 10
arrest.” State v. Adams, 144 Ohio St.3d 429, 2015-Ohio-3954, 45 N.E.3d 127, ¶
81. “For purposes of calculating speedy-trial time, ‘each day during which the
accused is held in lieu of bail on the pending charge shall be counted as three
days.’ ” State v. Ramey, 132 Ohio St.3d 309, 2012-Ohio-2904, 971 N.E.2d 937, ¶
15, quoting R.C. 2945.71(E). “Thus, subject to certain tolling events, a jailed
defendant must be tried within 90 days.” Id. When Davis was indicted in Meigs
County Case Number 20-CR-152, Case Four, he was incarcerated. He remained
incarcerated until he entered a plea in Case Four on June 22, 2021. During that
time, 224 days elapsed.
{¶22} Davis asserts that the State of Ohio had 90 days to try Case Four.
Davis acknowledges that at the time he was indicted in Cases Three and Four on
November 10, 2020, he was already being held in jail on Cases One and Two.
Because Davis remained in jail through resolution of all four separate criminal
cases and entered a guilty plea on June 22, 2021, he argues that the indictments in
Cases One, Two, Three, and Four all share a “common litigation history,” thus
entitling him to the benefit of the “triple-count provision” of R.C. 2945.71(E).
Davis directs us to State v. Midgett, 5th Dist. Richland No. 2020CA0058, 2021-
Ohio-2317, wherein the appellate court reversed Midgett’s convictions based on a
finding that because Midgett’s cases shared a common litigation history, the trial
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 11
court erred in denying Midgett’s motion to dismiss for violating his right to a
speedy trial. However, we do not find Midgett analogous to the case at bar.
{¶23} Midgett was the target of an investigation by the METRICH
Enforcement Unit, a law enforcement drug task force based in Richland County.
METRICH conducted a controlled buy from Midgett on June 19, 2019. Further
controlled buys were conducted at the same residence where Midgett initially sold
drugs to an agent. On June 26, 2019, a search warrant was executed for the
residence. Midgett was present at the time and was arrested. Three complaints
were filed in the Mansfield Municipal Court alleging drug trafficking on June 19,
2019 and on June 26, 2019. The municipal court created two cases from these
complaints.
{¶24} Later, the matter was bound over to the common pleas court where
the grand jury returned a single ten-count indictment. Counts one through six
pertained to the events surrounding execution of the search warrant on June 26,
2019. Counts seven through ten related to the controlled buy on June 19. Midgett
later filed a motion to dismiss based on speedy trial violations and arguing that he
was entitled to the three-for-one credit set forth in R.C. 2945.71(E). The trial court
denied this motion.
{¶25} On appeal, the 5th District found Midgett’s case was akin to
State v. Parker, 113 Ohio St. 3d 207, 2007-Ohio-1534, 863 N.E.2d 1032. In
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 12
Parker, the defendant was arrested and charged with two felony drug
charges and a misdemeanor charge for carrying a concealed weapon, and the
municipal court set bond on all three charges. Parker at ¶ 2-3. The felonies
were bound over to the common pleas court where the defendant's bond was
modified to a personal recognizance bond. Id. at ¶ 4. However, Parker
remained jailed on the misdemeanor charge, which required bail in the form
of cash or a surety bond. Id. The Court held that “when multiple charges
arise from a criminal incident and share a common litigation history, pretrial
incarceration on the multiple charges constitutes incarceration on the
‘pending charge’ for the purposes of the triple-count provision of the
speedy-trial statute, R.C. 2745.71(E).” Id. at paragraph one of the syllabus.
Consequently, the triple-count provision applied in Parker’s case. Similarly,
the Midgett court found: “Here multiple charges stemmed from one
investigation of one residence, which produced multiple related charges
which shared a common litigation history. We find therefore, that Appellant
was held in jail in lieu of bail ‘on the pending charge’ pursuant to R.C.
2945.71(E).” Id. at ¶ 51. As indicated, Midgett’s convictions were reversed.
{¶26} Here, Davis argues that, as in Midgett, it became clear that multiple
related charges stemmed from one investigation. In support, Davis cites to the
transcript of his suppression hearing in Case One which occurred on January 13,
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 13
2021. During that hearing, Deputy Garrett Hill of the Meigs County Sheriff’s
Department testified that “Anthony Davis was a suspect in several theft [sic] and
stolen property cases in Meigs County.” According to Davis, Deputy Hill’s
testimony, as in Midgett, demonstrates that the cases against Davis shared a thread
of “continuous investigation.”
