State v. Allen

[Cite as State v. Allen, 2020-Ohio-5155.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
State of Ohio, :
No. 19AP-285
Plaintiff-Appellee, : (C.P.C. No. 18CR-5212)
No. 19AP-286
v. : (C.P.C. No. 18CR-5358)
Lavinia S. Allen, : (REGULAR CALENDAR)
Defendant-Appellant. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on November 3, 2020
On brief: Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and
Kimberly M. Bond, for appellee.
On brief: Yeura Venters, Public Defender, and Timothy E.
Pierce, for appellant.
APPEALS from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
BROWN, J.
{¶ 1} In these consolidated appeals, defendant-appellant, Lavinia S. Allen, appeals
from judgments and sentences entered by the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
following her entry of guilty pleas in Franklin P.C. Nos. 18CR-5212 and 18CR-5358.
{¶ 2} On October 22, 2018, appellant was indicted in case No. 18CR-5212 on two
counts of aggravated robbery, in violation of R.C. 2911.01, and four counts of robbery in
violation of R.C. 2911.02. Four of the counts also included a repeat violent offender
specification. On October 29, 2018, appellant was indicted in case No. 18CR-5358 on one
count of burglary, in violation of R.C. 2911.12, and one count of theft from a person in a
protected class, in violation of R.C. 2913.02.
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 2
{¶ 3} On March 6, 2019, appellant entered a guilty plea in case No. 18CR-5212 to
one count of robbery, in violation of R.C. 2911.02, a felony of the third degree. Also on that
date, appellant entered a guilty plea in case No. 18CR-5358 to one count of burglary, in
violation of R.C. 2911.12, a felony of the second degree.
{¶ 4} On April 3, 2019, the trial court conducted a sentencing hearing in case Nos.
18CR-5212 and 18CR-5358. Also before the court during the hearing was a revocation
request in case No. 16CR-6028 (hereafter "the 2016 case"), in which appellant had been
previously convicted of breaking and entering and placed on community control for two
years, with a 12-month suspended sentence. During the proceedings, defense counsel
stipulated to probable cause and a violation in the 2016 case.
{¶ 5} At the sentencing hearing, the trial court announced it was imposing a 3-year
sentence in case No. 18CR-5358 and an 18-month sentence in case No. 18CR-5212, with the
sentences to be served concurrently. The trial court further advised appellant that, because
of the prison term, "you will be placed on post-release control whereby the Adult Parole
Authority will supervise your behavior upon your release for three years." (Apr. 3, 2019 Tr.
at 13.) With respect to the 2016 case, the trial court stated in part: "I'm just going to
unsuccessfully terminate that case. That's the revocation and that has 173 days out of a
twelve-month sentence. So I'm just going to terminate it." (Apr. 3, 2019 Tr. at 12.)
{¶ 6} On April 3, 2019, the trial court filed a judgment entry in case No. 18CR-5212,
sentencing appellant to 18 months incarceration, to be served concurrently with the
sentence in case No. 18CR-5358. The entry stated the court "finds that the Defendant has
0 days of jail time credit." (Apr. 3, 2019 Entry at 2.) The sentencing entry further stated in
pertinent part:
The Court, pursuant to this entry, notified the Defendant that
the Defendant will receive a mandatory period of post-
release control of up to 3 years, to be determined by the Adult
Parole Authority as it relates to R.C. 2967.28. The Defendant
was informed orally and in writing that if the Defendant
violates post-release control the Adult Parole Authority may, in
the discretion of the Adult Parole Authority, extend the
Defendant's sentence administratively in accordance with
State law for a period not to exceed one-half of the sentence
imposed by this Court.
(Emphasis sic.) (Apr. 3, 2019 Entry at 2.)
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 3
{¶ 7} Also on April 3, 2019, the trial court filed a judgment entry in case No. 18CR-
5358 in which the court imposed a sentence of three years of incarceration on the burglary
charge, to be served concurrently with the sentence in case No. 18CR-5212. The court found
appellant was entitled to 0 days of jail-time credit. The entry further stated in part:
The Court, pursuant to this entry, notified the Defendant that
the Defendant may receive an optional period of post-release
control of up to 3 years, to be determined by the Adult Parole
Authority as it relates to R.C. 2967.28. The Defendant was
informed orally and in writing that if the Defendant violates
post-release control the Adult Parole Authority may, in the
discretion of the Adult Parole Authority, extend the
Defendant's sentence administratively in accordance with
State law for a period not to exceed one-half of the sentence
imposed by this Court.
