[Cite as State v. Allen, 2018-Ohio-3822.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

 OTTAWA COUNTY 

State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. OT-18-001 

 

 Appellee Trial Court No. 17 CR 126 

v. 

James Allen DECISION AND JUDGMENT

Appellant Decided: September 21, 2018 

* * * * * 

 James J. VanEerten, Ottawa County Prosecuting Attorney, and 

 Barbara Gallé Rivas, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee. 

 Russell Leffler, for appellant. 

* * * * * 

JENSEN, J. 

Introduction 

{¶ 1} Appellant, James D. Allen, appeals the January 4, 2018 judgment of the 

Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas, where he was sentenced to five years in prison 

for rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(c) and (B), a felony of the first degree. 

Finding no error below, we affirm. 
2. 

Background 

{¶ 2} On August 24, 2017, appellant was indicted on two counts of rape in 

violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(c) and (B), both felonies of the first degree, and two 

counts of sexual battery in violation R.C. 2907.03(A)(2) and (B), both felonies of the 

third degree. 

{¶ 3} The events from which the charges stem occurred on August 7, 2017. 

Appellant was age 77 at the time. He lived with his adult step-granddaughter, the victim, 

and had raised her from the time she was the age of four. The victim suffered with 

anxiety. 

{¶ 4} On that night, appellant and the victim drank alcohol together. Appellant 

confessed in open court that the victim requested he purchase the alcohol so that they 

could talk. He admitted to knowing that the victim drank alcohol to ease her anxiety, and 

that he was aware of this when purchasing and sharing the alcohol with the victim. 

{¶ 5} According to his account, the two got highly intoxicated and appellant 

digitally penetrated the victim after she requested he rub her stomach. Unbeknownst to 

appellant, the victim was taping the sexual conduct and revealed it on social media. 

{¶ 6} Appellee, the state of Ohio, stated that the following facts would have been 

proven at trial. 

[Prosecutor]: Yes. Thank you. First off, the night in question, on 

the indictment, we have listed as the night of August 7th into the early 

morning hours of August 8. 
3. 

This did occur in Ottawa County. The victim was not [appellant]’s 

spouse and her ability, the victim in this case, her ability to consent was 

substantially impaired due to the alcohol consumption. 

Should the matter go to trial, that is what the State would intend to 

show. 

Then knowing that the victim’s ability to consent was substantially 

impaired as the Defendant did, in fact, provide the alcohol in question, in 

this case, did engage in sexual contact with the victim. 

The sexual conduct being digital penetration using his finger, which 

is contrary to and in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2907.02(A)(1)(c) and 

(B). 

{¶ 7} On October 6, 2017, appellant pled guilty to one count of first-degree rape. 

The other charges were dismissed, and the court accepted the plea and scheduled 

sentencing. Appellant was sentenced to serve five years in prison, was found to be a tierthree sex offender, and was subject to five years on postrelease control. The judgment 

was journalized January 4, 2018, and appellant timely appealed. 

Assignments of Error 

{¶ 8} Appellant sets forth the following assignments of error: 

1. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CONDUCTING AN 

IMPROPER RULE 11 HEARING IMPLYING THE DEFENDANT 

COULD BE RELEASED AFTER SERVING THREE YEARS NO 

MATTER WHAT THE STATED PRISON SENTENCE. 
4. 

2. THE TRIAL COURT’S MID-RANGE SENTENCE WAS 

EITHER UNLAWFUL OR A CLEAR ABUSE OF DISCRETION. 

Review of Appellant’s Plea 

{¶ 9} Initially we address appellant’s arguments that the trial court erred in 

conducting its plea hearing and in implying appellant could be released after only serving 

three years despite the imposed, stated prison term. 

{¶ 10} When evaluating a plea, our examination requires a “de novo review of the 

record to ensure that the trial court complied with constitutional and procedural 

safeguards.” State v. Faulkner, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-10-1147, 2011-Ohio-2696, ¶ 15, 

citing State v. Kelley, 57 Ohio St.3d 127, 129, 566 N.E.2d 658 (1991). 

{¶ 11} Crim.R. 11 provides those safeguards, in pertinent part stating: 

(A) Pleas. A defendant may plead not guilty, not guilty by reason 

of insanity, guilty or, with the consent of the court, no contest.* * * 

(B) Effect of guilty or no contest pleas. With reference to the 

offense or offenses to which the plea is entered: (1) The plea of guilty is a 

complete admission of the defendant’s guilt.* * * 

(3) When a plea of guilty or no contest is accepted pursuant to this 

rule, the court, * * * shall proceed with sentencing under Crim.R. 32. 

(C) Pleas of guilty and no contest in felony cases.* * * (2) In 

felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or a plea of no 

contest, and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest without first 

addressing the defendant personally and doing all of the following: 
5. 