{¶27} We disagree. The multiple indictments in Cases One, Two, Three,
and Four clearly do not originate from one criminal incident. The allegations
contained in Case One occurred on June 22, 2020. These allegations involved
three victims. The allegations of Case Two occurred on January 23, 2020. These
involved two additional new victims. The allegation contained in Case Three was
that Davis failed to comply with the order or signal of a police officer on
September 9, 2020. The same allegation in Case Four occurred on October 10,
2020. These were all separate criminal incidents occurring on different dates and
involving different victims. Deputy Hill’s loose characterization that Davis was a
suspect in several cases does not demonstrate a continuous investigation of one
criminal incident.
{¶28} Davis also asserts the cases share a “common litigation history”
because once he was arraigned on the indictments in Cases One through Four, the
cases were scheduled at the same dates and times for hearings, motions, and
journal entries. We disagree. This Court considered the issue of whether or not
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 14
cases share a common litigation history in State v. Sydnor, 4th Dist. Scioto No.
10CA3359, 2011-Ohio-3922.
{¶29} On October 19, 2006, Portsmouth police were informed that
individuals were selling drugs at the informant’s house. On that date, police
arrested Sydnor after 2.8 grams of crack cocaine was found on his person. On
October 23, 2006, Sydnor was indicted on six felony counts which included
possession, trafficking, weapon under disability, and possession of criminal tools.
Sydnor was arraigned, posted bond, and failed to appear at a pretrial hearing. We
considered this “Case One.”
{¶30} On December 21, 2006, Sydnor was also indicted for events which
occurred on or about December 5, 2006. The felonies in this indictment were
possession, trafficking, criminal tools, and escape, “Case Two.” Sydnor was re-
arrested on the outstanding bench warrant on September 15, 2009. From this date
forward, the trial court conducted pre-trial hearings together for both cases. Prior
to his trial on Case One, Sydnor moved to dismiss the case on speedy trial grounds.
The trial court denied his motion.
{¶31} On appeal, Sydnor argued that Cases One and Two shared a common
litigation history and the triple-court provision should have applied. We noted:
The triple-count provision applies “only to those defendants held
in jail in lieu of bail solely on the pending charge.” State v.
MacDonald, 48 Ohio St.2d 66, (1976), at paragraph one of the
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 15
syllabus (emphasis added). Thus, when a defendant awaits trial
on separate unrelated cases, the triple-count provision does not
apply. State v. Ladd, 56 Ohio St.2d 197, 203 (1978); State v.
Kaiser, 56 Ohio St.2d 29, 34 (1978); State v. Dankworth, 172
Ohio App.3d 159, 2007-Ohio-2588, at ¶ 35; State v. Johnson, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 81692 & 81693, 2003-Ohio-3241, at ¶ 14;
State v. Allen (Oct. 6, 1997), Fayette App. No. CA97-02-004.
Sydnor at ¶ 19.
{¶32} Sydnor also cited State v. Parker, supra, based on the premise
that Cases One and Two shared a common litigation history, and, therefore,
under Parker, the triple-count provision should apply. Sydnor noted that all
the pretrial hearings were conducted together. Sydnor contended that “the
behavior of all parties involved shows that they proceeded and acted as if
there was only one case going to trial.” Appellant's brief at 14. Sydnor
claimed that it was unclear whether the April 26, 2010 amendment of the
indictment for Case One actually merged with the indictment for Case Two.
And Sydnor asserted that trial was set for Case Two on April 26, 2010, but
“the State did not even bother to present evidence of the events which gave
rise to [Case Two].” Id. Therefore, according to Sydnor, the triple-count
provision should apply because Case One and Case Two shared a common
litigation history.
{¶33} We found Parker to be inapposite. Notably, Parker was held in
jail because he faced charges in two jurisdictions (i.e., the Court of Common
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 16
Pleas and Municipal Court) arising from one incident. By contrast, Sydnor's
charges related to different criminal incidents. We found nothing in the
record demonstrating that the charges in Case One, which occurred in
October 2006, were related to the charges in Case Two, which occurred on
or about December 5, 2006. Thus, the fact that the cases appear to have
shared a “common litigation history,” through common pretrial hearings,
did not mean that Parker applied. (Emphasis added.) We found:
Here, the state has shown that the triple-count provision does not
apply. Sydnor was held in jail with two cases pending. Case I
relates to the events from October 2006. And Case II relates to
events that occurred on or about December 5, 2006. Thus,
Sydnor was held on two different cases relating to the events of
different dates. Additionally, the court never consolidated the
separate indictments for Case I and Case II. Therefore, the triple-
count provision does not apply.
