Court Opinion

ID: 4259914
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-30 15:46:38.881212+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:51.840719
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Elem, 2018-Ohio-1194.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                               EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                              JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                      No. 105821

                                      STATE OF OHIO
                                                      PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                vs.

                                      ELIJAH D. ELEM
                                                      DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                           JUDGMENT:
                                            AFFIRMED

                                    Criminal Appeal from the
                             Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                   Case No. CR-17-615013-A

        BEFORE:           McCormack, P.J., Boyle, J., and S. Gallagher, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: March 29, 2018
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Paul A. Mancino, Jr.
Mancino, Mancino & Mancino
75 Public Square Bldg., Ste. 1016
Cleveland, OH 44113-2098

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Michael C. O’Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

By: Scott C. Zarzycki
Daniel T. Van
Assistant County Prosecutors
Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
TIM McCORMACK, P.J.:

       {¶1}    Defendant-appellant Elijah Elem (“Elem”) appeals his conviction and

sentence, arguing that his offenses should have been merged for sentencing, he did not

receive effective assistance of counsel, the imposition of consecutive sentences violated

his Sixth Amendment rights, and his plea was not knowingly, intelligently, or voluntarily

entered.   For the reasons that follow, we affirm his conviction and sentence.

Procedural and Substantive History

       {¶2} This case originated in juvenile court and stems from events that occurred

on November 15, 2016. Our understanding of the facts that form the basis of this case is

limited to the allegations in the indictment and the brief discussion of the facts that took

place on the record at sentencing.   Elem, who was 17 years old at the time, went over to

the victim’s house with two friends to smoke marijuana. While at the victim’s house,

Elem and the two others decided to rob the victim of his money and cell phone. At some

point, Elem shot the victim at close range.    According to the state, the gunshots were

fired after the victim was robbed.    Elem and one of the other men were apprehended

fleeing the scene.

       {¶3} The juvenile court held an amenability hearing on February 22, 2017.        The

juvenile judge considered the relevant factors in favor of and against transfer pursuant to

R.C. 2152.12(D) and (E) and ordered the case to be transferred to the General Division of

the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
       {¶4} Elem was subsequently indicted on one count of attempted murder, a felony

in the first degree, in violation of R.C. 2923.02(A); two counts of aggravated robbery, a

felony in the first degree, in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1) and 2911.01(A)(3); two

counts of robbery, a felony in the second degree, in violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(1) and

2911.02(A)(2); one count of robbery, a felony in the third degree, in violation of R.C.

2911.02(A)(3); two counts of felonious assault, a felony in the second degree, in violation

of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1) and 2903.11(A)(2); and one count of kidnaping, a felony in the

first degree, in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2).

       {¶5} Elem pleaded guilty to attempted murder with one- and three-year firearm

specifications and to aggravated robbery.      The other charges in the indictment were

dismissed.

       {¶6} At sentencing, the trial court sentenced Elem to three years on the firearm

specifications, which had merged for sentencing, eight years on the attempted murder

charge, and six years on the aggravated robbery charge.    The sentences were ordered to

be served consecutively, for a total of 17 years.

       {¶7} Elem now appeals, presenting four assignments of error for our review.
Law and Analysis

Merger

       {¶8} In his first assignment of error, Elem argues that he was subjected to

multiple punishments, in violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause of the U.S. Constitution

and R.C. 2941.25, when no effort was made by his counsel to request merger of the

offenses.   To the extent that arguments from this assignment of error are incorporated in

the second assignment of error, we will address them in our discussion of ineffective

assistance of counsel.

       {¶9} Elem asserts that the attempted murder and aggravated robbery counts

should have been merged for sentencing, pursuant to R.C. 2941.25, because the offenses

were committed on the same day and involved the same victim and allegedly the same

criminal act.   Elem’s trial counsel did not bring up the issue of merger at sentencing, and

the court did not conduct any corresponding analysis on the record. Most of Elem’s

argument here, echoed in his second assignment of error, seems to center on the fact that

his trial counsel made no effort to request merger.    However, Elem also argues that he

was “at least entitled to a hearing” on this issue. Therefore, in analyzing this assignment

of error, we must first determine whether the trial court committed plain error by not

holding a hearing as to whether the two counts were allied offenses of similar import.

       {¶10} R.C. 2941.25 states:

       (A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute
       two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information
       may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be
       convicted of only one.
       (B) Where the defendant’s conduct constitutes two or more offenses of
       dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of
       the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as
       to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such
       offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.

