[Cite as State ex rel. Knuckles v. Lazaroff, 2014-Ohio-559.]

COURT OF APPEALS 

RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO 

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

STATE OF OHIO, EX REL., : JUDGES: 

RODNEY KNUCKLES : 

 : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. 

 Petitioner : Hon. John W. Wise, J. 

 : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. 

 : 

-vs- : 

 : 

ALAN LAZAROFF : Case No. 13CA103 

WARDEN OF MANSFIELD : 

CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION : 

 : 

 Respondent : O P I N I O N

 NUNC PRO TUNC 

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Writ of Habeas Corpus 

JUDGMENT: Dismissed 

DATE OF JUDGMENT: February 10, 2014 

APPEARANCES: 

For-Petitioner For - Respondent 

RODNEY KNUCKLES, A630539 No Appearance 

Mansfield Correctional Institution 

P.O. Box 788 

Mansfield, OH 44901 
Richland County, Case No. 13CA103 2 

Baldwin, J.

{¶1} Petitioner, Rodney Knuckles, has filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus 

arguing he is entitled to immediate release from prison because the trial court lacked 

authority to impose a community control sanction without conducting a presentence 

investigation. 

{¶2} On October 27, 2010, the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in 

Case Number CR 10 04 1130 sentenced Petitioner to a term of five years in prison for 

burglary, however, the prison sentence was suspended on the condition Petitioner 

complete two years of community control. 

{¶3} Thereafter on July 3, 2012, Petitioner’s community control was revoked. 

The five year prison sentence previously suspended was then imposed. 

{¶4} It appears from the commitment papers attached to the instant petition 

that Petitioner is also serving two other prison sentences. First, Petitioner is serving a 

twelve month prison sentence in Summit County Case Number CR 12 03 0729 for a 

probation violation based upon a conviction for breaking and entering. Second, 

Petitioner is serving a sentence of fifteen years to life for murder in Cuyahoga County 

Case Number CR-164-134. 

{¶5} Petitioner’s sole claim in this case relates to the propriety of his original 

burglary sentence. We find Petitioner has or had an adequate remedy at law by way of 

filing a direct appeal from his initial burglary sentence dated October 27, 2010. Habeas 

corpus is not to be used as a substitute for other forms of action, such as direct appeal. 

Adams v. Humphreys (1986), 27 Ohio St.3d 43, 500 N.E.2d 1373. “Habeas corpus is 

not a proper remedy for reviewing allegations of sentencing errors when that sentence 
Richland County, Case No. 13CA103 3 

was made by a court of proper jurisdiction. R.C. 2725.05; Majoros v. Collins (1992), 64 

Ohio St.3d 442, 596 N.E.2d 1038; State ex rel. Wynn v. Baker (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 

464, 575 N.E.2d 208. Direct appeal or post-conviction relief is instead the proper 

avenue to address such alleged errors in sentencing. Blackburn v. Jago (1988), 39 Ohio 

St.3d 139, 139, 529 N.E.2d 929.” Id. at ¶ 4, 529 N.E.2d 929. 

{¶6} The Ohio Supreme Court explained, “We have consistently held that 

sentencing errors are not jurisdictional and are not cognizable in habeas corpus.” 

Majoros v. Collins (1992), 64 Ohio St.3d 442, 443, 596 N.E.2d 1038, and cases cited 

therein. 

{¶7} Finally, even assuming arguendo, Petitioner had brought a valid claim as 

to his burglary sentence, Petitioner remains incarcerated on at least one other valid 

sentence which has not been challenged. The Supreme Court held, “Moreover, 

because habeas corpus is appropriate in the criminal context only when the petitioner is 

entitled to immediate release from prison or some other physical confinement, [the 

petitioner] is not entitled to the writ because he is also incarcerated for a parole 

revocation on a prior offense that he does not challenge. Keith v. Bobby, 117 Ohio St.3d 

470, 2008-Ohio-1443, 884 N.E.2d 1067, ¶ 12–13.” Shie v. Smith, 2009-Ohio-4079, 123 

Ohio St. 3d 89, 914 N.E.2d 369, 370. 

 
Richland County, Case No. 13CA103 4 

{¶8} For these reasons, the petition is dismissed for failure to state a claim 

upon which relief may be granted. 

By: Baldwin, J. 

Gwin, P.J. and 

Wise, J. concur.