Court Opinion

ID: 4244826
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-14 14:21:05.908906+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:52:13.303555
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Yeager, 2018-Ohio-574.]

STATE OF OHIO                     )                   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                  )ss:                NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT                  )

STATE OF OHIO                                         C.A. Nos.    28604
                                                                   28617
            Appellee

            v.
                                                      APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ANDRE M. YEAGER                                       ENTERED IN THE
                                                      COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
            Appellant                                 COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
                                                      CASE Nos. CR-2016-07-2429-A
                                                                 CR-2016-11-3971

                                  DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: February 14, 2018

            TEODOSIO, Presiding Judge.

            {¶1}   Defendant-Appellant, Andre Yeager, appeals from his convictions in the Summit

County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms in part and reverses in part.

                                                 I.

            {¶2}   A grand jury indicted Mr. Yeager in two separate criminal cases. In Case No.

2016-07-2429(A), he was indicted on one count each of receiving stolen property, possessing

criminal tools, obstructing official business, and driving under suspension. In Case No. 2016-11-

3971, he was indicted on four counts of breaking and entering. A court-appointed attorney

initially represented Mr. Yeager in both cases, but withdrew from representation when Mr.

Yeager declared his intention to represent himself. The trial court ultimately accepted Mr.

Yeager’s decision to waive his right to counsel and later appointed stand-by counsel to assist him

at trial.
                                                  2

       {¶3}       Mr. Yeager’s two cases were tried together. His counts for possessing criminal

tools and driving under suspension were ultimately dismissed, but the jury found him guilty of

each of his remaining counts. In Case No. 2016-07-2429(A), the court sentenced him to a total

of six months in prison. In Case No. 2016-11-3971, the court sentenced him to a total of four

years in prison and ordered him to pay $14,928.18 in restitution. The court ordered his sentences

to run consecutively for a total of four and one-half years in prison.

       {¶4}       Mr. Yeager appealed his convictions in both cases, and this Court consolidated

the two appeals for purposes of review and decision. Mr. Yeager raises six assignments of error

for our review.

                                                 II.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR ONE

       THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE AND PLAIN ERROR
       WHEN IT PERMITTED DEFENDANT TO PROCEED PRO SE WITHOUT
       SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLYING WITH CRIM.R. 44(A), AND IN
       VIOLATION OF SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE
       UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 10, ARTICLE 1 OF THE
       OHIO CONSTITUTION.

       {¶5}       In his first assignment of error, Mr. Yeager argues that the trial court violated

Crim.R. 44 and his constitutional rights by allowing him to act pro se. He asserts that he is

entitled to relief because the court did not ensure that his waiver of counsel was knowingly,

voluntarily, and intelligently entered or reduced to writing and signed in open court. This Court

rejects Mr. Yeager’s argument.

       {¶6}       The Sixth Amendment guarantees a defendant both the right to counsel and “the

right to elect self-representation instead.” State v. Tucker, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 13CA010339,

2016-Ohio-1353, ¶ 11.         A defendant who wishes to represent himself must knowingly,

voluntarily, and intelligently waive his right to counsel. State v. Gibson, 45 Ohio St.2d 366
                                                  3

(1976), paragraph one of the syllabus. Accord Crim.R. 44(A). Before accepting a defendant’s

waiver, “the trial court must make sufficient inquiry to determine whether [the] defendant fully

understands and intelligently relinquishes [his] right.” Gibson at paragraph two of the syllabus.

Though “no one factor is dispositive,” the Court should consider whether the defendant was

advised of “the dangers and disadvantages of self[-]representation,” “the nature of the charges

and the range of allowable punishments,” and “the possible defenses to the charges and

applicable mitigating circumstances.” State v. Trikilis, 9th Dist. Medina Nos. 04CA0096-M &

04CA0097-M, 2005-Ohio-4266, ¶ 13. Additionally, the court may consider “various other

factors, including the defendant’s age, education, and legal experience.” Id. It is not necessary

that the court “‘undertake pseudo-legal representation of a defendant by specifically advising

him of possible viable defenses or mitigating circumstances * * *.’” State v. Bloodworth, 9th

Dist. Summit No. 26346, 2013-Ohio-248, ¶ 12, quoting State v. Ragle, 9th Dist. Summit No.

22137, 2005-Ohio-590, ¶ 12. “[A] broader discussion of defenses and mitigating circumstances

as applicable to the pending charges is sufficient.” Trikilis at ¶ 13.