       {¶11} Neither party brought up the issue of merger at any time in the lower court

proceedings.   In State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St. 3d 385, 2015-Ohio-2459, 38 N.E.3d 860, ¶

3, the Ohio Supreme Court held that a defendant forfeits all but plain error when an allied

offense issue is not raised at sentencing.   To satisfy plain error review in this context, an

appellant must demonstrate a reasonable probability that the convictions are for allied

offenses of similar import committed with the same conduct and without a separate

animus. Id.     Despite Elem’s contention that he was entitled to a hearing on this issue,

absent this showing, he “cannot demonstrate that the trial court’s failure to inquire

whether the convictions merge for purposes of sentencing was plain error.” Id.

       {¶12} Courts employ a three-part test in determining whether offenses must be

merged for sentencing under R.C. 2941.25, considering whether the offenses were similar

in import or significance, whether they were committed separately, and whether they were

committed with separate animus or motivation. State v. McKinney, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 105136, 2017-Ohio-7075, ¶ 3, quoting State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St. 3d 114,

2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892, ¶ 20.          An affirmative answer to any of the three

inquiries is sufficient to impose separate sentences.    State v. Esner, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 104594, 2017-Ohio-1365, ¶ 6. Further, “a defendant’s conduct that constitutes two

or more offenses against a single victim can support multiple convictions if the harm that
results from each offense is separate and identifiable from the harm of the other offense.”

 Ruff at ¶ 26.

       {¶13} We note that this court has previously found that attempted murder and

aggravated robbery are not allied offenses of similar import. State v. Johnson, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 99822, 2014-Ohio-494, ¶ 25;             State v. Orr, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

96377, 2011-Ohio-6269, ¶ 38.       In both Johnson and Orr, the court found that the

conduct amounting to aggravated robbery had been completed before the conduct

amounting to attempted murder.

       {¶14} In support of his argument, Elem emphasizes that the record includes a

limited discussion of the facts surrounding Elem’s convictions and no discussion of the

facts as they might specifically relate to merger.    In his brief, Elem contests the state’s

characterization of the facts and their chronology, noting that although he entered a plea

of guilty to two counts, he did so without any recitation of the facts or an admission of

any facts beyond those alleged in the indictment. Even with this limited understanding

of the facts, however, we find that his aggravated robbery and attempted murder

convictions are not allied offenses of similar import requiring merger.

       {¶15} Elem cannot meet his burden to demonstrate a reasonable probability that

the offenses were committed with the same conduct.        The attempted murder count was

committed when Elem attempted to purposely cause the death of the victim.                The

aggravated robbery count was committed when Elem, in attempting to commit or

committing a theft offense, or in fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense upon the
victim, did have a firearm on his person or under his control and either displayed the

weapon, brandished it, indicated that he possessed it, or used it. Regardless of whether

one agrees with the state’s chronology that Elem first stole money, credit cards, and a cell

phone from the victim at gunpoint — completing the act of aggravated robbery — and

then attempted to murder the victim by shooting him twice at close range, it is difficult to

imagine how Elem would have been able to steal things from the victim while

simultaneously shooting him.

         {¶16} Even if we were able to comprehend such a situation, Elem’s claim here still

fails because the harm that resulted from each offense was separate and identifiable.

With respect to aggravated robbery, the harm was both the property having been stolen

from the victim and the terror instilled in the victim by being robbed at gunpoint.   With

respect to attempted murder, the harm was the nearly fatal physical injuries sustained by

the victim, as well as the trauma endured by the victim upon being shot twice at close

range.    Based on this, Elem cannot demonstrate that the trial court’s failure to merge the

offenses for sentencing was plain error. Rogers, 143 Ohio St. 3d 385, 2015-Ohio-2459,

38 N.E.3d 860, at ¶ 3; Ruff, 143 Ohio St. 3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892, at ¶ 26.

We therefore deny this assignment of error.

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

         {¶17} In his second assignment of error, Elem argues that he was denied effective

assistance of counsel based on his counsel’s failure to obtain transcripts of the juvenile
court proceedings, failure to request merger, and failure to investigate with respect to the

amenability hearing.   We disagree.

       {¶18} In order to establish ineffective assistance of counsel, an appellant must

show that his counsel’s performance was deficient and that the deficient performance

prejudiced the defense. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80
L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984).    To demonstrate deficient performance, an appellant must show that

“‘counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.’” State v.