(a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, 

with understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum 

penalty involved, and, if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for 

probation or for the imposition of community control sanctions at the 

sentencing hearing. 

(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant 

understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the court, 

upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence. 

(c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant 

understands that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury trial, 

to confront witnesses against him or her, to have compulsory process for 

obtaining witnesses in the defendant’s favor, and to require the state to 

prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which the 

defendant cannot be compelled to testify against himself or herself. 

{¶ 12} It is well-settled law in Ohio that a no-contest or guilty plea in a criminal 

trial must be made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. State v. Ballard, 66 Ohio 

St.2d 473, 477-480, 423 N.E.2d 115 (1981). “Failure on any of those points renders 

enforcement of the plea unconstitutional under both the United States Constitution and 

the Ohio Constitution.” State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St.3d 525, 527, 660 N.E.2d 450 (1996). 

{¶ 13} We note that appellant did not object, challenge or seek to withdraw his 

plea prior to being sentenced. Therefore, he must rely on the plain error analysis to 
6. 

challenge his plea. See, e.g., State v. Toyloy, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 14AP-463, 2015-

Ohio-1618, ¶ 19. 

{¶ 14} Under Crim.R. 52(B), “[p]lain errors or defects affecting substantial rights 

may be noticed although they were not brought to the attention of the court.” To affect a 

substantial right, the error must be outcome-determinative. See State v. Amos, 140 Ohio 

St.3d 238, 2014-Ohio-3160, 17 N.E.3d 528, ¶ 21-23. 

{¶ 15} Here, appellant has not alleged a specific violation of Crim.R. 11. 

However, appellant does assert that, given that he may have the beginning stages of 

Alzheimer’s and that his counsel raised the issue, the trial court could not lawfully 

conclude that the plea was entered knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily, without first 

ordering a mental health evaluation to ensure he had the capacity to enter such plea. 

{¶ 16} Appellant only challenges this limited aspect of his plea, and we constrain 

our judgment to his contentions. In doing so, we find the trial court fully complied with 

Crim.R. 11(C), and that appellant entered the plea knowingly, intelligently, and 

voluntarily. We find no evidence in the record to support appellant lacked capacity to 

enter his plea. 

{¶ 17} We first point to the written plea agreement, where we find appellant 

confirmed that he knew and understood a consequence of his plea would be to accept the 

stated prison term without a possibility of prison credit. The agreement, on the second 

page, specifically states: “I know that the nature of the charge or charges to which I am 

pleading guilty makes me ineligible to earn any credit towards my stated sentence.” This 
7. 

statement is clear and unambiguous, and appellant undeniably signed the agreement on 

October 6, 2017. 

{¶ 18} Further, the trial court explained to appellant that he would be ineligible to 

earn credit at the October 6, 2017 plea hearing, and appellant confirmed that he knew and 

understood that a consequence of his plea would be to accept the imposed prison term as 

stated by the trial court. The transcript reflects as follows: 

[COURT]: So Mr. Allen, this is a felony of the first degree. Do 

you understand that? 

[APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. 

[COURT]: What do you understand to be the maximum prison 

term? 

[APPELLANT]: 11 years. 

[COURT]: Do you understand that there is a mandatory portion, a 

portion of time that you must serve in prison? 

[APPELLANT]: Three years. 

[COURT]: Do you know that during that time period you are not 

eligible for any Judicial Release or any kind of earned credit? 

[APPELLANT]: Yes, for the minimum, you mean? 

[COURT]: Yes. 

[APPELLANT]: Yes, sir, I do. 

[COURT]: Do you understand that there is a maximum possible fine 

of $20,000? 
8. 

[APPELLANT]: I do. 

[PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, if I may just briefly, I believe he 

said to the minimum, I believe any time he is sentenced to, he is not eligible 

for earned time. 

[APPELLANT]: I am sorry. I do understand that. 

[COURT]: We should be clear on that. If you are sentenced to 11 

years, there is no early release? 

[APPELLANT]: I understand, sir. 

[COURT]: No early release for good time. Thank you. * * * 

{¶ 19} Appellant’s trial counsel actually conceded at the plea hearing that 

appellant was competent to proceed and, as implied above, there is no motion or 

indication below that appellant wanted to withdraw his plea. This requires appellant 

show the trial court committed plain error, which we find he cannot. Accordingly, the 

first assigned error is not well-taken. 

Review of the Imposed Sentence 

{¶ 20} We next address appellant’s argument that his mid-range sentence was 

unlawful or a clear abuse of discretion. 

{¶ 21} We must note the standard of review for a felony sentence is not whether 

the trial court abused its discretion, but rather, R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) provides that an 

appellate court may increase, reduce, modify, or vacate and remand a sentence if it 

clearly and convincingly finds either: 
9. 

(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; or[,] 

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

See State v. McClanahan, 6th Dist. Ottawa No. OT-14-024, 2014-Ohio-5597, ¶ 9. 

{¶ 22} A sentence is not contrary to law where the trial court considers the 

purposes and principles of sentencing under R.C. 2929.11, along with the seriousness and 

recidivism factors under R.C. 2929.12, and imposes a sentence within the statutory range. 

See State v. Craig, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-14-061, 2015-Ohio-1479, ¶ 9. 

{¶ 23} Pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(A)(1), the statutory sentencing range for a firstdegree felony is between 3 and 11 years. 

{¶ 24} Here, appellant was convicted of first-degree rape in violation of R.C. 

2907.02(A)(1)(c) and (B). Appellant was sentenced to a prison term of five years for his 

rape conviction. This prison term is within the permissible range. See R.C. 

2929.14(A)(1). 

{¶ 25} R.C. 2929.11(A) provides, in relevant part, that “[t]he overriding purposes 

of felony sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and 

others and to punish the offender using the minimum sanctions that the court determines 

accomplish those purposes * * *.” In order to comply with R.C. 2929.11, a trial court 

must impose a sentence that is “reasonably calculated to achieve the two overriding 

purposes of felony sentencing * * * commensurate with and not demeaning to the 
10. 

seriousness of the offender’s conduct and its impact upon the victim, and consistent with 

sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar offenders.” See R.C. 

2929.11(B). 

{¶ 26} The trial court must weigh factors to determine whether the offender’s 

conduct is more serious than conduct normally constituting the offense. Id. See also

R.C. 2929.11(C). The court must also weigh factors in R.C. 2929.12(D), versus those in 

2929.12(E), to determine the likelihood of the offender committing future crimes. 

{¶ 27} We note that a sentencing court is not required to use any specific language 

or make specific findings to demonstrate that it considered the applicable sentencing 

criteria. See State v. Arnett, 88 Ohio St.3d 208, 215, 724 N.E.2d 793 (2000); State v. 

Thebeau, 6th Dist. Ottawa No. OT-14-017, 2014-Ohio-5598, ¶ 16. 

{¶ 28} Here, review of the January 4, 2018 sentencing transcript reveals that the 

trial court stated, in open court, that it considered R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. Moreover, 

the sentencing entry states, in pertinent part, as follows: 

The Court has considered the record, oral statements, all victim 

impact statements, the presentence report, as well as the principles and 

purposes of sentencing under Ohio Revised Code Section 2929.11. The 

Court further has balanced the seriousness and recidivism factors under 

Ohio Revised Code 2929.12. The Court finds that the more likely 

recidivism factors do not outweigh the less likely factors and the more 

serious factors outweigh the less serious factors. 
11. 

{¶ 29} Therefore, in light of the statements at the hearing, as well as the language 

expressed in the sentencing entry, we conclude that the trial court complied with its 

obligations under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. 

{¶ 30} Lastly, we find the sentence imposed was supported in the record. 

Appellant was convicted under 2907.02(A)(1)(c), which in relevant part states: 

(A) (1) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another who 

is not the spouse of the offender or who is the spouse of the offender but is 

living separate and apart from the offender, when any of the following 

applies:* * * (c) [t]he other person’s ability to resist or consent is 

substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition or because 

of advanced age, and the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe 

that the other person’s ability to resist or consent is substantially impaired 

because of a mental or physical condition or because of advanced age. * * * 

{¶ 31} Here, the record reveals appellant admitted through his own statements, in 

open court at the January 4, 2018 sentencing hearing, that he was aware the victim had 

anxiety problems and that she self-medicated with alcohol. Appellant admitted to 

purchasing the alcohol and arranging a night of drinking with the victim. He stated that 

he recalls getting intoxicated and not remembering “anything that happened later that 

night[,]* * *until the police came at six a.m. the next morning.” 

{¶ 32} Furthermore, at sentencing appellant recognized, in open court, that the 

victim had videotaped the events from that night. The recording allegedly showed 

appellant digitally penetrating the victim against her will. Appellant conceded and stated 
12. 

that once he saw the recording, he “realized it was completely true.” He then stated that 

he took “full responsibility” and that there was “no doubt in [his] mind that [he] 

committed a crime against her and there [wa]s no justification for it.” 

{¶ 33} Accordingly, factoring in the above statements, findings, and expressed 

considerations, we hold the record supports the imposed sentence and that the sentence is 

not contrary to law. The second assignment of error is not well-taken.

Conclusion 

{¶ 34} The judgment of the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas is hereby 

affirmed. Appellant is ordered to pay costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24. The 

clerk is ordered to serve all parties with notice of this decision. 

Judgment affirmed. 

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27. 

See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4. 

Thomas J. Osowik, J. _______________________________ 

JUDGE 

James D. Jensen, J. 

_______________________________ 

Christine E. Mayle, P.J. JUDGE 

CONCUR. 

_______________________________ 

JUDGE