       {¶7}     In felony cases, a waiver of counsel must be made in open court, recorded, and in

writing. Crim.R. 44(C). “If a trial court substantially complies with Crim.R. 44(A), however,

the failure to obtain a written waiver is harmless error.” State v. Tucker, 9th Dist. Lorain No.

14CA010704, 2016-Ohio-1354, ¶ 17. A court substantially complies with Crim.R. 44(A) “by

making a sufficient inquiry to determine whether the defendant fully understood and intelligently

relinquished his or her right to counsel.” State v. Martin, 103 Ohio St.3d 385, 2004-Ohio-5471,

¶ 39. This Court “review[s] whether a defendant has made a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent

waiver of his right to counsel de novo.” State v. Ott, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27953, 2017-Ohio-

521, ¶ 5.     “In determining the sufficiency of the trial court’s inquiry in the context of a
                                                4

defendant’s waiver of counsel, this Court reviews the totality of the circumstances.” Trikilis at ¶

13.

       {¶8}    Mr. Yeager had counsel for almost five months before he filed a pro se motion to

represent himself.   The court held a hearing on his motion the following week and, after

permitting counsel to withdraw, spoke directly with Mr. Yeager. The court explained to Mr.

Yeager the State’s current plea offer, all of the charges against him, and the possible maximum

sentences he faced. See id. The court also repeatedly emphasized that he would be “at a

tremendous disadvantage” if he chose to represent himself because he would be responsible for

knowing the rules of evidence and criminal procedure, identifying the issues, and raising any

applicable defenses. The court offered to appoint new counsel for Mr. Yeager or to afford him

more time to consider, but Mr. Yeager declined and indicated that he wished to represent

himself. The court then asked Mr. Yeager whether he understood its warnings about self-

representation and whether he understood that he would not receive “special consideration” if he

chose to go forward without counsel. Each time the court inquired of Mr. Yeager, he indicated

that he understood and wished to represent himself. The court, therefore, accepted Mr. Yeager’s

waiver of his right to counsel.

       {¶9}    The record reflects that the court did not strictly comply with Crim.R. 44(A) when

it accepted Mr. Yeager’s waiver because it did not reduce his waiver to writing. As noted,

however, strict compliance with Crim.R. 44(A) is not required so long as a court, through

adequate inquiry, ensures that a defendant fully understands and intelligently relinquishes his

right to counsel. See Tucker, 2016-Ohio-1354, at ¶ 17; Martin, 103 Ohio St.3d 385, 2004-Ohio-

5471, at ¶ 39. Though Mr. Yeager argues that the court engaged in an inadequate inquiry, the

record belies his argument. Moreover, to the extent that the court’s initial inquiry was in any
                                               5

way limited, the record reflects that the court revisited the topic of counsel a number of times

before Mr. Yeager actually went to trial.

       {¶10} Four months ultimately elapsed between Mr. Yeager’s initial request to represent

himself and his trial. During that time, he filed a wealth of motions pertaining to discovery,

potential Brady v. Maryland violations, prosecutorial misconduct, and suppression. The court

conducted multiple pre-trials and, at the majority of them, spoke to Mr. Yeager about his

decision to waive counsel. The court informed Mr. Yeager that he was placing himself at a

disadvantage by not having counsel who could locate witnesses, timely file the proper motions,

and sort out discovery matters on his behalf. Nevertheless, Mr. Yeager repeatedly rejected the

court’s offer to appoint him new counsel.

       {¶11} One month before trial, the court held another pretrial and once more encouraged

Mr. Yeager to accept new counsel. The court noted that an attorney would not suffer from the

same time and access restrictions that Mr. Yeager faced while incarcerated. The court also asked

Mr. Yeager whether he had a high-level of confidence as far as examining witnesses and

speaking with the jury because he would have to handle those matters himself if he chose not to

have counsel. The court informed Mr. Yeager that, while he seemed “bright enough,” the court

always discouraged lay people from representing themselves due to their unfamiliarity with the

rules of evidence and procedure. During that conversation, the court explained to Mr. Yeager the

concept of stand-by counsel and asked whether he would be willing to accept that option. Mr.