(Emphasis sic.) (Apr. 3, 2019 Entry at 2.)
{¶ 8} Appellant filed notices of appeal from the judgments in both case Nos. 18CR-
5212 and 18CR-5358, and this court subsequently filed an entry sua sponte consolidating
the appeals. On appeal, appellant sets forth the following three assignments of error for
this court's review:
[I.] The lower court erred when its sentencing entry did not
inform Appellant of the correct period of post-release control
applicable to her conviction in 18CR-5212 (robbery as a felony
of the third degree). The sentence was therefore illegal and
violated Appellant's Right to Due Course of Law under Article
I, Sections 1 and 16 of the Ohio Constitution, her Right to Due
Process of Law under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of
the United States Constitution, and was contrary to law per
R.C. 2953.08(A)(4).
[II.] The lower court erred when its sentencing entry did not
inform Appellant of the correct period of post-release control
applicable to her conviction in 18CR-5358 (burglary as a felony
of the second degree). The sentence was therefore illegal and
violated Appellant's Right to Due Course of Law under Article
I, Sections 1 and 16 of the Ohio Constitution, her Right to Due
Process of Law under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of
the United States Constitution, and was contrary to law per
R.C. 2953.08(A)(4).
[III.] The lower court erred when it failed to award the
Appellant jail time credit to which she was entitled in 18CR-
5212 and 18CR-5358. The court's actions violated Appellant's
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 4
Right to Due Course of Law under Article I, Sections 1 and 16
of the Ohio Constitution, her right to Due Process of Law under
the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States
Constitution, her Right to the Equal Protection of the Laws
under Article I, Section 2 of the Ohio Constitution and the
Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and
R.C. 2967.191 and Ohio Admin. Code 5120-2-04.
{¶ 9} Appellant's first and second assignments of error are interrelated and will be
considered together. Under the first assignment of error, appellant asserts the trial court's
sentencing entry in case No. 18CR-5212 failed to inform her of the correct period of post-
release control. Specifically, appellant argues that, while the period of supervision for a
felony of the third degree is three years, the trial court's sentencing entry indicated she will
receive "a mandatory period of post-release control of up to 3 years" upon completion of
her sentence. (Emphasis omitted.) Appellant contends the "up to" language was
insufficient to inform her of the mandatory term of post-release control, and argues the
matter should be remanded to the trial court to issue a nunc pro tunc entry reflecting the
mandatory three-year period of post-release control absent the "up to 3 years" verbiage.
{¶ 10} Under the second assignment of error, appellant challenges the trial court's
sentencing entry in case No. 18CR-5358. Appellant argues that a felony of the second
degree requires imposition of a mandatory three years of post-release control, but that the
trial court's sentencing entry indicated she may receive an optional period of post-release
control. Appellant seeks a remand to the trial court to issue a nunc pro tunc entry reflecting
that she will be placed on three years mandatory post-release control upon completion of
her sentence in case No. 18CR-5358.
{¶ 11} Under Ohio law, "a trial court must provide statutorily compliant notification
to a defendant regarding postrelease control at the time of sentencing, including notifying
the defendant of the details of the postrelease control and the consequences of violating
postrelease control." State v. Qualls, 131 Ohio St. 3d 499, 2012-Ohio-1111, ¶ 18. Further, "a
trial court must incorporate into the sentencing entry the postrelease-control notice to
reflect the notification that was given at the sentencing hearing." Id. at ¶ 19.
{¶ 12} The Supreme Court of Ohio has addressed the issue as to "what information
a trial court must include in a sentencing entry to validly impose a postrelease-control
sanction on an offender when the court orally provides all the required advisements to the
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 5
offender at the sentencing hearing." State v. Grimes, 151 Ohio St. 3d 19, 2017-Ohio-2927, ¶
1. Specifically, the court in Grimes held:
[T]o validly impose postrelease control when the court orally
provides all the required advisements at the sentencing
hearing, the sentencing entry must contain the following
information: (1) whether postrelease control is discretionary or
mandatory, (2) the duration of the postrelease-control period,
and (3) a statement to the effect that the Adult Parole Authority
* * * will administer the postrelease control pursuant to R.C.
