State v. Hancock

[Cite as State v. Hancock, 2023-Ohio-1102.]
COURT OF APPEALS
MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO, : JUDGES:
: Hon. John W. Wise, P.J.
Plaintiff - Appellee : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
: Hon. Andrew J. King, J.
-vs- :
:
BRITTANY HANCOCK, : Case No. CT2022-0059
:
Defendant - Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Muskingum County
Court, Case No. CRB 2100648
JUDGMENT: Vacated
DATE OF JUDGMENT: March 31, 2023
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
RON WELCH CRAIG JAQUITH
Prosecuting Attorney Assistant State Public Defender
Muskingum County, Ohio 250 East Broad Street - Suite 1400
Columbus, Ohio 43215
By: JOHN CONNOR DEVER
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Muskingum County, Ohio
27 North Fifth St., P.O. Box 189
Zanesville, Ohio 43702
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0059 2
Baldwin, J.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND THE CASE
{¶1} On December 21, 2021, Detective Jeremy Archer of the Muskingum County
Sheriff’s Office filed a complaint against the appellant on one count of knowingly
permitting her premises to be used for the commission of a felony drug abuse offense by
another person in violation of R.C. 2925.13(B), a misdemeanor of the first degree; and,
three counts of creating a substantial risk to the health or safety of her child, A.C.O. (DOB
08/30/2019), by violating a duty of care, protection, or support, based upon the aforesaid
drug abuse offense, in violation of R.C. 2919.22(A), misdemeanors of the first degree.
The appellant pleaded not guilty on January 12, 2022.
{¶2} The matter was set for trial, and a pretrial hearing was scheduled for March
7, 2022. The appellant appeared for the March 7, 2022 hearing and changed her plea.
The appellant entered a plea of guilty to all charges, at which time the court imposed the
following sentence: appellant was ordered to a five (5) year community control sanction;
she was ordered to not receive any criminal convictions or be convicted of a first-degree
misdemeanor traffic offense; and, she was required to perform forty (40) hours of
community service within sixty (60) days of her March 7, 2022 sentencing. The trial court
further stated that violation of any of the terms of her community control would result in a
$4,000 fine and eighteen (18) months in jail.
{¶3} On June 27, 2022, the trial court conducted a hearing at which it addressed
the issue of whether the appellant had violated the terms of her community control. The
appellee State of Ohio was not present at the hearing, nor did it submit any evidence on
the issue. The trial court engaged in a brief colloquy with the appellant, but she was not
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0059 3
sworn in. The appellant was not represented by counsel, nor was she told she was entitled
to representation. The trial court determined that she had violated the terms of her
community control, and issued a “re-sentencing entry” in which it imposed an eighteen
(18) month jail term.
{¶4} The appellant filed a timely appeal and has submitted the following
assignments of error:
{¶5} “I. THE STATE FAILED TO PROVE THAT BRITTANY HANCOCK
VIOLATED THE TERMS OF HER COMMUNITY CONTROL SENTENCE, THUS THE
TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FOUND THAT SHE HAD COMMITTED A VIOLATION
OF COMMUNITY CONTROL.”
{¶6} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DID NOT INFORM MS.
HANCOCK OF HER RIGHT TO COUNSEL, AND WHEN IT SENTENCED HER TO A
TERM OF CONFINEMENT WITHOUT FIRST PROVIDING HER WITH APPOINTED
COUNSEL.”
{¶7} The appellant argues that the trial court erred when it imposed a sentence
of eighteen months for violation of community control when the appellee failed to prove
any violation, and when the trial court failed to advise the appellant of her right to counsel
at the June 27, 2022, hearing at which the sentence was imposed.1 We agree.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
{¶8} Crim. R. 32.3 addresses revocation of probation, and provides:
1
The appellee State of Ohio asserts that the issues raised by the appellant are moot. In
the alternative, the appellee agrees that the remainder of the trial court’s sentence
regarding an alleged violation of community control cannot be imposed upon the
appellant due to a lack of compliance with Crim R. 32.3 and Crim. R. 44, and that
“vacating the remaining time would be appropriate.”
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0059 4
(A) Hearing. The court shall not impose a prison term for violation of the
conditions of a community control sanction or revoke probation except after
a hearing at which the defendant shall be present and apprised of the
grounds on which action is proposed. The defendant may be admitted to
bail pending hearing.
(B) Counsel. The defendant shall have the right to be represented by
retained counsel and shall be so advised. Where a defendant convicted of
a serious offense is unable to obtain counsel, counsel shall be assigned to
represent the defendant, unless the defendant after being fully advised of
his or her right to assigned counsel, knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily
waives the right to counsel. Where a defendant convicted of a petty offense
is unable to obtain counsel, the court may assign counsel to represent the
defendant.