Yeager ultimately agreed to stand-by counsel, but reiterated that he did not wish to accept the

appointment of another attorney. Mr. Yeager represented to the court that “this [was] not [his]

first time being pro se.”
                                               6

       {¶12} Upon review, we must conclude that Mr. Yeager validly waived his right to

counsel. The record reflects that he understood his right, but was adamant about his decision to

represent himself. See Tucker, 2016-Ohio-1354, at ¶ 18-19. He indicated, on more than one

occasion, that he understood he would be bound by the rules of evidence and criminal procedure

if he chose to represent himself. He also indicated that he understood the charges against him

and maximum penalties he faced if convicted. Further, he indicated that he understood the

court’s warnings about being “at a tremendous disadvantage” if he chose to represent himself.

“The trial court sufficiently explained the dangers of self-representation, the nature of the

charge[s] against [him], and the allowable penalties for [those] charge[s].” State v. Ragle, 9th

Dist. Summit No. 22137, 2005-Ohio-590, ¶ 14. Moreover, there was evidence in the record that

Mr. Yeager actively participated in the proceedings, seemed “bright,” and represented that “this

[was] not [his] first time being pro se.” See Trikilis, 2005-Ohio-4266, at ¶ 13 (court may

consider other relevant factors when allowing defendant to proceed pro se). Upon review of the

totality of the circumstances, this Court rejects Mr. Yeager’s argument that he did not

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his right to counsel. See id. Accord State v.

Johnson, 112 Ohio St.3d 210, 2006-Ohio-6404, ¶ 97-105. His first assignment of error is

overruled.

                             ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR TWO

       THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE AND PLAIN ERROR
       WHEN IT ALLOWED THE DEFENDANT TO PROCEED TO TRIAL WITH
       HYBRID REPRESENTATION IN VIOLATION OF [THE] SIXTH AND
       FOURTEENTH    AMENDMENTS   TO    THE  UNITED    STATES
       CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 10, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO
       CONSTITUTION.
                                                   7

         {¶13} In his second assignment of error, Mr. Yeager argues that the trial court

committed plain error when it allowed him and his stand-by counsel to engage in hybrid-

representation. This Court rejects his argument.

         {¶14} Pursuant to 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.” For plain error to

exist:

         First, there must be an error, i.e., a deviation from the legal rule. * * * Second, the
         error must be plain. To be “plain” within the meaning of Crim.R. 52(B), an error
         must be an “obvious” defect in the trial proceedings. * * * Third, the error must
         have affected “substantial rights” * * * [and] affected the outcome of the trial.

(Internal citations omitted.) State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27 (2002). Plain error “is to be

taken with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances, and only to prevent a manifest

miscarriage of justice.” State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91 (1978), paragraph three of the syllabus.

“[T]he accused bears the burden of proof to demonstrate plain error on the record * * *.” State v.

Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-Ohio-2459, ¶ 22.

         {¶15} There “is no constitutional right to hybrid representation.” State v. Pinckney, 9th

Dist. Summit No. 28201, 2017-Ohio-2836, ¶ 6. Accord State v. Jackson, 9th Dist. Summit Nos.

24463 & 24501, 2009-Ohio-4336, ¶ 13 (right to counsel and right to self-representation “are

independent of each other and may not be asserted simultaneously”). That is because “situations

may arise in a hybrid representation environment where the accused and his ‘co-counsel’

disagree on strategy, which witnesses to call, and other key trial issues.” State v. Martin, 103

Ohio St.3d 385, 2004-Ohio-5471, ¶ 33. Certain issues such as waiver cannot be decided unless a

court can determine “‘who [is] actually responsible for the conduct of the defense * * *.’” State

v. Rondon, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26637, 2013-Ohio-4175, ¶ 8, quoting Martin at ¶ 34.
                                               8

       {¶16} It is undisputed that the trial court appointed Mr. Yeager stand-by counsel. The

record reflects that Mr. Yeager conducted the vast majority of his defense, giving an opening

statement and closing argument, examining all of the witnesses, and lodging virtually all of the

objections. Even so, stand-by counsel also participated at several points in the proceedings. For

instance, stand-by counsel conducted all of the voir dire, gave a brief opening statement that

preceded Mr. Yeager’s, argued Mr. Yeager’s Crim.R. 29 motions, and gave a portion of the

closing argument. Because criminal defendants are not entitled to hybrid representation, Mr.

Yeager argues, the court committed plain error when it allowed both him and his stand-by

counsel to participate in the proceedings.

