[Cite as State v. Cunningham, 2017-Ohio-8333.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY 

STATE OF OHIO 

Plaintiff-Appellee

v. 

BACARIE L. CUNNINGHAM 

Defendant-Appellant

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Appellate Case No. 2016-CA-31 

Trial Court Case No. 2016-CR-223 

(Criminal Appeal from 

Common Pleas Court) 

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O P I N I O N 

Rendered on the 27th day of October, 2017. 

. . . . . . . . . . . 

JANE A. NAPIER, Atty. Reg. No. 0061426, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Champaign 

County Prosecutor’s Office, 200 North Main Street, Urbana, Ohio 43078 

Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee 

 

JENNIFER D. BRUMBY, Atty. Reg. No. 0076440, 4407 Walnut Street, Suite 210, Dayton, 

Ohio 45440 

 Attorney for Defendant-Appellant 

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TUCKER, J. 
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{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Bacarie Cunningham, appeals from the sentences 

imposed by the trial court following his entry of pleas of guilty to charges of burglary, 

attempted burglary and receiving stolen property. Specifically, Cunningham argues that 

the court erred by failing to comply fully with the provisions of R.C. 2929.12(C) before it 

imposed consecutive prison sentences amounting to an aggregate term of seven years 

and four months. We find that the court did not fail to comply with R.C. 2929.12(C), and 

we therefore affirm. 

I. Facts and Procedural History 

{¶ 2} On October 16, 2016, a Champaign County grand jury issued an indictment 

charging Cunningham with two counts of burglary, second degree felonies under R.C. 

2911.12(A)(2) and (D); two counts of petty theft, first degree misdemeanors under R.C. 

2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(2); and one count of receiving stolen property, a fifth degree felony 

under R.C. 2913.51(A) and (C). The indictment indicates that these charges relate to at 

least three separate incidents.1

{¶ 3} Cunningham and the State reached a plea agreement, and at his final pretrial 

conference on November 7, 2016, Cunningham pleaded guilty to one of the counts of 

burglary, one count of attempted burglary and the single count of receiving stolen 

property.2 The court then scheduled a sentencing hearing and ordered a presentence 

 

1 Counts One and Two of the indictment charge Cunningham with committing an act of 

burglary and an act of petty theft “on or about August 25, 2016 to August 26, 2016.” 

Counts Three and Four charge Cunningham with committing another act of burglary and 

another act of petty theft “on or about September 24, 2016,” and Count Five charges him 

with receiving stolen property “on or about August 24, 2016.” 

2 As part of the plea agreement, the State amended Count Three of the indictment to 
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investigation report. At the sentencing hearing on November 28, 2016, the trial court 

sentenced Cunningham to serve consecutive terms of imprisonment of five years for the 

count of burglary, 18 months for the count of attempted burglary and 10 months for the 

count of receiving stolen property -- a total of seven years and four months. Cunningham 

timely filed his notice of appeal on December 12, 2016. 

II. Analysis 

{¶ 4} For his sole assignment of error, Cunningham argues that: 

 THE SENTENCING COURT FAILED TO PROPERLY CONSIDER 

THE ENTIRETY OF THE FACTORS ENUMERATED IN R.C. § 2929.12(C) 

WHEN IMPOSING SENTENCE UPON [HIM]. 

{¶ 5} Cunningham faults the sentence imposed by the trial court in three respects. 

First, he contends that the court should have imposed a lesser sentence because he “did 

not cause or expect to cause physical harm to any person or property.” R.C. 

2929.12(C)(3); see Appellant’s Br. 2. Second, he contends that the court disregarded 

“substantial grounds to mitigate [his] conduct,” noting that he has struggled with “chemical 

dependency from a young age” and “was under the influence of drugs during the 

commission of the crimes” for which he was convicted. R.C. 2929.12(C)(4); Appellant’s 

Br. 2. Third, referring to his decision to plead guilty, he contends that the court did not 

accord sufficient weight to his “acknowledge[ment] and accept[ance] [of] responsibility” or 

his “demonstrat[ion] [of] sincere remorse.” Appellant’s Br. 2-3. In response, the State 

argues that Cunningham has not established with clear and convincing evidence that his 

 

change the charge from burglary to attempted burglary, the latter being a third degree 

felony under R.C. 2911.12(A)(2), 2911.12(D) and 2923.02(E)(1). See Tr. of Plea Hr’g 

20, Nov. 7, 2016. 
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sentence is unsupported by the record or contrary to law. 

{¶ 6} A “trial court has full discretion to impose any sentence within the authorized 

statutory range, and [it] is not required to make any findings or give its reasons for 

imposing maximum or more than minimum sentences.” State v. King, 2013-Ohio-2021, 

992 N.E.2d 491, ¶ 45 (2d Dist.). Even so, the “court must comply with all applicable rules 

and statutes, including R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12.” Id., citing State v. Mathis, 109 

Ohio St.3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855, 846 N.E.2d 1, ¶ 37. 

{¶ 7} According to R.C. 2929.11(A), a “court that sentences an offender for a felony 

shall be guided” by the “overriding purposes” of punishing the offender and “protect[ing] 

the public from future crime by the offender and others.” To these ends, the “court shall 

consider the need for incapacitating the offender, deterring the offender and others from 

future crime, rehabilitating the offender, and making restitution to [any] victim[s] * * *, the 

public, or both.” Id. The court should use “the minimum sanctions that [it] determines 

[likely to] accomplish [the] purposes [of sentencing] without imposing an unnecessary 

burden on state or local government resources.” Id. Additionally, R.C. 2929.11(B) 

states that a felony sentence “shall be reasonably calculated to achieve the two overriding 

purposes of felony sentencing * * * commensurate with and not demeaning to the 

seriousness of the offender’s conduct and its impact upon [any] victim[s], and consistent 

with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar offenders.” 

{¶ 8} R.C. 2929.12(C) mandates that a sentencing court consider a list of four 

factors, and any others that might be relevant, which “apply [to] the offender, the offense, 

or the victim, * * *, as indicating that the offender’s conduct is less serious than conduct 

normally constituting the offense” or offenses for which the offender has been convicted. 
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The four factors listed in the statute are: 

1. The victim [or victims] induced or facilitated the offense [or 

offenses]. 

2. In committing the offense [or offenses], the offender acted 

under strong provocation. 

3. In committing the offense [or offenses], the offender did not 

cause or expect to cause physical harm to any person or 

property. 

4. There are substantial grounds to mitigate the offender’s 

conduct, although the grounds are not enough to constitute a 

defense. 

Id. R.C. 2929.12(B) sets forth a complementary list of nine factors “indicating that the 

offender’s conduct is more serious than conduct normally constituting” an offense. 

{¶ 9} Under R.C. 2953.08(G), an appellate court may modify or vacate a sentence 

only if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the record does not support the 

sentence or that the sentence is otherwise contrary to law. See State v. Marcum, 146 

Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 22-23; State v. Davis, 2d Dist. 

Champaign No. 2016-CA-22, 2017-Ohio-6904, ¶ 8, citing Marcum, 2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 

22. Clear and convincing evidence is a “degree of proof [greater] than a mere 

‘preponderance of the evidence’ ” that “produce[s] in the mind of the trier of fact[] a firm 

belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established”; evidence that satisfies this 

standard need not satisfy the higher standard of “ ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ ” which 

applies in criminal trials. Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, 120 N.E.2d 118 (1954), 
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paragraph three of the syllabus; Marcum, 2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 22, quoting Cross, 161 Ohio 

St. 469, paragraph three of the syllabus. 

{¶ 10} Cunningham contends, pursuant to R.C. 2929.12(C)(3) and (4), that the trial 

court should have lessened his sentence for three reasons. Regarding the first of his 

contentions, the trial court found, in the language of R.C. 2929.12(C)(3), that Cunningham 

“did not cause or expect to cause physical harm to any person or property” in committing 

the offenses for which he was convicted. Tr. of Sentencing Hr’g 22, Nov. 28, 2016. The 

court, however, discounted the significance of this factor because it determined that “the 

factors [listed in R.C. 2929.12(B) indicating] that [Cunningham]’s conduct [was] more 

serious outweigh[ed] [the] factors [listed in R.C. 2929.12(C) indicating that his] conduct 

[was] less serious.” Id. Specifically, the court remarked that Cunningham’s 

“relationship with the victim[s] facilitated” his commission of the offenses charged in Count 

One and Count Three of the indictment, and that Cunningham committed the offense 

charged in Count One “as part of organized criminal activity.”3 Tr. of Sentencing Hr’g 21; 

compare with R.C. 2929.12(B)(6)-(7). The record, including the presentence 

investigation report, supports the court’s characterization. See Tr. of Sentencing Hr’g 7-

12. 

