[Cite as State v. Hatcher, 2017-Ohio-109.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio

EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA 

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION 

No. 104780

STATE OF OHIO

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE 

vs. 

MICHAEL D. HATCHER

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT 

JUDGMENT: 

VACATED

Criminal Appeal from the 

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas 

Case No. CR-15-595831-A 

BEFORE: E.A. Gallagher, P.J., Boyle, J., and Blackmon, J. 

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: January 12, 2017 
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Michael D. Hatcher, pro se 

Inmate No. #673-709 

Lake Erie Correctional Institution 

501 Thompson Road 

Conneaut, Ohio 44030 

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Michael C. O’Malley 

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor 

BY: Frank Romeo Zeleznikar 

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney 

The Justice Center, 8th Floor 

1200 Ontario Street 

Cleveland, Ohio 44113 
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, P.J.: 

{¶1} Defendant-appellant Michael Hatcher appeals the denial of two motions to 

vacate a void sentence in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. For the 

following reasons, we vacate. 

Factual and Procedural Background

{¶2} On September 15, 2015, Hatcher plead guilty to grand theft. At sentencing, 

the trial court imposed one year of community control sanctions including an indefinite 

term of confinement in either a community-based correctional facility (“CBCF”) or the 

county jail. The sentence included the following proviso: 

This sentence is to begin upon his release from Lorain Correctional 

Institution in the Lake County Case: 15-CR-000206. Defendant is to be 

assessed for CBCF upon his release from Lorain Correctional Institution. 

The one year supervision does not begin until he is returned from Lorain 

Correctional Institution to begin this sentence. 

{¶3} On April 22, 2016, Hatcher filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and/or 

vacate a void sentence, arguing that the trial court failed to make the required findings 

under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) for the imposition of consecutive sentences.1

 The trial court 

denied the motion finding that R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) was inapplicable to a sentence of 

community control sanctions. The trial court further denied having imposed a 

consecutive sentence despite the plain language above. 

 1

This appeal concerns only Hatcher’s challenge to a void sentence. The denial of Hatcher’s 

motion to withdraw his guilty plea is not before this court. 
{¶4} On May 24, 2016, Hatcher filed a renewed motion to vacate his sentence 

pursuant to this court’s decision in State v. Anderson, 2016-Ohio-7044, 62 N.E.3d 229 

(8th Dist.). The trial court again denied the motion finding Anderson inapplicable 

because “[t]he court did not order that the sentence be served concurrently or 

consecutively but it did order that the sentence be served.” The trial court then 

contradicted the above-quoted provision from its original sentencing entry and found that 

Hatcher had failed to appear before the court’s probation department as ordered and 

issued a warrant for his arrest. 

{¶5} This court granted a motion for a delayed appeal challenging the denial of the 

above motions. 

Law and Analysis

I. The Imposition of Community Control Sanctions Consecutive to a Prison 

Term

{¶6} In his sole assignment of error, Hatcher argues that trial court erred in 

imposing community control sanctions to be served consecutively to a prison term. 

{¶7} In Anderson, this en banc court held that “[b]ecause there is no statutory 

authority for the imposition of community control sanctions to be served consecutive to, 

or following the completion of, a prison or jail term or other sentence of imprisonment, 

the trial court was without authority to impose the same.” Id. at ¶ 31. This court 

concluded that such a sentence was void. Id. at ¶ 31. 

{¶8} By the plain language of the trial court’s sentencing entry quoted above the 

trial court attempted to order community control sanctions to be served consecutive to, or 
following the completion of, a prison term. The reasoning behind Anderson provides no 

exception that would authorize a consecutive community control sentence where the 

prison term it is to follow was imposed in another county. We do not find any merit in 

the state’s argument that the trial court merely held the community control sanction 

sentence “in abeyance” until Hatcher was released from prison. Such an interpretation 

would eviscerate the rule of Anderson. 

{¶9} Although the state argues that Hatcher’s argument is preclued by the doctrine 

of res judicata, it is well established that a void sentence “is not precluded from appellate 

review by principles of res judicata, and may be reviewed at any time, on direct appeal or 

collateral attack.” State v. Fischer, 128 Ohio St.3d 92, 2010-Ohio-6238, 942 N.E.2d 

332, paragraph one of the syllabus. 

{¶10} We find Hatcher’s sentence to be void.2

 

 {¶11} Hatcher’s sole assignment of error is sustained. 

{¶12} Hatcher’s sentence is vacated. 

This cause is vacated and remanded to the trial court for further proceedings 

consistent with this opinion. 

It is ordered that appellant recover of said appellee costs herein taxed. 

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal. 

 2

 We also note that the trial court’s sentencing entry includes indefinite terms of jail and 

CBCF sanctions in violation of R.C. 2929.16(A). See, e.g., State v. Abernathy, 8th Dist. 

Cuyahoga No. 102716, 2015-Ohio-4769, fn. 2; State v. Moore, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102242, 

2015-Ohio-3233, ¶ 8. 
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 A. GALLAGHER, PRESIDING JUDGE 

PATRICIA A. BLACKMON, J., CONCURS; 

MARY J. BOYLE, J., DISSENTS (WITH SEPARATE OPINION ATTACHED) 

MARY J. BOYLE, J., DISSENTING WITH SEPARATE OPINION 

{¶13} Respectfully, I dissent and would affirm the trial court. 

{¶14} R.C. 2951.07 supports the notion that a community control sanction 

(“CCS”) is to be served after a prison by operation of law. It states, “if the offender is 

confined in any institution for the commission of any offense, the period of community 

control ceases to run until the time the offender is brought before the court for its further 

action.” I disagree with the majority that the trial court imposed a consecutive sentence; 

R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) therefore is inapplicable in this case. Instead, the trial court properly 

ordered that the CCS be served in accordance with the express terms of R.C. 2951.07