       {¶17} Mr. Yeager is correct that he had no right to hybrid-representation, and the trial

court ought not to have allowed him to simultaneously assert his rights to counsel and self-

representation. See Jackson at ¶ 13. Mr. Yeager has not explained, however, how any hybrid-

representation he might have received in this matter affected the outcome of his trial. See

Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d at 27;    State v. Capers, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 10CA009801, 2011-Ohio-

2443, ¶ 14-15 (prejudice not demonstrated where defendant claimed plain error as a result of

hybrid-representation). Though Mr. Yeager alleges plain error, he has not conducted any actual

plain error analysis. See App.R. 16(A)(7). Moreover, it is not apparent on the face of the record

that there was any actual conflict between Mr. Yeager and his stand-by counsel. Compare

Rondon, 2013-Ohio-4175, at ¶ 11 (plea vacated where it was “unmistakably apparent on the face

of the record” that discord between stand-by counsel and defendant undermined the “integrity of

the plea process”). This Court will not conduct a prejudice analysis on Mr. Yeager’s behalf. See

State v. Banks, 9th Dist. Medina No. 16CA0084-M, 2017-Ohio-8777, ¶ 35. Because he has not
                                                9

shown that any hybrid-representation that occurred here affected the outcome of his trial, we

reject his plain error argument.

       {¶18} Mr. Yeager also argues within the context of this assignment of error that he

received ineffective assistance of counsel as a result of the hybrid-representation he received.

His captioned assignment of error does not concern ineffective assistance of counsel, however,

and he also has not conducted any analysis with regard to that argument. See State v. Pleban, 9th

Dist. Lorain No. 10CA009789, 2011-Ohio-3254, ¶ 41, quoting State v. Marzolf, 9th Dist.

Summit No. 24459, 2009-Ohio-3001, ¶ 16 (“An appellant’s captioned assignment of error

‘provides this Court with a roadmap on appeal and directs this Court’s analysis.’”); App.R.

16(A)(7). As such, this Court will not address the merits of his ineffective assistance of counsel

argument. Mr. Yeager’s second assignment of error is overruled.

                             ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR THREE

       THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE AND PLAIN ERROR IN
       ASSESSING COURT COSTS AGAINST THE DEFENDANT WHEN IT
       WAIVED IMPOSITION OF THOSE COSTS AT SENTENCING.

       {¶19} In his third assignment of error, Mr. Yeager argues that the trial court erred when

it ordered him to pay court costs without first affording him an opportunity to seek a waiver of

those costs. For the reasons that follow, we reject Mr. Yeager’s assignment of error.

       {¶20} R.C. 2947.23 requires trial courts to impose court costs in criminal cases, and a

trial court may waive the payment of costs upon the motion of an indigent defendant. State v.

White, 103 Ohio St.3d 580, 2004-Ohio-5989, ¶ 14. In State v. Joseph, 125 Ohio St.3d 76, 2010-

Ohio-954, ¶ 22-23 the Ohio Supreme Court held that a trial court commits reversible error when

it fails to afford a defendant an opportunity to seek a waiver of court costs at his or her

sentencing hearing. The result in that case, however, “was dictated by the fact that [the prior
                                                10

version of R.C. 2947.23] * * * required [defendants] to file a motion for waiver of costs at the

time of sentencing.” State v. Beasley, Slip Opinion No. 2018-Ohio-493, ¶ 264. The amended

version of the statute now provides that trial courts retain jurisdiction “‘to waive, suspend, or

modify the payment of the costs of prosecution * * * at the time of sentencing or at any time

thereafter.’” (Emphasis sic.) Id. at ¶ 265, quoting R.C. 2947.23(C). Accordingly, State v.

Joseph is no longer good law, and it is no longer necessary to remand matters so as to afford

defendants the opportunity to seek a waiver. Beasley at ¶ 263-265. Because Mr. Yeager may

file a motion to waive costs with the sentencing court at any time, “his request for a remand on

this basis has no merit.” Id. at ¶ 265. Mr. Yeager’s third assignment of error is overruled.

                              ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR FOUR

       THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE AND PLAIN ERROR BY
       NOT AWARDING DEFENDANT ALL HIS JAIL-TIME CREDIT.

       {¶21} In his fourth assignment of error, Mr. Yeager argues that the court committed

plain error when it failed to award him all of his jail-time credit. According to Mr. Yeager, the

trial court either should have awarded him an additional 41 days of credit or held a hearing on

the issue. We reject Mr. Yeager’s assignment of error.

