[Cite as State v. Ruvolo, 2015-Ohio-5417.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio

EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA 

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION 

No. 102569

STATE OF OHIO

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE 

vs. 

ERIC J. RUVOLO

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

JUDGMENT: 

AFFIRMED

Criminal Appeal from the 

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas 

Case Nos. CR-14-586701-A and CR-14-591207-A 

 BEFORE: Celebrezze, A.J., Jones, J., and Laster Mays, J. 

 RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: December 24, 2015 
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT

Paul A. Mancino 

Mancino Mancino and Mancino 

75 Public Square Building 

Suite 1016 

Cleveland, Ohio 44113-2098 

Robert L. Tobik 

Cuyahoga County Public Defender 

BY: Sarah E. Gatti 

Assistant Public Defender 

310 Lakeside Avenue 

Suite 200 

Cleveland, Ohio 44113 

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty 

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor 

BY: Yosef M. Hochheiser 

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney 

The Justice Center, 8th Floor 

1200 Ontario Street 

Cleveland, Ohio 44113 
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., A.J.: 

{¶1} Appellant, Eric J. Ruvolo, brings the instant appeal challenging his two-year 

prison sentence imposed for two cases involving fifth-degree felonies. He argues the 

sentences constitute cruel and unusual punishment, that he was denied his right to a trial 

by jury where the court made findings necessary to impose consecutive sentences, and 

that the findings made by the court are not supported in the record. After a thorough 

review of the record and law, this court affirms. 

I. Factual and Procedural History

{¶2} In June 2014, appellant sold heroin to a confidential informant. For this he 

was arrested, and, in Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-14-586701-A charged with two counts of 

drug trafficking, violations of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1) and (2), and two counts of drug 

possession, violations of R.C. 2925.11(A). Appellant pled guilty to one fifth-degree 

felony count of drug trafficking, a violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), and the other counts 

were dismissed. On August 19, 2014, appellant was sentenced to a one-year period of 

community control. 

{¶3} In November 2014, appellant was found to be in possession of stolen 

jewelry and arrested. Appellant was charged in Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-14-591207-A 

with receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A). On 

November 18, 2014, the trial court entered an order in CR-586701, remanding appellant 
pending a hearing on an alleged violation of the terms of community control as a result of 

this charge. 

{¶4} In CR-591207, appellant, on January 6, 2015, pled guilty to receiving stolen 

property as set forth in the indictment. The court then immediately proceeded to hold a 

combined sentencing hearing. After hearing from the victim’s son, the state, and 

appellant, the court imposed a 12-month prison sentence. The court also found that 

appellant was in violation of his community control in CR-586701. The court terminated 

appellant’s community control and imposed a 12-month prison term. The court also 

ordered the sentence imposed be served consecutive to the 12-month sentence in 

CR-591207, for a total of 24 months.1

{¶5} Appellant then filed the instant appeal assigning three errors for review: 

I. [Appellant] was denied due process of law and subjected to a cruel and 

unusual punishment when the court imposed maximum consecutive 

sentences for fifth degree felonies. 

II. [Appellant] was denied his rights under the Sixth Amendment when he 

was consecutively sentenced to maximum terms of imprisonment based on 

judicial factfinding. 

III. [Appellant] was denied due process of law when the court only rotely 

recited the statutory criteria for imposition of consecutive sentences. 

II. Law and Analysis 

A. Cruel and Unusual Punishment

 1Appellant was also on community control in a third case, Cuyahoga C.P. No. 

CR-13-580133-A, but the court simply terminated community control in that case at 

the sentencing hearing. 
{¶6} Appellant first argues his 24-month sentence constitutes cruel and unusual 

punishment. 

{¶7} The Eighth Amendment states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor 

excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Decisions of the 

U.S. Supreme Court that do not deal with capital punishment or life sentences without the 

possibility of parole have indicated the Eighth Amendment offers very little in the way of 

a check on a legislature’s ability to affix penalties to crimes. Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 

U.S. 957, 111 S.Ct. 2680, 115 L.Ed.2d 836 (1991). For instance, the court has rejected 

mandatory life without parole and capital sentences for juvenile offenders. Roper v. 

Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 125 S.Ct. 1183, 161 L.Ed.2d 1 (2005); Graham v. Florida, 560 

U.S. 48, 130 S.Ct. 2011, 176 L.Ed.2d 825 (2010). If the Eighth Amendment offers any 

proportionality protection at all, it is a very narrow element that only applies to grossly 

disproportionate penalties. Harmelin at 998-999 (Kennedy, J., concurring in part and 

concurring in judgment).2

 

{¶8} Similarly, the Ohio Supreme Court has recognized that the Eighth 

Amendment is applicable only to the very rare case where the penalty imposed would be 

“‘considered shocking to any reasonable person.’” State v. Weitbrecht, 86 Ohio St.3d 

368, 371, 715 N.E.2d 167 (1999), quoting McDougle v. Maxwell, 1 Ohio St.2d 68, 70, 

203 N.E.2d 334 (1964). Further, “[a]s a general rule, a sentence that falls within the 

 2Justice Scalia’s lead opinion joined only by one other justice on this point 

would hold that it offered no protection. Harmelin at 962-994. 
terms of a valid statute cannot amount to a cruel and unusual punishment.” McDougle at 

69. 

{¶9} Here, there is no dispute that each 12-month sentence falls within the 

statutory range for a fifth-degree felony. Appellant argues that he has an addiction that 

requires treatment rather than prison. Appellant does not make a serious argument that 

the sentences imposed shocks the conscience of the average citizen for a person who was 

twice given community control and a chance at treatment and rehabilitation and violated 

those terms by selling drugs and being found in possession of thousands of dollars in 

stolen property taken from the home of elderly residents. As the trial court noted, 

appellant had a lengthy criminal history dating back almost 20 years with no sign of being 

amenable to community control sanctions. The court had previously offered appellant 

drug treatment, community based correctional services, and services for treatment through 

community control. Despite numerous opportunities, appellant failed to benefit from any 

of these programs and continued to commit crimes. The consecutive 12-month prison 

sentences do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. 

{¶10} Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled. 

B. Judicial Factfinding

{¶11} Appellant next argues that his right to trial by jury was violated when the 

court made specific findings necessary to impose consecutive sentences. He argues that 

judicial factfinding necessary to impose consecutive sentences violates this constitutional 
right as set forth in State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, 

and other cases. 

{¶12} The Sixth Amendment provides in part, “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the 

accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State 

and district wherein the crime shall have been committed * * *.” The U. S. Supreme 

Court has held that “the Sixth Amendment’s jury-trial guarantee requires that the jury, 

rather than the judge, determine any fact (other than the existence of a prior conviction) 

that increases the maximum punishment authorized for a particular crime.” Oregon v. 

Ice, 555 U.S. 160, 160, 129 S.Ct. 711, 172 L.Ed.2d 517 (2009), citing Apprendi v. New 

Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000); Blakely v. 

Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004). The Ohio Supreme 

Court applied Apprendi and Blakely and held that judicial findings necessary to impose 

consecutive sentences also violated the Sixth Amendment. Foster at ¶ 83. 

{¶13} After Foster was decided, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a case that stated 

factfinding that had traditionally been within the prerogative of the legislature, such as 

whether to impose sentences consecutively, was not prohibited by the Sixth Amendment. 

Ice at 168. The Ohio Supreme Court thereafter recognized that judicial factfinding 

necessary to impose consecutive sentences did not violate the Sixth Amendment. State v. 

Hodge, 128 Ohio St.3d 1, 2010-Ohio-6320, 941 N.E.2d 768; State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio 

St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659. Therefore, appellant’s right to trial by jury 
was not violated when the court made findings necessary for the imposition of 

consecutive sentences. 

{¶14} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled. 

C. Findings Necessary for Consecutive Sentences

{¶15} Finally, appellant argues that the court did not give serious consideration to 

the factors necessary for imposing consecutive sentences and only rotely recited the 

statutory factors. Appellant’s argument is contrary to the record in this case. 

{¶16} This court reviews a trial court’s decision to impose consecutive sentences 

under the standard set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2): 

The court hearing an appeal under division (A), (B), or (C) of this section 

shall review the record, including the findings underlying the sentence or 

modification given by the sentencing court. 

The appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence 

that is appealed under this section or may vacate the sentence and remand 

the matter to the sentencing court for resentencing. The appellate court’s 

standard for review is not whether the sentencing court abused its 

discretion. The appellate court may take any action authorized by this 

division if it clearly and convincingly finds either of the following: 

(a) That the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings under 

division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of 

section 2929.14, or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code, 

whichever, if any, is relevant; 

(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law. 