2967.28 and that any violation by the offender of the conditions
of postrelease control will subject the offender to the
consequences set forth in that statute.
Id.
{¶ 13} As noted under the facts, appellant entered guilty pleas to one count of
burglary (case No. 18CR-5358), a felony of the second degree, and one count of robbery
(case No. 18CR-5212), a felony of the third degree. R.C. 2967.28(B) states in part:
Each sentence to a prison term * * * for a felony of the second
degree, * * * or for a felony of the third degree that is an offense
of violence and is not a felony sex offense shall include a
requirement that the offender be subject to a period of post-
release control imposed by the parole board after the offender's
release from imprisonment. * * * [A] period of post-release
control required by this division for an offender shall be one of
the following periods:
***
(2) For a felony of the second degree * * * three years;
(3) For a felony of the third degree that is an offense of violence
and is not a felony sex offense, three years.
{¶ 14} Accordingly, for a felony of the second degree, R.C. 2967.28(B)(2) "provides
for a mandatory three-year period of post-release control." State v. Rinehart, 5th Dist. No.
19 CA 0096, 2020-Ohio-2796, ¶ 20. Similarly, "[a] three-year period of post release control
is mandatory for a felony of the third degree that is an offense of violence but not a sex
offense." State v. Jones, 6th Dist. No. L-16-1045, 2016-Ohio-7697, ¶ 19.
{¶ 15} In the instant case, we note appellant does not dispute that the trial court
correctly notified her of post-release control at the sentencing hearing. During that hearing,
the trial court, after announcing it was sentencing appellant to a term of 3 years in case No.
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 6
18CR-5358, and a term of 18 months in case No. 18CR-5212, further informed appellant:
"Because you are being sent to prison, you will be placed on post-release control whereby
the Adult Parole Authority will supervise your behavior upon your release for three years."
(Apr. 3, 2019 Tr. at 13.)
{¶ 16} We first address appellant's challenge to the sentencing entry in case No.
18CR-5358, pertaining to her burglary conviction. As set forth under the facts, the
sentencing entry in that case states in part: "The Court, pursuant to this entry, notified the
Defendant that the Defendant may receive an optional period of post-release control of up
to 3 years, to be determined by the Adult Parole Authority as it relates to R.C. 2967.28."
(Emphasis omitted.) (Apr. 3, 2019 Entry at 2.)
{¶ 17} On appeal, the state concedes the sentencing entry in that case erroneously
indicates appellant was notified of an "optional" period of post-release control of up to three
years, as opposed to a mandatory three-year period for a felony of the second degree. While
the state suggests the error is harmless, it also acknowledges the proper remedy is for the
trial court to correct the judgment by issuing a nunc pro tunc entry.
{¶ 18} In State v. Maxwell, 10th Dist. No. 18AP-341, 2019-Ohio-2191, this court
addressed similar language in a sentencing entry in a case in which the defendant was
subject to a mandatory three-year period of post-release control. Under the facts of that
case, the trial court properly advised the defendant of post-release control at the sentencing
hearing, but the sentencing entry erroneously stated the trial court notified him "that he
'may receive an optional period of post-release control of up to 3 years, to be determined by
the [APA] as it relates to R.C. 2967.28.' " Id. at ¶ 15. This court held that the language in
the entry "erroneously indicates that the imposition of post-release control was
discretionary rather than mandatory, in violation of the test outlined in Grimes." Id.
Because the trial court adequately informed the defendant at the sentencing hearing that
the imposition of post-release control was mandatory, but the sentencing entry erroneously
indicated it was discretionary, this court remanded the matter to the trial court "for the
limited purpose of issuing a nunc pro tunc entry to correct the judgment entry in
compliance with Grimes." Id. at ¶ 16.
{¶ 19} As in Maxwell, the sentencing entry in case No. 18CR-5358 "erroneously
indicates that the imposition of post-release control was discretionary rather than
mandatory, in violation of the test outlined in Grimes." Id. at ¶ 15. Accordingly, we
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 7
conclude this matter must be remanded to the trial court for the "limited purpose" of
issuing a nunc pro tunc entry in case No. 18CR-5358 to correct the judgment entry "in
compliance with Grimes." Id. at ¶ 16.
{¶ 20} We next address appellant's contention that the trial court's sentencing entry
in case No. 18CR-5212 failed to properly inform her of the mandatory nature of post-release
control. As indicated, appellant challenges language in the sentencing entry stating that,
upon release, she will receive a mandatory period of post-release control of "up to" three
years.