Bradley, 42 Ohio St. 3d 136, 142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), quoting Strickland.            If an

appellant is able to show that his counsel was deficient and satisfy the first prong of the

Strickland test, he must then establish that there exists “a reasonable probability that, but

for counsel’s errors, the proceeding’s result would have been different.”           State v.

Murphy, 91 Ohio St. 3d 516, 538, 2001-Ohio-112, 747 N.E.2d 765, citing Strickland.

       {¶19} Elem is unable to satisfy either prong of the test for any of his three alleged

deficiencies.   Elem first claims that because his case was bound over from juvenile

court, his counsel was obligated to obtain a transcript of the juvenile court proceedings.

Elem cites nothing to support his contention that failure to obtain the juvenile transcripts

was in any way deficient, nor does he attempt to argue that this prejudiced his defense in

any way.

       {¶20} Elem goes on to claim that his counsel’s failure to request a merger of the

offenses constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. We do not doubt that failure to

request merger of allied offenses may in some cases constitute deficient performance.
However, in light of our foregoing discussion and determination that the aggravated

robbery and attempted murder were not allied offenses of similar import, Elem’s

argument here necessarily fails.   Because the offenses were not allied offenses, resulting

in separate harms and likely caused by separate conduct, Elem is unable to show how the

outcome would have been different had his counsel requested merger.

       {¶21} Finally, Elem argues that because the juvenile court’s journal entry

following the amenability hearing allegedly contained some inconsistencies, he was

improperly bound over and his counsel was deficient for failing to investigate this and,

ultimately, request a remand or dismissal.

       {¶22} We first note that beyond a list of relevant factors both in favor of and

against transfer, pursuant to R.C. 2152.12(D) and(E), respectively, we do not find

anything in the journal entry that could amount to a critical inconsistency. The existence

of both kinds of factors is not in itself an inconsistency that impacts the appropriateness

of transfer.   The juvenile court heard testimony and evidence related to Elem’s

amenability, considered the factors in R.C. 2152.12(D) and (E), and subsequently found

that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Elem was not amenable to care or

rehabilitation within the juvenile system.

       {¶23} Further, although the journal entry shows that the juvenile court considered

the relevant factors for a discretionary transfer under R.C. 2152.12(B), we note that the

journal entry establishes that the criteria for a mandatory transfer under R.C.

2152.12(A)(1)(a) were met in this case.      That provision states:
      (a) After a complaint has been filed alleging that a child is a delinquent
      child for committing an act that would be aggravated murder, murder,
      attempted aggravated murder, or attempted murder if committed by an
      adult, the juvenile court at a hearing shall transfer the case if either of the
      following applies:

      (I) The child was sixteen or seventeen years of age at the time of the act
      charged and there is probable cause to believe that the child committed the
      act charged.

      (ii) The child was fourteen or fifteen years of age at the time of the act
      charged, section 2152.10 of the Revised Code provides that the child is
      eligible for mandatory transfer, and there is a probable cause to believe that
      the child committed the act charged.

      {¶24} The offenses in the indictment included attempted murder, and Elem was 17

at the time of their commission. The journal entry included these findings and noted that

there was probable cause to believe that Elem committed the offenses listed in the

indictment.

      {¶25} Even if Elem had been able to provide some indication of why transfer was

inappropriate or how his counsel should have investigated, he is again unable to satisfy

the second prong of the Strickland test. Without establishing a reasonable probability

that, had counsel investigated the appropriateness of his case, the outcome of the

proceeding would have been different, Elem’s argument fails.

      {¶26} Because Elem has not been able to satisfy both prongs of the Strickland test,

we find that he did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel and dismiss his second

assignment of error.

Consecutive Sentences
       {¶27} In his third assignment of error, Elem argues that the trial court violated his

Sixth Amendment rights by imposing consecutive sentences. Specifically, Elem argues

that the trial court’s sentence was improperly based on judicial fact-finding.

       {¶28} Pursuant to R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), a reviewing court may vacate or modify a

felony sentence if the sentence is contrary to law or if it “finds by clear and convincing

evidence that the record does not support the sentence.” State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio

St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 23.

       {¶29} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires a sentencing court to make certain findings

before imposing consecutive sentences.       First, the court must find that consecutive

sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender.