{¶ 11} Regarding the second of Cunningham’s contentions, the trial court did not 

accept the assertion that “his drug consumption * * * substantially cloud[ed] his judgment 

and alter[ed] his state of mind,” thereby mitigating his culpability. See Appellant’s Br. 2. 

The court reasoned that had Cunningham “not [been] in his right mind” as the result of 

his drug abuse, then he would not have “targeted [specific] people,” stolen “exactly what 

 

3 See supra notes 1 and 2. 
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[he] wanted to steal,” or planned in advance how he would dispose of the stolen property. 

See Tr. of Sentencing Hr’g 11-12. In other words, the court found that Cunningham 

“knew exactly what [he] was doing” and concluded that the care with which Cunningham 

plotted his series of criminal acts belied the premise that his drug abuse rendered him 

less consciously responsible for his behavior. See id. at 7-12. The presentence 

investigation report echoes this sentiment. 

{¶ 12} Regarding the third of Cunningham’s contentions, the trial court viewed the 

motivations for his criminal acts as incompatible with genuine remorse, and the 

presentence investigation report refers to disciplinary problems while in custody at TriCounty Regional Jail; an inclination to minimize the significance of his unlawful behavior; 

a lack of respect for authority; and poor impulse control. See id. at 7-9 and 20-23. The 

record thus provided ample basis for the court’s skepticism, yet it nevertheless imposed 

an aggregate sentence -- seven years and four months -- that is less than the maximum 

sentence it could have imposed for Cunningham’s burglary conviction standing alone. 

R.C. 2911.12(A)(2), 2911.12(D) and 2929.14(A)(2). Finally, we note that the court made 

the findings required under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a) and (c) before ordering that 

Cunningham serve the sentence for each of his offenses consecutively. Tr. of 

Sentencing Hr’g 26. For all of the foregoing reasons, Cunningham’s assignment of error 

is overruled. 

III. Conclusion 

{¶ 13} We find that the trial court did not fail to comply with R.C. 2929.12(C) in 

sentencing Cunningham. Therefore, we affirm. 

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WELBAUM, J., concurs. 

FROELICH, J., concurring: 

{¶ 14} On appeal, Cunningham challenges the trial court’s weighing of the factors 

related to his individual sentences. 

{¶ 15} The trial court’s determination of the appropriate sentence for each offense 

is a separate and distinct analysis from the trial court’s determination whether to impose 

consecutive sentences. Prior to imposing any sentence, the trial court is required to 

consider the purposes and principles of felony sentencing in R.C. 2929.11 and the various 

factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12. State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio St.3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855, 

846 N.E.2d 1, ¶ 38; State v. Smith, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2015-CA-25, 2016-Ohio3483, ¶ 9. These considerations must be taken into account when the trial court imposes 

sentences for each offense, such as when determining whether to impose community 

control versus a prison sentence or when determining the appropriate prison term for the 

offense. Smith at ¶ 9. 

{¶ 16} After determining the sentence for a particular crime, a sentencing judge 

has discretion to order an offender to serve individual counts of a sentence consecutively 

to each other or to sentences imposed by other courts. State v. Stapleton, 2d Dist. 

Champaign No. 2016 CA 9, 2017-Ohio-1309, ¶ 20. In imposing consecutive sentences, 

the trial court must make the statutory findings required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) and 

incorporate them into its sentencing entry. State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-

Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 37. Cunningham has not challenged on appeal the trial 

court’s findings in support of its decision to impose consecutive sentences. 

{¶ 17} In determining Cunningham’s sentence for burglary (Count One), the trial 
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court found, in part, that he “committed the offense for hire or as part of an organized 

criminal activity. R.C. 2929.12(B)(7). * * * to wit: Dylan Matthew Watkins, Case No. 2016 

CR 240 [Cunningham’s co-defendant].” “Organized” means “arrange[d] or form[ed] into 

a * * * functioning whole,” “arrange[d] by systematic planning and united effort,” or “having 

a formal organization to coordinate and carry out activities.” Webster’s Ninth New 

Collegiate Dictionary 831 (1990). 