       {¶22} When sentencing an offender, a trial court must

       [d]etermine, notify the offender of, and include in the sentencing entry the number
       of days that the offender has been confined for any reason arising out of the
       offense for which the offender is being sentenced and by which the department of
       rehabilitation and correction must reduce the stated prison term under [R.C.
       2967.191].

R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(g)(i). An offender may challenge a trial court’s jail-time credit calculation

either on direct appeal or through a post-sentence motion. State v. Reeves, 9th Dist. Summit

Nos. 28632, 28679, 28680, 28681, and 28682, 2017-Ohio-9139, ¶ 8.
                                                   11

       {¶23} When the trial court sentenced Mr. Yeager, it did not award him a specific amount

of jail-time credit. Instead, it ordered that “[t]he total days of being held will be computed and

given credit for time served.” Mr. Yeager responded by noting that he had been incarcerated

from “October 3rd to now * * *.” He did not request a jail-time credit hearing or object to the

court’s pronouncement that he would be credited for time served once it was calculated. The

court later awarded him 129 days of jail-time credit.

       {¶24} According to Mr. Yeager, the trial court erred by not awarding him 170 days of

credit or holding a hearing to determine the appropriate amount of credit. Because he did not

object to the procedure the court employed, he is now limited to a claim of plain error. See State

v. Watson, 9th Dist. Summit No. 28218, 2017-Ohio-7856, ¶ 14. We, therefore, incorporate the

plain error standard set forth in the discussion of his second assignment of error.

       {¶25} Mr. Yeager has not explained why the trial court erred by calculating his jail-time

credit without first holding a hearing. A trial court need only conduct a hearing on jail-time

credit “if one is requested.” R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(g)(i). Mr. Yeager never asked the trial court to

conduct a hearing on jail-time credit.       Although he made a statement that he had been

incarcerated from “October 3rd to now * * *,” he gave no indication that he wanted to present

evidence on that issue. Moreover, because the court had yet to compute his time, there was no

indication at that point that Mr. Yeager would contest the court’s computation. Mr. Yeager has

not shown that the court erred by not holding a hearing when no hearing was requested. As such,

this Court rejects that portion of his argument.

       {¶26} Insofar as Mr. Yeager argues that he is entitled to 41 additional days of jail-time

credit, we must conclude that he has not satisfied his burden of demonstrating plain error. See

Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-Ohio-2459, at ¶ 22. Mr. Yeager claims, without citing any
                                                 12

portion of the record, that he is entitled to 170 days of credit because he was incarcerated “from

October 3, 2016 to March 21, 2017.” Upon review of the record, however, this Court is unable

to verify those dates. It appears that, on October 13, 2016, Mr. Yeager was scheduled for a

status hearing, but did not appear because he was being held at the Cleveland House of

Corrections/Cleveland Workhouse. At the status hearing, his former attorney notified the court

that Mr. Yeager was being held on an unrelated matter. Pursuant to R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(g)(i), an

offender is only entitled to jail-time credit for the days he has been confined “for any reason

arising out of the offense for which [he] is being sentenced * * *.” Thus, if Mr. Yeager was

being held on another matter, he was not entitled to jail-time credit for purposes of this case.

       {¶27} Apart from setting forth a blanket statement that he is entitled to additional credit,

Mr. Yeager has made no attempt to point to any evidence tending to show that the court did not

properly calculate his jail-time credit.1 This Court will not construct an argument on his behalf.

See State v. Gordon, 9th Dist. Summit No. 28331, 2017-Ohio-7147, ¶ 43. Accordingly, we

reject Mr. Yeager’s argument that the court erred by awarding him 129 days of credit. See

Watson, 2017-Ohio-7856, at ¶ 17. His fourth assignment of error is overruled.

                               ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR FIVE

       THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE (sic) IN ORDERING
       DEFENDANT TO PAY RESTITUTION WITHOUT MAKING AN ABILITY-
       TO-PAY FINDING AND WITHOUT GIVING THE DEFENDANT THE
       RIGHT TO CROSS-EXAMINE THE STATE’S EVIDENCE.