Sydnor at ¶20.
{¶34} In our view, the common litigation history created in Davis’s
four cases most likely resulted from the interests of expediency and judicial
economy, not because it can be seriously construed that his cases arose from
a continuous investigation of one criminal incident. See State v. Kelly, 12th
Dist. Warren No. CA2002-04-041, 2002-Ohio-5887, at ¶ 13.
{¶35} The 6th District recently cited Sydnor in its decision in State v.
Wright, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-20-1206, 2022-Ohio-1537. There, Wright
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 17
argued that the triple-count provision should apply in this case because the
state arraigned him on both an indictment containing aggravated murder,
murder, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary charges, and a separate
indictment containing firearms charges on the same day, the cases proceeded
together through litigation, and the trial court sentenced him as to both sets
of charges on the same day. The Wright court noted that while it was true
that the two cases shared a common litigation history, there was nothing in
the record to demonstrate that the charges which arose from the shooting at a
private residence on July 6, 2019 were in any way related to the firearm
charges that arose from law enforcement's discovery of a loaded firearm that
Wright was carrying in his vehicle at the time of a traffic stop on April 22,
2019. Wright held:
Notwithstanding the purported shared litigation history of
appellant's two cases, the triple count provision does not apply
here because the cases relate to different criminal incidents.
Sydnor at ¶ 23. As stated succinctly by the court in Sydnor, “This
is not a situation where multiple charges arise from a single
criminal incident and share a common litigation history.
Therefore, the triple-count provision does not apply.” Id. at ¶ 26.
Wright, supra, at ¶ 87. See also State v. North, 2017-Ohio-492, 85 N.E.3d
112 (12th Dist.), (Appellant’s use of a wheelchair to commit a theft from the
Fairfield Walmart was unrelated to traffic stop which gave rise to possession
of cocaine, possession of marijuana, and obstructing official business
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 18
charges because the two sets of offenses were committed at separate times in
different jurisdictions); State v. Johnson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26032,
2014-Ohio-4506 (Record did not reflect that the two cases at issue arose
from the same criminal incident or shared a common litigation history where
first case involved a charge of carrying a concealed weapon and involved
conduct allegedly occurring on October 1, 2012 and second case involved
felonious assault charges and involved conduct allegedly occurring on
March 30, 2013).
{¶36} We do not find Davis was entitled to triple credit for his days in
custody in Case Four. The multiple indictments in the multiple cases do not
originate from one criminal incident and any common litigation history
likely occurred in the interest of judicial economy. In fact, Davis requested
separate trial dates, ostensibly to avoid giving the jury any appearance of a
pattern of conduct which might prejudice him. We find the state had 270
days, not 90 days, to prosecute Davis’s case.
{¶37} Davis was incarcerated when he was indicted in Case Four on
November 10, 2020 and remained incarcerated through his plea hearing
which occurred on June 22, 2021. During that time, 224 days elapsed, well
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 19
within the 270 days which the State of Ohio had to prosecute his case.3
Hence, we conclude that no violation of appellant's speedy trial rights
occurred.
{¶38} We also conclude that Davis’s attorney did not render
ineffective assistance of counsel. An attorney’s failure to file a futile or
frivolous motion “ ‘ “cannot be the basis for claims of ineffective assistance
of counsel and is not prejudicial.” ’ ” State v. Whitehead, 4th Dist. Scioto
No.20CA3931, 2022-Ohio-479, at ¶ 27, quoting State v. Waters, 4th Dist.
Vinton No. 13CA693, 2014-Ohio-3109, ¶ 12, quoting State v. Witherspoon,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94475, 2011-Ohio-704, ¶ 33. Had Davis’s attorney
filed a motion to dismiss based on speedy trial grounds it would not have
been successful, but rather wholly without merit. Consequently, trial
counsel did not provide ineffective assistance of counsel for the failure to
file a motion to dismiss on speedy trial grounds when the motion would not
have had any reasonable probability of success. See Whitehead, supra, at ¶
38.
{¶39} For the foregoing reasons, we overrule Davis’s sole assignment
of error and affirm his conviction and the judgment of the trial court.
3
Furthermore, we need not calculate the number of days tolled due to discovery filings, defense motions, or the trial
court’s orders with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 20
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and Appellee shall
recover any costs from Appellant.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
Meigs App. Nos. 21CA6, 21CA7, 21CA8, 21CA9 21
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the
Meigs County Common Pleas Court, 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 60 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 60-day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a
notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the 45-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 60 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 Wilkin, 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.