[Cite as State v. Newman , 2022
- Ohio
- 4262.]

COURT OF APPEALS MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO Plaintiff

- Appell ee

- vs JUSTIN NEWMAN Defendant

- Appell ant JUDGES: Hon. William B. Hoffman , P.J. Hon. John W. Wise , J. Hon. Craig R. Baldwin , J. Case No. CT2022

- 0010

O P I N I O N

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. CR2021

- 0242

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: November 28, 2022

APPEARANCES: For Plaintiff

- Appell ee For Defendant

- Appell ant RONALD L. WELCH CHRIS BRIGDON PROSECUTING ATTORNEY 8138 Somerset Road TAYLOR P. BENNINGTON Thornville, Ohio 43076 ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR 27 North Fifth Street, P. O. Box 189 Zanesville, Ohio 43701Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022

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Wise, J. {¶1} Defendant

- Appellant Justin Newman appeals his sentence from the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas after entering a plea of guilty to one count of Gross Sexual Imposition in violation of R.C. §2907.05(A)(1) , and one count of Sexual Battery in violation of R.C. §2907.03(A)(1) . Plaintiff

- Appellee is the State of Ohio. The rel evant facts leading to this appeal are as follows. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY {¶2} On May 5, 2021, Appellant was indicted on one count of Kidnapping in violation of R.C.§ 2905.01(A)(4), three counts of Gross Sexual Imposition in violation of R.C. §2907.05(A)( 4), on e count of Attempted Rape in violation of R.C. §2923.02(A), and two counts of Rape in violation of R.C. §2923.02(A). {¶3} On August 5, 2021, Appellant entered a plea of guilty to one count of Gross Sexual Imposition, in violation of R.C. §2907.05(A)(1) an d one count of Sexual Battery, in violation of R.C. §2907.03(A)(1). {¶4} The trial court sentenced Appellant to eighteen months on the count of Gross Sexual Imposition, and eight to twelve years on the count of Sexual Battery to be served consecutively.
Assign ments of Error {¶5} Appellant timely filed a notice of appeal and herein raises the following two Assignments of Error. {¶6} “I. CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES WERE UNLAWFUL AND A VIOLATION OF DUE PROCESS.Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022

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{¶7} “II. THE PROPORTIONALITY OF THE SENTENCE WAS INCONSISTENT WITH O.R.C. 2929.11(B).”
I. {¶8} In Appellant’s First Assignment of Error, Appellant argues the trial court erred by imposing consecutive sentences. We disagree. {¶9} R.C. §2953.08(G)(2) sets forth the standard of review for all felony
sentences. State v. Marcum , 146 Ohio St.3 d 516, 2016

- Ohio

- 1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶1. Pursuant to R.C. §2953.08(G)(2), an appellate court may only “increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence * * * or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing court for resentencing” if th e court finds by clear and convincing evidence “(a) [t]hat the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings[,]” or “(b) [t]hat the sentence in otherwise contrary to law.” R.C. §2953.08(G)(2)(a)

- (b). {¶10} R.C. §2929.14(C)(4) concerns the imposition of consecutive sentences. In Ohio, there is a statutory presumption in favor of concurrent sentences for most felony offenses. R.C. §2929.41(A). The trial court may overcome this presumption by making the statutory, enumerated findings set forth in R.C. §292 9.14(C)(4). State v. Bonnell , 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014

- Ohio

- 3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶23. This statute requires the trial court to undertake a three

- part analysis in order to impose consecutive sentences. {¶11} R.C. §2929.14(C)(4) provides: (C)(4) If multiple prison terms are imposed on an offender for convictions of multiple offenses, the court may require the offender to serve the prison terms consecutively if the court finds that the consecutive service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to pu nish the offenderMuskingum County, Case No. CT2022

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and 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 m ore 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. {¶12} Thus, in order for a trial court to impose consecutive sentences, the court must find that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender. The court must also find that consecutive sentences are not disproporti onate to the offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public. Finally, the court must make at least one of three additional findings, which include that (a) the offender committed one or more of the offenses while awaiting trial

or se ntencing, while under a sanction imposed under R.C. §2929.16, §2929.17, or §2929.18, or while under post release control for a prior offense; (b) at least two of theMuskingum County, Case No. CT2022