1
  Notably, Mr. Yeager has not raised as error that the trial court violated R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(g)
by failing to notify him of his actual jail-time credit calculation at the sentencing hearing.
Because the court addressed the issue of jail-time credit at the hearing, any error he raised in that
regard would be subject to plain error analysis. See State v. Watson, 9th Dist. Summit No.
28218, 2017-Ohio-7856, ¶ 13-15. As he has not set forth a claim of plain error on that basis,
however, this Court will not construct an argument on his behalf. See State v. Smith, 9th Dist.
Medina No. 17CA0035-M, 2017-Ohio-8680, ¶ 7.
                                                13

        {¶28} In his fifth assignment of error, Mr. Yeager argues that the court erred when it

ordered him to pay restitution without first inquiring about his ability to pay. We agree.

        {¶29} R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) authorizes a sentencing court to order financial sanctions,

including restitution, to the victim.

        Restitution may be based on “an amount recommended by the victim, the
        offender, a presentence investigation report, estimates or receipts indicating the
        cost of repairing or replacing property, and other information” as long as the
        amount does not exceed the economic loss suffered by the victim as a result of the
        commission of the offense.

State v. Stevens, 9th Dist. Medina Nos. 16CA0033-M & 16CA0034-M, 2017-Ohio-5482, ¶ 17,

quoting R.C. 2929.18(A)(1). A trial court must “consider the offender’s present and future

ability to pay prior to imposing a financial sanction.” State v. Norris, 9th Dist. Summit No.

27630, 2016-Ohio-1526, ¶ 28, citing R.C. 2929.19(B)(5). “‘[T]here are no express factors that

must be taken into consideration or findings regarding the offender’s ability to pay that must be

made on the record.’” State v. Williams, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26014, 2012-Ohio-5873, ¶ 17,

quoting State v. Martin, 140 Ohio App.3d 326, 327 (4th Dist.2000). “Even so, the record must

reflect that the court actually considered the defendant’s ability to pay.” Williams at ¶ 17. “A

trial court commits plain error by ordering a defendant to pay restitution without first considering

his ability to pay.” Id.

        {¶30} The record reflects and the State concedes that the trial court ordered Mr. Yeager

to pay $14,928.18 in restitution without first considering his ability to pay. Because there is no

indication in the record that the court actually considered his ability to pay, “the trial court

committed plain error and must make a determination regarding [his] ability to pay restitution on

remand.” Norris at ¶ 29. Mr. Yeager also argues that the court erred by not affording him an

opportunity to cross-examine witnesses about the amount of restitution he owed. Given that this
                                                 14

matter must be remanded for an initial determination of his ability to pay restitution, however,

his additional argument is premature, and we decline to address it.           Mr. Yeager’s fifth

assignment of error is sustained, and the matter is remanded for an ability to pay determination.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR SIX

       THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE TRIAL COURT’S ERRORS DENIED
       DEFENDANT A FAIR TRIAL.

       {¶31} In his sixth assignment of error, Mr. Yeager argues that cumulative error deprived

him of his right to a fair trial. We disagree.

       {¶32} Cumulative error exists only where the errors during trial actually “deprive[d] a

defendant of the constitutional right to a fair trial.” State v. DeMarco, 31 Ohio St.3d 191 (1987),

paragraph two of the syllabus. “‘[T]here can be no such thing as an error-free, perfect trial, and

* * * the Constitution does not guarantee such a trial.’” State v. Hill, 75 Ohio St.3d 195, 212

(1996), quoting United States v. Hasting, 461 U.S. 499, 508-509 (1983). To support a claim of

cumulative error, there must be multiple instances of harmless error. State v. Garner, 74 Ohio

St.3d 49, 64 (1995). “Because this Court did not find multiple instances of error, the cumulative

error doctrine does not apply.” State v. Jamison, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27664, 2016-Ohio-5122,

¶ 40. Mr. Yeager’s sixth assignment of error is overruled.

                                                 III.

       {¶33} Mr. Yeager’s fifth assignment of error is sustained, and his remaining

assignments of error are overruled. On remand, the trial court must make a determination

regarding Mr. Yeager’s ability to pay restitution. The judgment of the Summit County Court of

Common Pleas is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and the cause is remanded for further

proceedings consistent with the foregoing opinion.

                                                                       Judgment affirmed in part,
                                                15

                                                                                 reversed in part,
                                                                             and cause remanded.

       There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common

Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy

of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

       Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the

period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is

instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the

mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

       Costs taxed equally to both parties.

                                                     THOMAS A. TEODOSIO
                                                     FOR THE COURT

HENSAL, J.
CALLAHAN, J.
CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

NEIL P. AGARWAL, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and RICHARD S. KASAY, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.