R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).       The court must also find that consecutive sentences are not

disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the

offender poses to the public. Id. Finally, the court must find any one 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 postrelease 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.
R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). Beyond making these findings, the court must also incorporate

those findings into its sentencing entry. State v. Hendricks, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

101864, 2015-Ohio-2268, ¶ 12, citing State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St. 3d 209,

2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 1.

      {¶30} Here, the trial court made the requisite findings at sentencing, stating:

      The Court finds that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the

      public from future crime and to punish you, and that they’re not

      disproportionate to the seriousness of your conduct and the danger you pose

      to the public based upon the fact that you committed two of the offenses as

      part of one or more courses of conduct, and the harm caused was so great or

      unusual that no single prison term would adequately reflect the seriousness

      of the conduct.

This was sufficient to impose consecutive sentences under Ohio law.

      {¶31} Elem argues that because he did not admit to any facts beyond what was

alleged in the indictment, the court had no information on which to base consecutive

sentences.   Therefore, according to Elem, consecutive sentences must have been based

on improper judicial fact-finding.   Specifically, Elem appears to take issue with the trial

court’s discussion of the impact that his crimes had on the victim.               We have

acknowledged that the facts on the record in this case are limited.         That does not,

however, diminish the seriousness of the crimes to which Elem pleaded guilty.
          {¶32} Further, while a court is not constitutionally permitted to base a sentence on

facts that were neither admitted by the defendant or found by a jury, this does not mean

that judges are without any discretion in sentencing. On the contrary, the weight given

to sentencing factors is discretionary, and “that discretion purely rests with the trial

court.”     State v. Allison, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105212, 2017-Ohio-7720, ¶ 25, citing

State v. Jones, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104152, 2016-Ohio-8145, ¶ 14.

          {¶33} We find that the record clearly and convincingly supports consecutive

sentences in this case. Similarly, we do not find any judicial commentary that would rise

to the constitutionally problematic level alleged by the appellant.    Therefore, we overrule

this assignment of error.

Guilty Plea

          {¶34} In Elem’s fourth and final assignment of error, he argues that he was denied

due process of law because his plea was not knowingly, intelligently, or voluntarily

entered with a full understanding of the effect of his plea.    Specifically, Elem argues that

his plea was not knowingly entered because he was not informed that entering a plea of

guilty was a complete admission of the facts alleged in the indictment. We find no merit

to this assignment of error.

          {¶35} In order to ensure that a defendant’s plea is entered knowingly, intelligently,

and voluntarily, a trial court must engage the defendant in an oral dialogue pursuant to

Crim.R. 11. State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St. 3d 525, 527, 1996-Ohio-179, 660 N.E.2d 450.
      {¶36} The Ohio Supreme Court has held that the right to be informed that a guilty

plea is an admission of guilt is a nonconstitutional right and therefore is reviewed for

substantial compliance.   State v. Griggs, 103 Ohio St. 3d 85, 2004-Ohio-4415, 814
N.E.2d 51, ¶ 12, citing State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St. 3d 106, 107, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990).

To succeed in challenging his plea under the substantial compliance standard, an

appellant must show a prejudicial effect; that is, that the plea would not otherwise have

been made. Nero citing State v. Stewart, 51 Ohio St. 2d 86, 93, 364 N.E.2d 1163 (1977).

 A reviewing court analyzes the totality of the circumstances surrounding the plea to

determine whether the individual subjectively understood that a guilty plea is a complete

admission of guilt. Griggs citing Nero.

      {¶37} In Griggs, the Supreme Court held that “[a] defendant who has entered a

guilty plea without asserting actual innocence is presumed to understand that he has

completely admitted his guilt.” Griggs at syllabus.    At the plea hearing in this case, the

trial court explained the constitutional rights that Elem would be waiving by entering a

plea of guilty and Elem stated that he understood those rights.   The court also reviewed

the offenses and the corresponding maximum penalties with Elem, which he also

indicated he understood. Beyond expressing his understanding of the rights he was

waiving and the penalties he faced, Elem made no assertions at the plea hearing, and he at

no point maintained his innocence.         Viewing the totality of the circumstances

surrounding Elem’s plea, he was not prejudiced by the trial court’s failure to explicitly

inform him that his plea was an admission of guilty.
      {¶38} Because we find no merit to any of Elem’s assignments of error, we affirm

his conviction and sentence.

      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.

__________________________________________
TIM McCORMACK, PRESIDING JUDGE

MARY J. BOYLE, J., and
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR