State v. Burnsworth

[Cite as State v. Burnsworth, 2020-Ohio-5365.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
HURON COUNTY
State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. H-20-002
Appellee Trial Court No. CRI 2019-0571
v.
Thomas Marion Burnsworth, Jr. DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Appellant Decided: November 20, 2020
*****
James Joel Sitterly, Huron County Prosecuting Attorney, and
Melissa A. Angst, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
Sarah A. Nation, for appellant.
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MAYLE, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, Thomas M. Burnsworth, Jr., appeals the January 10, 2020
judgment of the Huron County Court of Common Pleas, sentencing him to an aggregate
prison term of ten years following his conviction on two counts of sexual battery. For the
reasons that follow, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
I. Background
{¶ 2} On June 28, 2019, Thomas M. Burnsworth, Jr., was indicted on one count of
rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b) and (B), a first-degree felony (Count 1); one
count of rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2) and (B), a first-degree felony (Count 2);
one count of gross sexual imposition in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(1) and (C)(1), a
fourth-degree felony (Count 3); three counts of gross sexual imposition in violation of
R.C. 2907.05(A)(4) and (C)(2), each a third-degree felony (Counts 4, 5, and 7); one count
of gross sexual imposition in violation of R.C. 2907.05(B) and (C)(2), a third-degree
felony (Count 6); and two counts of sexual battery in violation of R.C. 2907.03(A)(1)(B),
each a second-degree felony (Counts 8 and 9). The conduct giving rise to the charges
occurred over a three-year period. The victim of each count was Burnsworth’s stepsister.
Burnsworth was appointed counsel and appeared before the trial court on July 17, 2019.
He entered a not guilty plea to all counts.
{¶ 3} On November 12, 2019, Burnsworth appeared for a final pretrial. The trial
court was advised that appellant and the state had entered into a plea agreement under
which appellant would plead guilty to the sexual battery charges alleged in Counts 8 and
9 and the state would request dismissal of all remaining counts. Burnsworth then entered
a guilty plea in accordance with the agreement. On January 8, 2020, the trial court
sentenced Burnsworth to a mandatory five-year prison term on each count. The trial
court ordered the sentences imposed to be served consecutively for an aggregate prison
sentence of ten years. The trial court also imposed mandatory postrelease control for a
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term of five years and ordered appellant to pay all costs. The trial court dismissed the
remaining counts at the state’s request and its judgment entry was journalized the
following day.
{¶ 4} Burnsworth timely appeals and asserts the following error for our review:
1. The trial court failed to give proper consideration to the
sentencing factors set forth in R.C. 2929.14 for consecutive sentences in the
sentencing of the appellant.
II. Law and Analysis
{¶ 5} We review felony sentences under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). State v. Goings, 6th
Dist. Lucas No. L-13-1103, 2014-Ohio-2322, ¶ 20. We may increase, modify, or vacate
and remand a trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentences only if we clearly and
convincingly find that: (1) “the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings
under division * * * (C)(4) of section 2929.14, * * *” or (2) “the sentence is otherwise
contrary to law.” Id., citing R.C. 2953.08(G)(2).
{¶ 6} Burnsworth argues that the trial court’s order to serve his sentences
consecutively is contrary to law because the trial court failed to make any statements
supporting the necessary findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) to impose consecutive
sentences. R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) provides as follows:
If multiple prison terms are imposed on an offender for convictions
of multiple offenses, the court may require the offender to serve the prison
terms consecutively if the court finds that the consecutive service is
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necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender
and that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of
the offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public,
and if the court also finds any of the following:
(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 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.
{¶ 7} This statute requires the trial court to make three statutory findings before
imposing consecutive sentences. State v. Beasley, 153 Ohio St.3d 497, 2018-Ohio-493,
108 N.E.3d 1028, ¶ 252; State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16
N.E.3d 659, ¶ 26. It must find (1) that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the
public or to punish the offender; (2) that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to
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the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger that the offender poses to the
public; and (3) that R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a), (b), or (c) is applicable. Beasley at ¶ 252.
“[T]he trial court must make the requisite findings both at the sentencing hearing and in
the sentencing entry.” (Emphasis in original.) Id. at ¶ 253, citing Bonnell at ¶ 37. A trial
court’s failure to make the necessary findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) renders the
imposition of consecutive sentences contrary to law. See State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d
209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 37; State v. Kubat, 6th Dist. Sandusky No.
S-13-046, 2015-Ohio-4062, ¶ 35. In addition, the record must contain evidence to
support the trial court’s findings. Bonnell at ¶ 29, citing R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(a).
{¶ 8} Burnsworth concedes that the trial court made the necessary findings at the
sentencing hearing and incorporated those findings in its judgment entry. He argues,
however, that the trial court’s findings were contrary to law because it did not “make any
further statements justifying the consecutive sentence.” Burnsworth’s argument suggests
that the trial court must explain its R.C. 2929.14(C) findings when imposing consecutive
sentences. This is incorrect. We previously held that “[w]hile the sentencing court is
required to make findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) before imposing consecutive
sentences, it is not required to give reasons explaining the findings.” State v. Green, 6th
Dist. Sandusky No. S-16-010, 2017-Ohio-45 ¶ 11.
{¶ 9} Here, there is no dispute that the trial court made the proper findings at the
sentencing hearing and incorporated those findings into its judgment entry. Thus, the
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only question for us to answer is whether the record contains evidence to support its
findings. We find that it does.
{¶ 10} At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor stated that Burnsworth began
abusing his stepsister in 2014 when he was 19 years old and his stepsister was
approximately 9 or 10 years old. “It began as a sexual contact by having the defendant
touch the victim and the victim’s genitalia then progressed to victim having to touch the
defendant’s genitalia.” The abuse then intensified over the years. The prosecutor stated
that Burnsworth admitting that he “insert[ed] his fingers into the victim’s vagina on
repeated occasions.” The abuse was discovered when a family member observed
Burnsworth “massaging [the victim’s] vagina out in public.” Burnsworth’s attorney did
not dispute the prosecutor’s recitation of facts. And, as the trial court noted, the victim
“has suffered serious consequences as a result” and is going through counseling to
resolve resulting “psychological issues.”
{¶ 11} We find that this record supports the trial court’s findings, as stated at the
sentencing hearing and incorporated into its judgment entry, that (1) consecutive
sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crimes or to adequately punish
Burnsworth; (2) consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of
Burnsworth’s conduct or the danger that he poses to the public, and (3) at least two of the
multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct, and the
harm caused by those were so great that no single prison sentence for the offenses
committed here would adequately reflect the seriousness of Burnsworth’s conduct, and
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Burnsworth’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are
necessary to protect the public from future crimes by Burnsworth.
{¶ 12} In conclusion, the trial court made the findings required by R.C.
2929.14(C)(4), and its findings are supported by the record. Bonnell at ¶ 29.
Accordingly, Burnsworth’s sole assignment of error is found not well-taken.
III. Conclusion
{¶ 13} We find Burnsworth’s assignment of error not well-taken. We, therefore,
affirm the January 10, 2020 judgment of the Huron County Court of Common Pleas.
Burnsworth is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R.24.
Judgment affirmed.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
_______________________________
Christine E. Mayle, J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE
This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.
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