{¶ 21} In general, Ohio courts have held that the use of "up to" language when
imposing post-release control "connotes that the period is discretionary rather than
mandatory." State v. Young, 11th Dist. No. 2009-T-0130, 2011-Ohio-4018, ¶ 89. See also
State v. Leugers, 3d Dist. No. 1-18-10, 2018-Ohio-2808, ¶ 8 (language in journal entry
indicating defendant was subject to a post-release control term of "up to" five years "does
not provide the proper notice that the post-release control is mandatory").
{¶ 22} This court has also recognized that " 'up to' language is often described as
discretionary language." State v. Williams, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-1135, 2011-Ohio-6231,
¶ 23. We have further recognized, however, that "[m]ore important * * * is the fact that our
court has applied a 'totality of the circumstances' test to determine whether or not the
defendant was properly notified of post-release control." Id., citing State v. Franks, 10th
Dist. No. 04AP-362, 2005-Ohio-462, ¶ 18. See also State v. Cockroft, 10th Dist. No. 13AP-
532, 2014-Ohio-1644, ¶ 14; State v. Maser, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-129, 2016-Ohio-211, ¶ 9.
{¶ 23} Under this court's totality of the circumstances approach, "we have concluded
'the trial court sufficiently fulfilled its statutory obligations when, taken as a whole, its oral
and written notifications, including those at the sentencing hearing, properly informed the
defendant of post-release control.' " Cockroft at ¶ 14, citing State v. Wilcox, 10th Dist. No.
13AP-402, 2013-Ohio-4347, ¶ 4, citing State v. Clark, 2d Dist. No. 2012 CA 16, 2013-Ohio-
299, ¶ 59, citing State v. Boone, 10th Dist. No. 11AP-1054, 2012-Ohio-3653, ¶ 18, citing
State v. Mays, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-113, 2010-Ohio-4609, and State v. Townsend, 10th Dist.
No. 10AP-983, 2011-Ohio-5056. This court has also held that "when a term of post-release
control is mandatory, the use of 'up to' language does not necessarily invalidate the
imposition of post-release control." State v. Williams, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-922, 2011-Ohio-
4923, ¶ 19.
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 8
{¶ 24} As previously stated, the Supreme Court's holding in Grimes requires a
sentencing entry to state whether post-release control is discretionary or mandatory, the
duration of the post-release control period, and a statement that the Adult Parole Authority
will administer the post-release control and that any violation will subject the offender to
consequences for a violation as set forth under R.C. 2967.28. Grimes at ¶ 1.
{¶ 25} Following the Supreme Court's decision in Grimes, several Ohio appellate
courts have addressed challenges to sentencing entries containing "up to" language in cases
involving mandatory post-release control. Under the facts in State v. Zechar, 7th Dist. No.
17 MA 0111, 2018-Ohio-3731, ¶ 4, the trial court advised the appellant during the sentencing
hearing that, upon completion of his sentence for a felony of the first degree, "you must be
placed on five years of post-release control." The sentencing entry in that case stated in
part: "In addition, as part of this sentence, post release control shall be imposed up to a
maximum period of five (5) years." Id. at ¶ 5. The appellant in Zechar challenged the
language in the sentencing entry,1 arguing that "the use of the term 'up to' in the sentencing
* * * entry imposed a discretionary, rather than a mandatory postrelease control." Id. at ¶
8.
{¶ 26} The court in Zechar addressed the decision in Grimes, noting that the
Supreme Court "recently reiterated its main focus in interpreting the sentencing statutes
regarding postrelease control, which has been on the notification itself and not on the
sentencing entry." Zechar at ¶ 10. The court further noted that "[t]he holding of Grimes
was limited to those cases in which the trial court made the proper advisements to the
offender at the sentencing hearing." Id. at ¶ 11.
{¶ 27} On review, the court in Zechar found the appellant "was advised of the
postrelease control terms at the sentencing hearing and in the sentencing judgment entry."
