[Cite as State v. Aldridge, 2022-Ohio-828.]

COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

STATE OF OHIO, : 

 Plaintiff-Appellant, : 

 No. 110801 

 v. : 

 

GAVIN ALDRIDGE, : 

 

 Defendant-Appellee. : 

 

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION 

 JUDGMENT: REVERSED AND REMANDED

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: March 17, 2022 

 

Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas 

Case No. CR-20-650680-A 

 

Appearances: 

Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting 

Attorney, and Daniel Van, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 

for appellant. 

Cullen Sweeney, Cuyahoga County Public Defender, and 

Aaron T. Baker, Assistant Public Defender, for appellee. 

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, P.J.: 

Plaintiff-appellant, the state of Ohio, appeals the sentence imposed on 

defendant-appellee, Gavin Aldridge (“Aldridge”), and claims the following error: 

The trial court erred when it found S.B. 201 to be unconstitutional and 

did not impose an indefinite sentence. 
We reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand the case to the trial 

court for resentencing in accordance with the Reagan Tokes Law, Am.Sub. S.B. 201, 

2018 Ohio Laws 157. 

I. Facts and Procedural History 

Aldridge pleaded guilty to two counts of felonious assault, with firearm 

specifications; one count of attempted felonious assault; and one count of having 

weapons while under disability. At the time of the plea, the trial court found that 

the Reagan Tokes Law was unconstitutional, the state objected, and the trial court 

did not impose a sentence consistent with the Reagan Tokes Law. The state now 

appeals the trial court’s judgment as a matter of right. 

II. Law and Analysis 

In the sole assignment of error, the state argues the trial court erred in 

finding the Reagan Tokes Law unconstitutional. 

The trial court did not specify the specific grounds for finding the 

Reagan Tokes Law unconstitutional except for two vague references to unnamed, 

uncited cases from the First and Eighth Districts. However, in State v. Delvallie, 8th 

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109315, 2022-Ohio-470, this court, sitting en banc, held that the 

Reagan Tokes Law is constitutional in that it does not violate the separation-ofpowers doctrine and does not violate either a defendant’s right to a jury trial or due 

process of law. 

Therefore, the sole assignment of error is sustained. 
Judgment reversed and remanded for resentencing in accordance with 

the Reagan Tokes Law, Am.Sub. S.B. 201, 2018 Ohio Laws 157. 

It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee costs herein taxed. 

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal. 

It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the 

common pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. 

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 

of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. 

 

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, PRESIDING JUDGE 

EMANUELLA D. GROVES, J., and 

MARY J. BOYLE, J., CONCUR 

N.B. Judge Eileen T. Gallagher joined the dissent by Judge Lisa B. Forbes in 

Delvallie and would have found that R.C. 2967.271(C) and (D) of the Reagan Tokes 

Law are unconstitutional. 

Judge Emanuella D. Groves concurred with the opinions of Judge Lisa B. Forbes 

(dissenting) and Judge Anita Laster Mays (concurring in part and dissenting in part) 

in Delvallie and would have found the Reagan Tokes Law unconstitutional.