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multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct, and the harm c aused by two or more of the offenses 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 would adequately reflect the seriousness of the offender’s conduct; or (c) the offender’s cri minal history demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender. See, State v. White , 5 th Dist. Perry No. 12

- CA

- 00018,
2013

- Ohio

- 2058, ¶36. {¶13} A trial court must make the findings required by R.C. §2 929.14(C)(4) into its sentencing entry; however, the trial court need not state specific reasons to support its finding. “[A] word

- for

- word recitation of the language of the statute is not required, and as long as the reviewing court can discern that the t rial court engaged in the correct analysis and can determine that the record contains evidence to support the findings, consecutive sentences should be upheld. Bonnell, supra

. {¶14} In the case sub judice , Appellant does not argue the trial court did not make th e proper findings, but rather that consecutive sentences in this instance were unnecessary to protect the public and were disproportionate to the seriousness of the offense. {¶15} However, the trial court found that the harm cause d to the victim, a minor,

was so great that a prison term on just one offense was not enough. Appellant, the victim’s uncle, entered the victim’s room while she was playing with Barbies and engaged in sexual conduct and sexual contact with the victim. The consecutive sentence was

necessa ry because of the harm caused and the danger Appellant presented to the public.Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022

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{¶16} The trial court made the require d findings under R.C. §2929.14(C)(4) for consecutive sentences . I t was not contrary to law and was supported by the record. {¶17} Appellant’s First Assignment of Error is overruled.
II. {¶18} In Appellant’s Second Assignment of Error, Appellant argues the trial court erred by sentencing him disproportionately, and this amounts to cruel and unusual punishment . We dis agree. {¶19} The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.” {¶20} Section 9, Article I of the Ohio Constitution sets forth the same restriction: “Excessive bail shall not b e required; nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.” {¶21} “ ‘The Eighth Amendment does not require strict proportionality between crime and sentence. Rather it forbids only extreme sentences that are “grossly disproportionate” t o the crime.’ ” State v. Weitbrecht , 86 Ohio St.3d 368, 373, 715 N.E.2d 167 (1999), quoting Harmelin v. Michigan , 501 U.S 957, 1001, 111 S.Ct. 2680, 115 L.Ed.2d 836 (1991), (Kennedy, J., concurring in part and in judgment). “A court’s proportionality analy sis under the Eighth Amendment should be guided by objective criteria, including (i) gravity of the offense and the harshness of the penalty; (ii) the sentences imposed on other criminals in the same jurisdiction; and (iii) the sentences imposed for commis sion of the same crime in other jurisdictions. (Footnotes omitted.)” State v. Morin , 5 th Dist. Fairfield No. 2008

- CA

- 10, 2008

- Ohio

- 6707, ¶69, citing Solem v.Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022

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Helm , 463 U.S. 277, 290

- 292, 103 S.Ct. 3001, 3010

- 3011, 77 L.Ed.2d 637, 649

- 650 (1983). {¶22} “ ‘As a ge neral rule, a sentence that falls within the terms of a valid statute cannot amount to cruel and unusual punishment.’ ” State v. Hairston , 118 Ohio St.3d 289, 293, 2008

- Ohio

- 2338, 888 N.E.2d 1073, ¶21, quoting McDougle v. Maxwell , 1 Ohio St.2d 68, 69, 203 N.E.2d 334 (1964). {¶23} In the case sub judice , Appellant argues that Appellant’s lack of criminal history should provide for a less severe sentence than a defendant with prior convictions committing the same crime. Appellant does not challenge the sentencing s tatutes pursuant to which he was sentenced, nor does he argue he was not sentenced within a range permitted by statute. Since the court considered the record, all statements, victim impact statements, the principles and purposes of felony sentencing under R.C. §2929.11, and seriousness and recidivism factors under R.C. §2929.12, we find Appellant has not demonstrated his sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the United States and Ohio Constitutions.Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022

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{¶24} Appellant’s second Assignment of Error is overruled. {¶25} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Muskingum County, Ohio, is hereby affirmed.
By: Wise, J. Hoffman , P. J., and Baldwin , J., concur.

JWW/d 1121