Id. at ¶ 16. Specifically, the court held "[t]he judgment entry does not contain a vague
reference to postrelease control," but rather the trial court "advised [the] Appellant that he
1 The appellant challenged the entry by means of a motion to vacate post-release control (i.e., not by direct
appeal), and the court addressed whether proper notice was provided such that the sentencing entry was "not
void." Zechar at ¶ 20. We note that Zechar was decided prior to the Supreme Court's recent decisions in State
v. Harper, __ Ohio St.3d __, 2020-Ohio-2913 (holding that a trial court's failure to properly impose post-
release control renders that portion of the sentence voidable, not void), and State v. Hudson, __ Ohio St.3d
__, 2020-Ohio-3849 (holding that the failure to include notice of the consequences of violating post-release
control as required by Grimes, renders the sentence voidable, not void, and subject to res judicata).
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 9
would be subject to postrelease control, the consequences for violating postrelease control,
and the term and mandatory nature of his postrelease control." Id.
{¶ 28} The court in Zechar rejected the appellant's attempt "to create ambiguity
within the sentencing judgment entry with the use of the terms 'up to.' " Id. Specifically,
while the court "acknowledge[d] that the use of the terms 'up to' was unnecessary, it does
not negate that the trial court informed [the] Appellant of the mandatory nature of his
postrelease control at the sentencing hearing (using the term 'mandatory') as well as in the
sentencing entry (using the terms 'shall be')." Id. Although the reviewing court determined
the appellant received proper notice of the terms of post-release control, the court
remanded the matter to the trial court "only to the extent that the trial court is instructed
to issue a Nunc Pro Tunc judgment entry to correct the inconsistent language in the
sentencing entry." Id. at ¶ 21.
{¶ 29} In State v. Conn, 4th Dist. No. 19CA1094, 2020-Ohio-370, ¶ 2, the court
addressed the requirements of Grimes in considering a challenge to a sentencing entry
which contained language stating in part that the trial court had "notified the defendant
that post release control is MANDATORY in this case up to a maximum of five (5) years."
(Emphasis sic.) The appellant in that case argued the trial court "should have notified him
of mandatory post-release control for five years, not for 'up to' five years." Id. at ¶ 6.
{¶ 30} On appeal, the court observed that the appellant signed a plea agreement
stating he " 'will have 5 years of post-release control.' " Id. at ¶ 21. The reviewing court also
accorded the presumption, in the absence of a transcript of the sentencing hearing, that
"the trial court properly notified appellant of his post-release obligations" at the sentencing
hearing. Id. Utilizing a totality of the circumstances analysis, the court determined that
"the trial court's sentencing entry's 'up to' language does not require the conclusion that the
trial court improperly imposed the post-release control sanction * * * because * * * the
record, taken as a whole, reveals that the trial court sufficiently complied with all
requirements and placed appellant on notice that he was subject to a mandatory five-year
post-release control term." Id. at ¶ 22.
{¶ 31} Subsequent to Grimes, other Ohio appellate courts have found, in instances
where "up to" language is used in the sentencing entry (when the offender was subject to a
mandatory term), but the record otherwise reflects notification of a mandatory period of
post-release control, the appropriate disposition is modification of the trial court's
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 10
sentencing entry or a remand for the limited purpose of issuing a nunc pro tunc entry. See
State v. Smith, 7th Dist. No. 17 MA 0174, 2018-Ohio-4562, ¶ 10-11 (modifying trial court's
sentencing entry to "remove the unnecessary words 'up to' from" entry that indicated post-
release control "must be imposed up to a maximum period" of five years, but otherwise
concluding, in case where trial court notified appellant at sentencing hearing of a
mandatory five-year term, that sentencing entry satisfies Grimes "as it conveys the
mandatory nature of the term" (i.e., "must" be imposed), "the length of the term, and
provides the consequences for violating postrelease control"); State v. Persinger, 5th Dist.
No. 2017CA0007, 2018-Ohio-1076, ¶ 15-18 (matter remanded for limited purpose of
issuing a nunc pro tunc entry "reflecting that the mandatory duration of post release control
is five years" where sentencing entry informed the appellant that post-release control "is
mandatory in this case up to a maximum of five (5) years," and presumption existed, in
absence of transcripts, that trial court properly notified the appellant at sentencing hearing
of post-release control notifications).