(C) Confinement in petty offense cases. If confinement after
conviction was precluded by Crim. R. 44(B), revocation of probation shall
not result in confinement.
If confinement after conviction was not precluded by Crim. R. 44(B),
revocation of probation shall not result in confinement unless, at the
revocation hearing, there is compliance with Crim. R. 44(B).
(D) Waiver of counsel. Waiver of counsel shall be as prescribed in
Crim. R. 44(C).
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0059 5
{¶9} Crim. R. 44 provides in pertinent part:
* * *
(B) Counsel in petty offenses. Where a defendant charged with a petty
offense is unable to obtain counsel, the court may assign counsel to
represent the defendant. When a defendant charged with a petty offense is
unable to obtain counsel, no sentence of confinement may be imposed
upon the defendant, unless after being fully advised by the court, the
defendant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waives assignment of
counsel.
(C) Waiver of counsel. Waiver of counsel shall be in open court and the
advice and waiver shall be recorded as provided in Rule 22. In addition, in
serious offense cases the waiver shall be in writing.
(D) Assignment procedure. The determination of whether a defendant
is able or unable to obtain counsel shall be made in a recorded proceeding
in open court.
{¶10} Revocation of community control was discussed by this court in State v.
Miller, 5th Dist. Morgan No. 19AP0003, 2020-Ohio-131 as follows:
Because a community control revocation hearing is not a criminal
trial, the state does not have to establish a violation with proof beyond a
reasonable doubt. State v. Wolfson, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 03CA25, 2004-
Ohio-2750, 2004 WL 1178724, ¶ 7. See, also, State v. Payne, 12th Dist.
Warren No. CA2001-09-081, 2002 WL 649403; State v. Hylton, 75 Ohio
App.3d 778, 782, 600 N.E.2d 821 (4th Dist. 1991). Instead, the state need
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0059 6
only present “substantial” proof a defendant willfully violated the community
control conditions. See, Hylton, 75 Ohio App.3d at 782, 600 N.E.2d 821.
(Emphasis added.) Id. at ¶22.
{¶11} In this case, not only did the State of Ohio fail to present “substantial proof”
of the appellant’s willful violation of her community control conditions, it did not even
appear for the revocation hearing.
{¶12} Furthermore, the appellant was not represented by counsel at the
revocation hearing, nor did the trial court advise her that she was entitled to counsel, in
clear violation of her constitutional rights.
{¶13} This court addressed a factually similar case in State v. Kling, 5th Dist. Stark
No. 2022CA00433, 2003-Ohio-2127. In Kling, the defendant was charged with driving
under the influence and under suspension. She pleaded no contest, and was sentenced
to three (3) days in a driver's intervention program and 175 days incarceration, with credit
for one day served and 174 days suspended. She failed to complete the intervention
program, and a hearing was conducted on her failure. At the hearing, she was not
informed of her right to counsel, nor was she informed of her right to an evidentiary
hearing. The trial court imposed the remaining portion of her sentence, and an appeal
followed. The Kling court stated:
This Court in State v. Nelson (Feb. 18, 2003), Stark App.
No.2002CA00229, 2003-Ohio-934 relied on Argersinger v. Hamlin
(1972), 407 U.S. 25 which stated:
Absent knowing and intelligent waiver, no person may be imprisoned for
any offense, whether classified as petty, misdemeanor or felony, unless
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0059 7
he was represented by counsel at his trial. U.S.C.A. Const. Amends. 6,
14; 18 U.S.C.A. 3006A(b); Fed.Rules Crim.Proc. rule 44(a), 18 U.S.C.A.;
Const.Or. Art 1, 9.
Therefore, in the case sub judice the constitutional guarantees of
due process were not provided.
Id. at ¶23-24.
{¶14} Based upon the trial court’s failure to ensure that the defendant was
afforded due process, the decision of the trial court was reversed. Id. at ¶25.
{¶15} In this case, the trial court failed to ensure that the appellant’s constitutional
guarantees of due process were provided. First, the appellee State of Ohio did not appear
at the hearing, and presented no evidence regarding the appellant’s alleged failure to
comply with the terms of her community control sanction. Second, the appellee was not
advised of her right to counsel for purposes of the hearing at which her community control
was revoked and sentence imposed, nor did she knowingly and intelligently waive her
right to counsel.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0059 8
{¶16} Based upon the foregoing, we find that Muskingum County Court’s
judgment imposing sentence upon the appellant for violation of community control was
contrary to law, and the decision is therefore vacated.
By: Baldwin, J.
Wise, John, P.J. and
King, Andrew, J. concur.