{¶ 18} This court has discussed the phrase “organized criminal activity” for 

purposes of R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(b)(ix) in the context of a defendant’s conviction for drug 

trafficking. State v. Castle, 2016-Ohio-4974, 67 N.E.3d 1283 (2d Dist.); State v. Gaus, 

2d Dist. Champaign No. 2015 CA 28, 2016-Ohio-4886, ¶ 24-25. We stated in Castle: 

The term “organized criminal activity” (R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(b)(ix)) is 

not defined in R.C. Chapter 2929. Ohio courts have applied a case-bycase analysis to determine whether an offense is part of an organized 

criminal activity, keeping in mind that the absence of a definition of 

“organized criminal activity” is to be construed against the State, not the 

defendant. “There is not a bright line test for ‘organized criminal activity,’ 

nor does it have a singular application.” 

Courts have generally considered the scope and length of the 

criminal activity, whether the offense was committed spontaneously/ 

impulsively or with extensive planning, the number of people involved, and 

the nature of the charges in determining whether there was “an organized 

criminal activity.” 

Several cases also reference the definition of organized criminal 
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activity set forth in R.C. 177.01(E)(1), but this definition references the 

offense of “engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity” (which is not at issue in 

this case), and at least one court has noted that “there is no basis for the 

application of a definition found in the creation of a legislative commission 

to the criminal code.” 

(Citations omitted.) Castle at ¶ 14-16. 

{¶ 19} In State v. Stapleton, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2016 CA 6, 2016-Ohio-7806, 

we reviewed the trial court’s imposition of a prison sentence for aggravated possession 

of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. In considering the seriousness factors, the trial court 

found, in part, that the defendant’s conduct was more serious because he had committed 

the offense as part of organized criminal activity by soliciting one Percocet from his codefendant and his actions had caused the co-defendant to be charged with a criminal 

offense. The trial court further found that it had the discretion to impose a prison term 

for the fifth-degree felony, because the defendant had violated the conditions of his bond 

and committed the offense as part of organized criminal activity. See R.C. 

2929.13(B)(1)(b)(iii) and (ix). 

{¶ 20} On review, we commented that it was “questionable whether Stapleton’s 

conduct of soliciting one Percocet from his co-defendant amounts to ‘organized criminal 

activity’ as that term is used in R .C. 2929.13(B)(1)(b)(ix).” Id. at ¶ 11. We nevertheless 

found the imposition of a prison term was not clearly and convincingly unsupported by the 

record, because it was clear that Stapleton had violated the conditions of his bond. 

{¶ 21} Here, Count One alleges that Cunningham, with co-defendant Dylan 

Watkins, committed a burglary with the purpose to commit a theft offense. The police 
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report and the presentence investigation report indicate that they entered an apartment 

and took items while the residents were asleep. Cunningham claimed that he committed 

the burglary to support his drug addiction. However, he also told the trial court that he 

was dealing drugs to the complainants and did not have enough money to pay his dealer, 

who fronted him the drugs. Cunningham indicated that he stole from the individuals who 

were supposed to have paid him for the drugs he had supplied. 

{¶ 22} There is no indication that Cunningham was directed to commit his offense 

by others in a drug organization or that the offense involved significant planning; rather, 

Cunningham’s actions appear to have stemmed from his own need to obtain money. 

The mere fact that Cunningham had an accomplice or co-defendant in the offense is 

insufficient to find that the offense was committed as part of an organized criminal activity. 

Accord State v. Roberson, 141 Ohio App.3d 626, 633, 752 N.E.2d 984 (6th Dist. 2001) 

(“The mere fact that [the defendant] may have had an accomplice is insufficient to 

constitute an ‘organized’ crime.”). 

{¶ 23} As in Stapleton, I question the trial court’s determination that Cunningham 

committed the burglary offense “as part of an organized criminal activity.” Nevertheless, 

considering the entirety of the record, including Cunningham’s age, juvenile and adult 

criminal history, and his conduct in jail, the imposition of a five-year prison term is not 

clearly and convincingly unsupported by the record. I concur that there is no reversible 

error with the trial court’s five-year sentence for burglary. 

 

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Copies mailed to: 

Jane A. Napier 

Jennifer D. Brumby 

Hon. Nick A. Selvaggio