{¶ 32} In the present case, the trial court informed appellant at the sentencing
hearing she "will be placed on post-release control whereby the Adult Parole Authority will
supervise [her] behavior upon [her] release for three years." (Apr. 3, 2019 Tr. at 13.) The
entry of guilty plea form, signed by appellant on March 6, 2019, contains a provision stating
in part: "If the Court imposes a prison term, I understand that the following period(s) of
post-release control is/are applicable: * * * F-3 Offense of Violence * * * 'Three Years
Mandatory.' " During the plea hearing, the trial court informed appellant: "[I]f I accept
your guilty pleas and you are sent to prison, you will be placed on post-release control
whereby the Adult Parole Authority will supervise your behavior upon your release for three
years." (Mar. 6, 2019 Tr. at 10.) Appellant also signed a "Notice (Prison Imposed)" form,
dated April 3, 2019, informing her of post-release control and stating in part: "After you are
released from prison, you * * * will * * * have a period of post-release control for 3 years."
A "Note" at the bottom of that form stated in part: "F-2 and F-3 with harm, mandatory 3
years." As previously cited, the sentencing entry, while containing "up to" language, further
informed appellant that she "will receive a mandatory period of post-release control."
(Emphasis added.) (Apr. 3, 2019 Entry at 2.)
{¶ 33} Here, based on the totality of the circumstances, we find that, despite the "up
to" language of the sentencing entry, the trial court sufficiently notified appellant of the
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 11
mandatory nature of post-release control in case No. 18CR-5212, and that the sentencing
"satisfies Grimes * * * as it conveys the mandatory nature of the term, the length of the
term, and provides the consequences for violating postrelease control." Smith at ¶ 11. We
further determine, however, to the extent the "up to" language may be deemed unnecessary,
the proper course is for this matter to be remanded to the trial court for the limited purpose
of issuing a nunc pro tunc entry correcting the "inconsistent language" in the sentencing
entry. Zechar at ¶ 21.
{¶ 34} Based on the foregoing, the first assignment of error is sustained in part and
overruled in part, and the second assignment of error is sustained.
{¶ 35} Under the third assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred in
failing to credit her with 173 days of jail-time credit in case No. 18CR-5212 and 155 days of
jail-time credit in case No. 18CR-5358. Appellant challenges the trial court's ruling that 173
days of jail-time credit be credited to the 2016 case (the probation revocation case);
according to appellant, the trial court's ruling is in contravention of the Supreme Court's
decision in State v. Fugate, 117 Ohio St. 3d 261, 2008-Ohio-856.
{¶ 36} In general, "the practice of awarding jail-time credit is embedded in the Equal
Protection Clauses of the United States and Ohio Constitutions, which prohibit disparate
treatment of defendants based solely upon their economic status." State v. Maynard, 10th
Dist. No. 08AP-43, 2008-Ohio-3829, ¶ 13, citing Fugate at ¶ 7. This principle "is codified
in R.C. 2967.191 and * * * the Ohio Administrative Code provides additional details
concerning when a prisoner is entitled to jail-time credit and how to apply the credit to the
prison term." Id. at ¶ 14, citing Fugate at ¶ 8-9.
{¶ 37} In accordance with R.C. 2967.191(A), "[t]he department of rehabilitation and
correction shall reduce the prison term of a prisoner * * * by the total number of days that
the prisoner was confined for any reason arising out of the offense for which the prisoner
was convicted and sentenced, including confinement in lieu of bail while awaiting trial."
Ohio Adm.Code 5120-2-04(F) provides that if an offender is serving "two or more
sentences, stated prison terms or combination thereof concurrently," the department of
rehabilitation and correction "shall independently reduce each sentence or stated prison
term for the number of days confined for that offense," and that "[r]elease of the offender
shall be based upon the longest definite, minimum and/or maximum sentence or stated
prison term after reduction for jail time credit."
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 12
{¶ 38} Under the facts in Fugate, the defendant was charged and convicted of theft
and burglary while on community control for a prior conviction. Prior to sentencing on the
new charges, the trial court revoked the defendant's community control and imposed a 12-
month sentence on the community control violation, applying 213 days of jail-time credit
against that sentence. The trial court ordered the sentence in the community control
violation case to run concurrent with the sentences for the burglary and theft offenses, but
the defendant received no jail-time credit for the burglary sentence and only 50 days jail-
time credit for the theft sentence. The defendant appealed, arguing "he should have
received jail-time credit of 213 days toward each of his concurrent prison sentences."
Fugate at ¶ 6. The appellate court affirmed, and the Supreme Court "accepted the appeal
to determine how to apply jail-time credit to concurrent prison terms." Id.