{¶17} In order to impose consecutive sentences, a trial court must make findings 

listed in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4): 
[T]he court may require the offender to serve the prison terms consecutively 

if the court finds that the consecutive service is [(1)] necessary to protect 

the public from future crime or to punish the offender and [(2)] that 

consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the 

offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public, and if 

the court also finds any of the following: 

(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while the 

offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction imposed 

pursuant to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, or 

was under post-release control for a prior offense. 

(b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or 

more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the 

multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no single 

prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of the courses 

of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender’s conduct. 

(c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that 

consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime 

by the offender. 

{¶18} At sentencing the trial court engaged in a reasoned analysis of the factors 

necessary to impose consecutive sentences. The court went through appellant’s rather 

lengthy criminal history as set forth in the presentence investigation report that was 

ordered when appellant was first sentenced in CR-586701. The court recognized that 
appellant was 35 years old at the time of sentencing with a criminal history stretching 

back to 1993. The court found that appellant had at least a dozen cases ranging from 

minor misdemeanors to theft of a motor vehicle. Appellant had previously violated 

terms of community control at least six times. After going through appellant’s history, 

including appellant’s previous violations of community control imposed by the trial court, 

the court concluded: 

Bottom line, however, is that I did attempt to give you a chance and I placed 

you on probation on each of these cases in an effort to help you. And you 

went back and you repaid my attempt to help you by picking up a new 

felony case. 

 

Clearly you have an extensive criminal history. The age of the victims in 

this matter is disturbing to me that you had property that was taken from 

two elderly citizens of my county. 

 

You failed clearly to benefit from any services that have been offered to 

you. You violated probation with prior judges. I put you in the CBCF; 

you violated my probation. So clearly you have not benefitted from any 

efforts to rehabilitate you in the past * * *. 

 

{¶19} After the court determined that the 12-month sentence in CR-586701 would 

run consecutive to the other sentence, it provided, 

[t]he Court does understand that in the state of Ohio concurrent terms are 

favored by the law, however, the judge does have discretion to impose 

consecutive sentences if a court finds it is necessary to protect and punish 

and not disproportionate. 

In this case given the defendant’s extensive history and the fact that these 

offenses were committed while the defendant was on probation to me, the 
Court finds that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect and punish 

and are not disproportionate to the conduct here. 

As stated the crime was committed while the defendant was on probation 

for two cases, and the defendant’s history shows that consecutive terms are 

necessary to protect the public. 

{¶20} The trial court made the findings necessary for the imposition of consecutive 

sentences. It emphasized appellant’s criminal history, the nature of the crimes, the age of 

the victims, appellant’s failure to abide by the terms of community control in the past, and 

the need to protect the community from appellant. The court offered support for the 

findings and created a record at the sentencing hearing that justified the court’s decision. 

The trial court also included the findings in its journal entry of sentence. 

{¶21} Appellant also argues the court ignored the statutory criteria contained in 

R.C. 2929.13(E)(1) through (2) for a sanction imposed as a result of a positive drug test. 

However, appellant’s violation of community control in CR-586701 was not the result of 

a positive drug test. Appellant was found to be in violation of his community control 

because he pled guilty to a felony charge of receiving stolen property. 

{¶22} Appellant has not demonstrated that the consecutive sentencing findings are 

clearly and convincingly contrary to law. Therefore, the trial court did not err when 

imposing consecutive sentences. Appellant’s third assignment of error is overruled. 

III. Conclusion
{¶23} Appellant was not subjected to cruel and unusual punishment when the court 

imposed a two-year prison sentence after appellant twice violated the terms of community 

control by being found guilty in a third case. Appellant’s sentence does not shock the 

conscience of a reasonable person. Further, appellant’s right to a trial by jury was not 

violated when the court decided to run two 12-months sentences consecutively. The 

decision to run sentences consecutive or concurrent based on findings made by the court 

does not violate the Sixth Amendment as recognized by the United States Supreme Court. 

 Finally, appellant did not show that the trial court’s findings supporting consecutive 

sentences were clearly and convincingly contrary to law. 

{¶24} Judgment affirmed. 

It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant 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. The defendant’s conviction having 

been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court 

for execution of sentence. 

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

the Rules of Appellate Procedure. 

_________________________________________________________ 

FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE 

LARRY A. JONES, SR., J., and 

ANITA LASTER MAYS, J., CONCUR