{¶ 39} In Fugate, the Supreme Court determined that "when a defendant is
sentenced to concurrent terms, credit must be applied against all terms, because the
sentences are served simultaneously." Id. at ¶ 22. The court thus held "when a defendant
is sentenced to concurrent prison terms for multiple charges, jail-time credit pursuant to
R.C. 2967.191 must be applied toward each concurrent prison term." Id.
{¶ 40} In the instant case, the state argues that appellant's reliance on Fugate is
misplaced because the trial court did not order the sentence in the community control
revocation case (the 2016 case) to be served concurrently with the sentences in 18CR-5212
and 18CR-5358. On review, we agree.
{¶ 41} This court addressed a similar issue in State v. Speakman, 10th Dist. No.
08AP-456, 2009-Ohio-1184. Under the facts of that case, the appellant, citing the Supreme
Court's decision in Fugate, argued the trial court erred in applying jail-time credit only with
respect to the sentence received for a community control violation, asserting the court was
required to award jail-time credit "against the sentences imposed in the three cases for
which [he] was sentenced, because he was being held on those charges as well as the
community control violation." Id. at ¶ 10. More specifically, the appellant in Speakman
argued that the sentence imposed for his community control sanction "effectively
operate[d] as a sentence concurrent to the [12-year] sentence imposed for the three new
charges." Id. at ¶ 13.
{¶ 42} This court rejected the appellant's argument, observing "the trial court made
it clear that the sentence imposed for appellant's community control violation was not a
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 13
sentence ordered to be served concurrently with the 12-year sentence." Id. Rather, we
noted, "the court sentenced appellant to an amount of time equal to the amount of jail time
credit he had, which resulted in appellant having already served his sentence for the
community control violation by the time of the sentencing hearing." Id. This court
determined, therefore, Fugate "does not apply to this factual situation." Id.
{¶ 43} In State v. Smith, 10th Dist. No. 08AP-736, 2009-Ohio-2166, the appellant
made a similar argument that the trial court erred in failing to award jail-time credit where
the court applied the credit to the sentence for his community control violation. According
to the appellant, the sentence in the underlying case "was effectively concurrent to the
community control violation sentence." Id. at ¶ 49.
{¶ 44} In Smith, this court, while recognizing the holding in Fugate, noted "[t]he
way that the trial court crafted the community control sentence resulted in appellant having
already served that sentence by the time of the sentencing hearing." Id. Thus, we
concluded, because the trial court "did not impose the community control violation
sentence concurrent with" the other sentence, the trial court committed no error in
declining to apply the jail-time credit that accrued at the time of sentencing to the
underlying case. Id.
{¶ 45} Other Ohio appellate courts have found that Fugate "is not applicable when
the trial court essentially sentences the defendant to 'time served' for a community control
violation but does not run the community control violation sentence concurrent with the
sentence for the new crimes." State v. Dobbins, 12th Dist. No. CA2019-04-061, 2020-Ohio-
726, ¶ 22. See also State v. Maddox, 8th Dist. No. 99120, 2013-Ohio-3140, ¶ 49
(distinguishing Fugate where trial court did not sentence appellant to concurrent prison
terms for probation violations and new charges but, rather, terminated the probation and
"stated that all jail-time credit would be applied to the probation violations," i.e.,
terminating the cases involving probation violations before the appellant was sentenced on
the new charges); State v. Williams, 8th Dist. No. 104155, 2016-Ohio-8049, ¶ 19 (where
appellant was incarcerated simultaneously for violating probation and committing new
offense, no error by trial court in essentially sentencing him to time served when it applied
the jail-time credit and terminated the probation case as court "had the authority to apply
the jail-time credit to the probation violation case"); State v. Chasteen, 12th Dist. No.
CA2013-11-204, 2014-Ohio-3780, ¶ 14 (no Fugate violation because the trial court did not
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 14
order community control violation to be served concurrently with theft offense but, rather,
court sentenced appellant to 461 days for community control violations, credited him with
461 days served in jail awaiting sentencing, and then terminated community control before
sentencing the appellant on the theft offense).
{¶ 46} In the present case, the record indicates appellant was arrested in case No.
18CR-5212 on October 13, 2018, and a total of 173 days elapsed from the arrest date to the
date of sentencing (April 3, 2019). On October 15, 2018, an order to hold was filed in the
2016 case, the community control violation case. Further, as noted by the state, appellant
was already in custody and subject to the holder in the 2016 case when bond was set in case
No. 18CR-5358 on October 31, 2018.
{¶ 47} During the sentencing hearing, the trial court initially stated, with respect to
sentencing "on the 16CR-6028 case, I'm just going to unsuccessfully terminate that case.
That's the revocation and that has 173 days out of a twelve-month sentence. So I'm just
going to terminate it." (Apr. 3, 2019 Tr. at 12.) The trial court then stated it would impose
a sentence of three years in case No. 18CR-5358, and a sentence of 18 months in case No.
18CR-5212, and that those two cases "will run concurrent for a total of three years." (Apr. 3,
2019 Tr. at 12.)
{¶ 48} The trial court also addressed defense counsel's argument that appellant was
entitled to 173 days jail-time credit in case No. 18CR-5212 and 155 days jail-time credit in
case No. 18CR-5358. Counsel for appellant, noting that appellant was "slated" on October
13, 2018, argued that appellant should "get credit * * * from the time that she was
incarcerated." (Apr. 3, 2019 Tr. at 15-16.) The trial court disagreed, reiterating that the
2016 case was "being terminated," and therefore the court's "intent was to put that 173 on
there." (Apr. 3, 2019 Tr. at 15.) The court further stated: "So I'm going to put the 173 days
on the 16CR-6028 and there will be zero days on 5212 and 5358." (Apr. 3, 2019 Tr. at 17.)
{¶ 49} Here, the record supports the state's argument that the trial court did not
order the sentence for the community control violation in the 2016 case to be served
concurrently with the sentences in case Nos. 18CR-5212 and 18CR-5358. Rather, the trial
court terminated the 2016 case, and applied 173 days of jail-time credit to the sentence in
that case (i.e., essentially sentencing appellant to "time served" for the community control
violation). Dobbins at ¶ 22. After terminating the 2016 case, the trial court then sentenced
appellant on the 2018 cases. Accordingly, we find unpersuasive appellant's contention that
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 15
the trial court's failure to award 173 days of jail-time credit in case No. 18CR-5212 and 155
days of jail-time credit in 18CR-5358 was contrary to Fugate.
{¶ 50} We note, however, the state concedes appellant was entitled to two days of
jail-time credit. Specifically, the state notes appellant was held exclusively on the charges
in case No. 18CR-5212 for two days from the date of her arrest (October 13, 2018) until the
date the probation holder was placed in the 2016 case (October 15, 2018); therefore, the
state acknowledges, because the sentence in case No. 18CR-5212 was run concurrently with
the sentence in case No. 18CR-5358, Fugate requires that she receive two days of credit
against each concurrent sentence.
{¶ 51} On this point, we note, while the trial court indicated during the sentencing
hearing that the 2016 case (i.e., the community control revocation case) "has 173 days," the
record indicates that a total of 171 days elapsed from the date of the holder in the 2016 case
(October 15, 2018) until the date of sentencing (April 3, 2019). Thus, as observed by the
state, appellant was in effect "over credited" in the 2016 case as she was given credit for two
days in which she was held exclusively on the charges in 18CR-5212 (i.e., from October 13
to 15, 2018). (State's Brief at 11.)
{¶ 52} On review, we agree with the state that the record reflects appellant should
have been credited for 2 days of jail-time credit against her concurrent sentences in case
Nos. 18CR-5212 and 18CR-5358. Accordingly, while we reject appellant's contention that
the trial court erred in failing to apply 173 days jail-time credit in case No. 18CR-5212 and
155 days jail-time credit in 18CR-5358, we conclude this matter should be remanded to the
trial court for the limited purpose of issuing a nunc pro tunc entry correcting the amount
of jail-time credit to which appellant is entitled.
{¶ 53} Appellant's third assignment of error is sustained to the limited extent
provided above and is otherwise overruled.
{¶ 54} Based on the foregoing, appellant's first and third assignments of error are
sustained in part and overruled in part, the second assignment of error is sustained, the
judgments of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas are affirmed in part and reversed
in part, and these matters are remanded to the trial court for the limited purpose of issuing
nunc pro tunc entries to correct, as outlined above, the sentencing entries in case Nos.
18CR-5212 and 18CR-5358.
Judgments affirmed in part and reversed in part;
Nos. 19AP-285 and 19AP-286 16
cause remanded with instructions.
SADLER, P.J., concurs.
DORRIAN, J., concurring in judgment only.
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